|
 Hello, and welcome to the Plumas County "Bloom Blog"
and waterfalls viewing page!
Our goal is to keep
wildflower/waterfall enthusiasts informed about where
specific wildflowers and waterfalls can be found from
February through July.
Please send us
your own sightings and photos! And don't forget
the species identification, if you know it!
Watercolor courtesy:
Linda Blum
May 14, 2012
 More
waterfall photos! We love it!
This from Jeff Titcomb: "Hi All, The snow is
melting in Lassen Volcanic National Park and
water falls abound!"
If you look carefully, you can see the rushing snow melt. Our warm
spring days are making for some great
runoff.
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May 14, 2012
It sounds as though our friend Karen
Kleven had a wonderful Mother's Day. She
sent us a report and photos of her trip up
the Feather River Canyon yesterday.
Coming back from my trip to San Francisco to see my daughter for
Mother's Day I stopped near Tobin in the
Feather River Canyon to see Jackass Falls.
Lots of water coming down. She even included
a
video of the falls.
 Before
those falls I stopped to check out Rock
Creek that was also a torrent of water
flowing into the North Fork of the Feather
River. Nice walk up the creek with railroad
trestle overhead.
 The
feather river canyon is dripping with Monkey
Flower bush growing out of the rocks. I
think that's the right name. Also closer to
Quincy saw some dogwood in bloom near Twain
and further up. Lots of Lupine also. Not a
fantastic display but worth a trip up the
canyon. In Quincy at the end of the canyon
the lilacs are at their peak. Lovely. Now
I'm glad to be home after spending the
weekend in San Francisco.
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May 10, 2012
Joe Willis gives us a suggested route
for wildflower viewing right now:
These flowers and those I've sent the last
couple of days can be found in lots of
places around Quincy between 3,000' and
4,500'. My favorite spots this past week,
including yesterday and today, have been the
Slate Creek Road toward Deane's Valley and
the road back into Meadow Valley from there
that crosses Meadow Valley Creek; the Loop
through the Botanical Area that includes
Blackhawk Road and butterfly Valley Road,
and the various dirt roads and trails that
lead out of Oakland Camp in all directions.
Also, the Keddie Cascades Trail and Old
Highway are good.
I can't be everywhere each day, but
anywhere in the county between these
elevations should be productive for
wildflower viewing, especially near streams.
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May 8, 2012
Joe Willis continues his report from
yesterday: Suddenly there are lots of new
flowers blooming.
 The
Bleeding Hearts,
Dicentra
formosa, are a wild species but also
cultivated, so, depending on where you find
them, you might have either. These were in
town, but looked sort of wild.
 The
Henderson's Shooting Star,
Dodecatheon
hendersonii, are past their prime at
the lower elevations but still hanging on at
the 4,000' level. These were found along
the Blackhawk Road after the pavement ends.
 I
also found this attractive little butterfly
drinking nectar on a Sierra Currant,
Ribes
nevadense.
 The
one new bloom I saw in the Botanical Area
besides Pitcher Plant were the Primrose
Monkeyflower,
Mimulus
primuloides.
Then, on the way back through Butterfly
Valley, I found three different species of
Yellow Violets. Their common names are
different in every book, it seems, so here
I've just labelled them by technical names.
Oh, what the heck -
Viola
lobata, known as Wood Violet or Pine
Violet;
Viola glabella is Smooth Yellow
VIolet or Streamside Violet; and,
Viola
pinetorum is usually known as Pine
Violet.
The flowers look pretty much alike unless
you're an expert, so these are more easily
distinguished by their leaves. In the past
couple of weeks, I've photographed two
additional species of yellow violets plus a
blue species and a white one. And that
doesn't count the various domesticated
varieties found in people's yards.
See my blog post for today for a more
thorough review of the local violets.
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May 7, 2012
Joe Willis was busy today. He sends the
following: I took the Butterfly Valley loop
today, traveling Blackhawk Road through the
Botanical Area and back down to Highway 70
via the Butterfly Valley Road. The
Botanical Area itself hasn't quite awoken
from winter, although a few Pitcher Plants
were blooming. However, the roadsides
before and after that area had lots of new
blooms.
 The
Leopard Lily isn't blooming yet, but the
plants are 3 to 4 feet tall and are quite
attractive even before blooming.
 The
Checker Bloom,
Sidalcea
glaucescens, are blooming on the
north side of Butterfly Valley Road. They
are a low vine so easy to miss.
