Over the past week or so I've taken several hikes in the Quincy area to see what plants and animals were waking up for the season. The blooming flowers shown here are from the area just north of Oakland Camp, near Gilson Creek, the Feather River College nature trail, and the PG&E pole line that crosses the Snake Lake Road about a mile north of the FRC turnoff. Later today I hope to add natural history notes and identifications. Meanwhile, enjoy the flowers. Many of these will also be posted soon on the plumascounty.org "Bloom Blog" with their common or popular names. But, if you want a path into the scientific names and relationships, check back here later.
It is now LATER: I'll start with the common or popular names of these. Above photo is the Stout-beaked Toothwort, a member of the mustard family. Below is a Stickseed, a member of the Borage family that contains Forget-me-nots and Fiddleneck.
Next, we have two photos of the Red Larkspur or Delphinium, a member of the Buttercup family.
Below is a Henderson's Shooting Star, a member of the Primrose family.
The Henbit Dead Nettle, in the Mint family, has practically no odor. Very small and common on roadsides, the flowers are typical of the Mint family and the stems are square in cross-section.
This early-bird member of the Mustard Family is the Elegant Rock Cress. It blooms early in the season and keeps blooming well into the summer.
The Dusky Horkelia, a member of the Rose family, is close to the ground and bends in with most ground covers so it is easy to overlook.
The Death Camas, a lily, has been grazed upon. Some animal nearby is either dead, very sick, or immune.
The California Waterleaf, wouldn't you know, is a member of the Waterleaf family. Genus Phacelia, it is often known by that name as a common name.
A California Buttercup surrounded by the leaves of several other common spring wildflowers. If you click on the photo for an enlargement, you might be able to spot them.
The Bue-eyed Mary, formerly in the Figwort family or Scrophulariaceae, has been moved to the Plantain family. Very tiny, hiding in the grass. It helps if you know where to find them
The Arrow-leaf Balsamroot, superficially resembles Mules Ears, but blooms earlier and has quite a different leaf shape. See the arrow shape?
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