Visitors 79
Modified 21-Dec-23
Created 2-May-19
155 photos
The April bird transect came as serpentine wildflowers approached their peak: Goldfields of course, Owl’s Clover, Leptosiphon of various sorts, California Poppies. More: Tomcat Clover, and a few Tidy Tips – these seem much less abundant this year (?). The stand of Brewer’s Onions was in full bloom among its special serpentine rocks. In the woodland along Trail 3, Lowland Shooting Star was finishing its run for the year. Hardy Suncups blossomed along the road and trails. A few Lupine appeared along with early Blue-eyed Grass.
New green leaves clothed the oaks, both deciduous and evergreen. New leaves on Poison Oak began as a dark crimson, fading to green as the chlorophyll built up. Miner’s Lettuce and Warrior’s Plume remained in full flower.
Where there are flowers, there are insects. I spent some pleasant minutes watching beetles of different sizes as they explored the anthers of Narrow-leaved Mule Ears, gathering and spreading pollen.
Deer grazed. A hawk flew overhead. Moths and spiders appeared.
A former student returned to the site of his thesis. Jasper Ridge holds a special place in the hearts of many students; I have met professors from all over the world, returning here to extend a decades-long study and data set, and to introduce others to carry on. Jasper Ridge has protected these study sites from dramatic external intervention, year over year, allowing us to see the effects of natural processes as climate change and species turnover work their way.
As I post these photos, the springtime wave of blossoms has moved to the shady forest: Sticky Monkey, Yerba Santa, and White Globe Lilies are taking center stage. The bountiful exuberance of wildflowers in the serpentine grasslands has faded: gold, pink, and purple replaced by the dark blue of Blue Dicks and Blue-eyed Grass. Some flowers persist: Mule Ears, Suncups. Now I am finally sharing photos from this outing, three weeks ago, of a display that has faded into memory. But for the record, here goes.