Most of the Cobra-like leaves of the Pitcher
Plant are brown and disintegrated from
winter, but many are starting to bloom as
they do on separate stems.
 I saw one small
patch of a pretty though deadly lily called
Death Camus,
Zigadenus
venenosus.
 The
Mountain Dogwoods,
Cornus
nuttalli, have passed their prime at
the lower elevations, but are still looking
good above 4,000 feet.
 In
my front yard, and soon along the trails on
the FRC campus, is the Sierra Stickseed,
Hackelia
nervosa. It looks like miniature
Forget-me-nots, and, that's essentially what
it is.
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May 4, 2012
Jeff Titcomb couldn't resist sending
these photos and message:
Spring is Here in Plumas County!
I know these aren't "wild" flowers but
Beautiful nonetheless!
Here are some pretty pics from the town
of Greenville!
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May 3, 2012
Joe Willis added some new comments and
photos:
When I photographed Umbrella Plant, or
Indian Rhubarb, a couple of
weeks ago, they were budding and only around
a foot tall. Now in some of the warmer and
sunnier tributaries to Spanish and Indian
Creeks, accessible along Highway 89 between
Quincy and Greenville, some are in full
flower and 2 to 3 feet tall.
 Attached
example was photographed about a mile north
of the Greenville Y on a dangerous curve.
Keep an eye on the ones along Spanish Creek
above and below Oakland Camp and on
Butterfly Creek where it hits Highway 70/89
at the Butterfly Valley turnoff, and you can
enjoy them in all stages from early buds to
full flower to the emergence of leaves.
 The Forsythia are blooming all around
Quincy and other places at similar
elevations. This one was photographed in
the FRC campus and I loved how it contrasted
with the brilliant blue sky.
 I enjoyed Karen Klevins' view of a
whole lilac plant. (below) I specialize in
close-ups, so I thought I'd offer a close-up
of my lilac in bud. Lilacs and Forsythia
are in the Olive Family, Oleaceae. There
are some great White Lilacs blooming near
the bridge over Spanish Creek near Storey
Field.
Karen Klevin sent us this message and
photo of spring lilacs.
 They
aren't wildflowers but we love them and so
do
our visitors.
Quincy's lilacs are starting
to bloom on
the sunny side. Should be a good crop for
the next
few weeks.
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May 1, 2012
Joe Willis checked in again with this
report:
Here are the results of a 30-minute
stroll on the FRC campus this morning.
 The
Wild Ginger are growing in a little grove of
Alders maybe 100 feet up the hill from the
parking lot and to the left of the Gym. The
Corn Lilies are there, too, and though not
blooming yet, they are quite attractive
early in the morning with the low sunlight
passing through their leaves.
 Dandelions
are all over the place, or course, so we
tend to take them for granted, for better or
worse. But some of them are spectacular
specimens, such as the attached close-up
will attest.
Yesterday we took a quick hike on the Keddie
Cascades Trail. It's not yet fully awakened
to spring, many species getting ready to
bloom but not quite there yet. On the Old
Highway on my way back to town I did see a
nice patch of Death Camas, a beautiful
lily. Will try to photograph it today or
tomorrow.
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April 30, 2012
Joe Willis
kindly shared this report and photos:
Lots of new wildflowers blooming this past
weekend. Sunny days following rain is the
perfect
formula. Two kinds of yellow violets plus a
violet one are blooming in the hills, mostly
shady areas near streams.
I
found the Wood Violet along the paths and
nature trail at the college, the Pine Violet
near Gilson Creek past the Oakland Camp, and
the Western Dog Violet in hills just above
Oakland Camp where there were
lots of Bluebellies active and in mating
mode.
 Johnny
Tuck, AKA Butter and Eggs, is growing on
roadsides in American Valley; this patch was
near the Golden King restaurant.
Sticky Currant and Gooseberries blooming all
around - FRC nature Trail, Boyle Ravine,
Oakland Camp, Greenville Y.
 Shooting
Star all around the area; this one on
Peppard Flat Road, and Lemmon's Wild Ginger
along the creek that drains the newly
planted grassy area by the college library.
There's lots of this in Boyle Ravine, too,
but not quite blooming yet.
Buttercups are blooming all around the area,
too, and Corn Lily and Mullein are sending
up some impressive fresh leaves. Won't
bloom for another month, but the leaves are
handsome now.
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April 28, 2012
Our reports are starting to roll in! Mike
Nellor sent some great shots. The first
is from the Oakland Camp area (just out of
Quincy). The wildlife know it's spring too.
