Table Moutain Wildflowers - Last Week of April

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I made one last trip to view the wildflowers of Table Mountain during the last week of April.  I had hoped the recent rains  had kept the small stream and waterfalls still running and that I would see some flowers I had not yet viewed this spring.  I wasn't disappointed on either count.

Seep Monkey-flower ~ Mimulus guttatus

I noticed on the drive up to Table Mountain that the water seepage in  the ditches and hillsides had enduced a magnificent show of Yellow Monkey-flower everywhere one looked.  This was also the case once we arrived and started our hike down to Hollow Falls.

Joining me this day was my Daughter-in-Law, Ann, my Granddaughter, Madison and her friend Isabella.  We were greeted at the start of our hike with a mass of Yellow Monkey-fower and White Tipped Clover, clearly marking the areas of seepage.  Since my last visit, the Yellow Monkey-flower had replaced the show of yellow California Goldfields and blue Sky Lupine so predominant across the upper hillsides in the previous weeks.

The white Meadowfoam once again lined the banks of the small stream,  this time more profuse than last.

Table Mountain Meadowfoam ~ Limnanthes douglasii

The rains of April had clearly extended the profusion of color, however the hillsides were starting to show the result of some of the warmer weather we had experienced as well with scattered areas already turning brown. 

Kellogg's Clarkia ~ Clarkia arcuata

The first show of pink Kellogg's Clarkia was evident in the cobbled areas.  We encountered quite a profusion of it further down the hill on the cobbled areas on the south side of Hollow Falls.

By the time we had descended half way down the hillside, I had found several Woody Mountain Jewelflowers looking as though they were in the last stages of bloom.  I also found one of my favorites, Dark Stained Pretty Face, just a single plant with its radiant petals begging a snap.

Woody Mountain Jewelflower ~ Strepthanthus tortuosus

Dark Stained Pretty Face ~ Triteleia ixioides

 



When we stopped to take a photo of Madison and Isabella on an old stump, Madison spotted a small racer snake that was far too fast for my lens.  We were suddenly joined by a friendly dog who was curious about our search for the snake. He stopped and posed long enough for me to get a snap before running off to find his companions.





Just as the girls were getting ready for their picture, they noticed a 'Blue Belly' lizard who didn't seem too eager to give up his spot in the sun.




Western Fence Lizard

Madison and Isabella



 

As we neared the top of Hollow Falls, the cobbled cliff areas to the south were alive with the pink Kellogg's Clarkia mentioned above. In addition we were seeing numerous Glassy Wild Hyacinth, a white relative of the Dark Stained Pretty Face. 
 



Glassy Wild Hyacinth ~ Triteleia lilacina

Kellogg's Monkey-flower ~ Mimulus kelloggii



There were a few, scattered remnants of the blue Spreading Larkspur and even fewer, pink Kellogg's Monkey-flower that had been so abundant on my last visit. Mixed in with the other flowers were the tiny flowered Grass Pinks waving in the wind.

Grass Pink ~ Petrorhagia dubia

As we started the descent down the path to Beatson Hollow, we came across a Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly working what was left of the Spreading Larkspur.

There was a small stream of water still flowing over Hollow Falls.  It was a great place to cool off after our hike down.  The Yellow Monkey-flower, once again, was evident in the moist areas adjacent to the fall of water.  There were also a number of Bluedicks still blooming in the vincinity of the falls.

Bluedicks ~ Dichelostema capitatum

The girls made the return trip back up the hill along the stream.  Ann and I opted for the higher ground to the south.  The sweeping views of the hillsides from this vantage point really show off the variations in color, especially against a blue sky.

Sky Lupine was still putting on a show on these slopes mixed with Purple Owl's Clover and the last of the California Goldfields.

It was in this area that we came across a white flowered relative of Purple Owl's Clover called Valley Tassels, mixed in with the Sky Lupine, Bird's Eye, and Purple Owl's Clover.

