Jill Over the Ground: Mission Trails in Early Spring

I took a walk through Mission Trails from Old Mission Dam, through south Oak Canyon, and up to the Fortuna saddle. The flowers were incredible, and I even saw some species I'd never seen before. I don't think any were particularly rare. The difference is just that we had some rain this year, whereas in past years when I've been out flower hunting we hadn't.

Old Mission Dam

The fun started in the parking lot, with a rock rose:

There is a matilija poppy plant, lots of California wild roses, and blackberries there too, but they weren't blooming. Neither was the yerba mansa near the water, just inside the gate. But many of the other common flowers were, and the wild cucumbers were fruiting.

Fiesta Flower

Wild cucumbers

Encelia californica

Caterpillar phacelia

Cross the bridge, and you see even more:

Then follow the trail and watch for poison oak.

Ground Pink

Morning glories

Wishbone bush

Wild hyacinth

California poppy

Camas

Checkerbloom

I was so happy to find the ceanothus was still blooming. It is the smell of springtime to me.

As you continue toward Oak Canyon, you see even more...

Seep monkeyflower

Bush monkeyflower

Nuttall's Snapdragon

Miner's lettuce

Wild peas

Jepsonia, a.k.a. Indian potatoes. This odd plant has an underground corm that is edible. It puts out a flower in the fall and a single leaf in the spring.