Northern California Wildflowers and Native Plants

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I spent the second weekend in August, 2011 visiting my brother who had just relocated from Los Angeles to take a teaching position in the small coastal town of Point Arena in Northern California.   He had found a place to live in the community of The Sea Ranch which sits just south of Gualala.  We spent two days viewing the amazing natural landscape of The Sea Ranch as well as tidepools, Harbor Seals, the local deer population and the incredible beauty of the setting sun.  We also ventured up the coast to Point Arena to see the lighthouse.  No matter where we traveled, the coastal wildflowers always caught my eye. 




Common Cowparsnip ~ Heracleum maximum and Bullthistle ~ Cirsium
nestled  among the golden sea grass at the water's edge

 

It became apparent right away that what may be a weed to one may be a thing of beauty to another.  The Bullthistle below is non-native and considered an invasive weed, however the lure of those rich purple flowers was quite evident.

Several other common wildflowers found on our walks along the cliffs at The Sea Ranch included the yellow Gumweed,  Pacific Aster and Seaside Buckwheat.



Yellow Gumweed ~ Grindelia



Seaside Buckwheat ~ Eriogonum latifolium

Pacific Aster ~ Symphyotrichum chilense

The Pacific Aster below is accompanied by a very common wildflower of the area, the Hawkbit Dandelion. 

 



California Poppy ~ Eschscholzia californica






Bindweed or Morning Glory ~ Calystegia



The Seaside Daisy is another common sight among the cliff areas, often accompanied by the Seaside Buckwheat

Seaside Daisy ~ Erigeron glaucus

Located a short distance from my brother's residence in a row of old Monterey Cypress was Monarch Grove. The paths wander through lush creekside vegetation of ferns, trees, shrubs and vines with a scattering of the magnificent Coastal Redwoods.

 

With a walking guide in hand we were able to identify a number of native schrubs, trees and flowers while enjoying a pleasurable walk in the shaded environment.

Old Man's Beard, Treemoss ~ Usnea

Looking up through the canopy of trees we could see the drapings of Old Man's Beard hanging from the branches.  Also known as Treemoss, it is a lichen which has been used for many medicinal purposes throughout time.



A number of other delights caught our attention as we traveled the paths.



Tanoak ~ Lithocarpus densiflorus

 

Common Yarrow ~ Achillea millefloum

 

Western Thimbleberry ~ Rubus parviflorus

Forget Me Not ~ Myosotis 





Mushroom popping up through the rich soil and vegetation



The overwhelming elegance of the large trees near the east end of the     grove was breathtaking. 

We viewed the sheep pens with its lichen and moss covered wood before passing through a gate to complete our walk back down the other side of the creek.



Sheep Pens



Wooden fence at the sheep pens with Hawkbit Dandelion





On the second day we made the trip up to Point Arena to view the lighthouse never expecting to encounter such a wonderful variety of wildflowers still in bloom. 



Point Arena Lighthouse with yellow gumweed in the foreground



The cliffs to the south of the lighthouse were alive with color.  The yellow Gumweed and Indian Paintbrush were a striking contrast against the beautiful blues of the ocean and clear sky.




Mendocino Coast Indian Paintbrush ~ Castillgea mendocinensis

 


Goldenrod ~ Solidago



Piperia elegans and Seaside Buckwheat



Pleated Gentian ~ Gentiana affinis var. orata (my favorite!)



Hairy Cat's Ear ~ Hypochaeris radicata



Ajuga repens

 Looking north east from the lighthouse area

After leaving Point Arena lighthouse area, we ventured through town as we headed back to The Sea Ranch.  Although not a native plant, the Red Hot Poker, or Torch Lily can be seen in glorious patches of red all about town. 



Red Hot Poker ~ Tritoma

The following morning we were back on the trails around The Sea Ranch again.  The native grasses offer such a beautiful contrast to the natural setting.

Another common flower that is considered non-native and a weed is the purple iceplant or sea fig.

Ice Plant ~ Carpobrotus chilensis

Sea pinks raise their pretty pink heads along with an occasional showing of the blue Brodiaea and delicate blue flax.

Sea Pinks or Sea Thrift ~ Armeria maritima

Brodiaea

Blue Flax ~ Linum biene

The mounded tuffs of this silver leaved Bush Lupine played host to a number of birds and insects.  We saw them in both the yellow and purple color.

A Lady Bug on Cynoglossum

Little Tarweed ~ Madia exiqua

 The heavenly hues of colors along the Sonoma County and Mendocino County coast lines will long be remembered.   I have tried to identify the flowers we saw to the best of my ability however I have no guaranty to the accuracy of my IDs.   The last splash of color below was a real surpirse when we walked up to a cliff's edge and looked over.  Growing in the shallow soil base of the cliff was this beautiful wave of pink Clarkia amonena.   





  The end of a wonderful day viewing wildflowers can only get better with the glory of a colored sky at sunset.  The clouds painted magical patterns across the sky as we watched the sun sink lower and lower on the horizon.  Mother Nature's paint brushes are never at rest.  The beauty of her work can be found all around us. 

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