Valley Tassels ~ Castilleja attenuata 



As we neared the end of our hike, we were looking for the pink of Bitter-root in the flat rock areas.  Bitter-root was one I had not personally seen as yet so I was very excited when we found several plants in bloom a short distance from the end of our hike. 

Bitter-root ~ Lewisia rediviva

In the moist areas adjacent to the flat rock areas we came across our last flowers of the day.   Like soft blankets of white, the California Sandwort and Navarretia covered the ground.





My four visits to Table Mountain this spring have each been rewarding.  The transition from week to week in a wet spring like we've experienced this year ensures a continuation of variety and ample color to delight the eye.  I was fortunate to encounter Albin Bills, co-author of Wildflowers of Table Mountain Butte County, California on my last trip.  His extensive knowledge of the geologic history of the mountain as well as the location of specific wildflowers was welcome.  I am one of many who utilize his book as a great source of reference.

While wildflowers are the biggest lure of Table Mountain, many people bring along kites to catch the windflows against the marvelous background.  Until next  year, I leave you with this shot.

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a Rainy March on Table Mountain

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In spite of a very wet and windy week, I ventured up to Table Mountain outside of Oroville, California for a first viewing of this year's wildflower show.  I encountered a few sprinkles on my drive up, however once there, the rains held off long enough for me to hike down to Hollow Falls (Phantom Falls)and back under the cloudy skies.

Table Mountain is comprised of a lava cap that is several hundred feet thick and several miles wide.  The shallow, and sometimes non-existent soil base is host to numerous wild flowers with peak bloom usually occuring about mid April.  The outcroppings of lava rock help produce a maze of patterned color that delights the eye when viewed across the open landscape. 

During this third week of March, the primary wildflower show was Yellow Carpet (Blennosperma nanum),California Goldfields (Lasthenia californica) and Sky Lupine (Lupinus nanus).  There were numerous Fryingpans, a small orange poppy which is a relative of the California Poppy, however the cloudy weather had their buds closed tight.  The California Poppy, interestingly enough, does not grow naturally on Table Mountain.



Sky Lupine~click to view large



California Goldfields~click to view large



Frying Pans~click to view large







On the rocky slopes at the start of my hike I came across Volcanic Onion, also known as Wild Garlic (Allium cratericola).  While rare in Butte County, it is very common on Table Mountain during the early to mid-spring. 

Volcanic Onion-click to view large

With the abundance of rain over the month of March, there were streams of water cascading down the mountainsides with numerous smaller waterfalls as I made my way down.

Within ear shot of the plummet of water from the top of Hollow Falls, several other varieties of wildflowers started to appear.  The yellow heads of Biscuitroot or Hog Fennel (Lomatium utriculartum) dotted the tops of the rock outcrops.  I also spotted the first of the the Kellogg's Monkey-flower (Mimulus kelloggii) and a scattering of Seep Monkey-flower (Mimulus guttatus).  The wind made it very difficult to capture close ups of the flowers on the rock outcrops so several of these are from previous visits.



Biscuitroot~click to view large



Kelloggs Monkey-flower~click to view large



Seep Mokey-flower ~click to view large

At the crest of one of the hillsides in this area I  encountered the first Bluedicks (Dichelostemma capitatum).

From the top of Hollow Falls, I opted for the less perilous path down to the bottom through Beatson Hollow.  The protected dampness of the hollow presented quite a stark contrast of growth.  The trees were covered in moss and colorful lichen.  The stream at that point was quite swollen and it took me a bit of time to find a crossing point. 

 

Once across the creek I was able to find the official marker designating the area of Beatson Hollow.  A short walk east and I reached the bottom of Hollow Falls where I paused to rest and reflect on the natural beauty of a place so close to home. 

After making my way back out of Beatson Hollow, I retraced my steps alongside the creek thinking of the colorful show still left in the weeks ahead.

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