Look closely and you'll see the baby geese
going for their first swim.
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We're not sure of the names
of these flowers, but they so look like
spring! Mike found them at Slate Creek in
Deans Valley. (off the road to Bucks Lake)
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Our friend Jeff Titcomb
reported in from Greenville.
"Hi All,The
Springtime flowers are blooming in Beautiful
Indian Valley! The valley is filled with
Daffodils."
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"The Tulip
trees are stunning this year, thanks to the
early warm spell and less, heavy, spring
snow."
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"The water
is flowing forcefully throughout the area
now, due to heavy run off." |
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And from Joe Willis
this report:
The Scarlet
Fritillary was photographed about 10
days ago near the former Indian Jim School
in the Feather River Canyon. In a few weeks
they'll be blooming up here in Quincy. My
two favorite local places to look are
Oakland Camp and Boyle Ravine, but not quite
yet.
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Umbrella
Plant, formerly known as Indian rhubarb,
is beginning to bloom. Long after the
blooms go to seed and dry up, the leaves
emerge from the water and become huge. Lots
of folks recognize the leaves but don't know
the bloom that comes and goes before the
leaves emerge. This one is blooming in
Gilson Creek where it crosses the road
beyond Oakland Camp and enters Spanish
Creek. This is a great area to see a
variety of wildflowers from now through
mid-summer. I'll report often from this
place on my blog,
blackoaknaturalist. This plant is a
saxifrage, and this family has many species
popular in rock gardens.
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Wallflower,
a member of the mustard family, is now
blooming in the lower Feather River Canyon
between Jarbo Gap and the Pulga bridge. It
will work its way up the canyon and be
blooming around the Greenville Y in a few
weeks. |
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White Stickseed is a close relative of
Forget-Me-Nots, and is now blooming in forests all
around Quincy at the 3,500 feet elevation. I
photographed these in the oak groves west of Gilson
Creek below the railroad tracks.
| The Filaree is
blooming by roadsides all around Quincy and
similar elevations and is a member of the
geranium family. After the petals wilt and
fall, the plant develops bundles of 5 seed
capsules that together form a 2- to 3-inch
long sword-like structure that gives the
plant another name, Storksbill. When the
individual seeds get dry enough they curl up
and look like screws. For more lore on the
interesting plant, see my blog. This photo
was taken on Lee Road near the fairgrounds
and what attracted me was the yellow
jacket. There are many species of filaree,
some native and some non-native. If you
pick the seeds at the right stage of dryness
and separate them, they will curl up in your
hand while you watch. When the rains come,
they absorb water and uncurl which drills
the seed into the ground. |
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April 27, 2012
We're so happy to be able to share information
about all the beautiful things happening this spring
in Plumas County. Here's what our friend Joe
Willis shared with us this morning (along with his
usual great photos). Joe adds that he's always happy
to answer any questions you may have. Here's a link to Joe's own blog:
www.blackoaknaturalist.blogspot.com
 Arrowleaf
Balsamroot
is blooming in sunny areas along Spanish Creek
around Oakland Camp. It will boom for several
months at this elevation. In the shadier areas it
arrives a bit later. By June, it'll be blooming at
the 5,000 - 7,000 foot elevation on all our Plumas
County mountains. Great crops of it near the summit
of Mt. Hough. Later by a month, it'll be joined by
Mules Ears with which it is often confused. When
both are blooming, I'll explain the difference.
Dandelions are going nuts around American
Valley, among other places. Beautiful displays on
the high school practice fields. Consider getting a
closer look and enjoying the variety of pollinators
that are attracted to it. Two modest examples
included here. Consider making a salad. Dandelion
is one of the most nutritious greens, far better
than lettuce.
 Elegant
Rock Cress is one of the earliest bloomers
around the Quincy elevation. My favorite place for
viewing this member of the mustard family is around
the Greenville Y. The current photo was taken last
weekend by Gilson Creek, a mile northwest of the
Oakland Feather River Camp. They'll keep blooming
for another month or so. They like rocky areas near
creeks.
 Paintbrush,
of which there are many similar-looking species,
is blooming from at least 2,000 to 4,000 feet
elevation, and maybe higher in south-facing sunny
spots. As spring progresses they'll be blooming at
higher and higher elevations, and they tend to bloom
for several months. This one was photographed near
the Entering Plumas National Forest sign east of
Jarbo Gap in the Feather River Canyon. They're in
the Scrophulariaceae, or figwort family, like the
monkey flowers and hibiscus. I welcome questions
from your viewers.
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2012 
