Delightful discoveries

Over the past 10 years or so, I've been trying to photograph every Plumas County wildflower i could find. My life list at this point is somewhere over 300 species.  On most days wandering around the woods and roadsides within a few miles of Quincy, I don't see anything new.  That's especially rrue with recent travel restrictions for various reasons.  However, this past week I've seen three species new to me.  The above photo, I believe, is Western Blue Flax.  Spotted along the Pacific Crest Trail within a few miles south of wherre it crosses the Quincy-LaPorte Road.

In the same area along the PCT I saw an abundance of Kellogg's Lewisia, a relative Bitterroot. Both of these plants seemed fairly abundant along the trail, so they are not rare at all .. Just rare to me in my limited travels. More importantly, they add great beauty to the trail.  I make a point of not hiking too fast to notice them.

THe last new one for me is the Twinberry.  I saw these along the trail in Valley Creek Special Interest Area, a few miles west of LaPorte. During the spring I often complained that Spring wasn't really beginning and I was seeing fewer wildflowers than in most years.  However, during the month of June hundreds of species are blooming and I am having a good time again hiking with my camera.

Excitement at the "Wye"

 Last Friday I was heading west on Hwy 70, hoping to get to the Caribou Road turnoff and then the Mosquito Creek crossing to photograph Stream Orchids.When I went down there a couple of weeks ago I saw no evidence of them, figuring maybe I was too early, or, perish the thought, something had afflicted them. It's the only place where I've ever seen an abundance of them (in previous years). Just before getting the the Greenville Wye, I realized I would not have time for Plan A and still get back to town for an appointment I'd made. So, I parked at the turnout just above the sandy beach popular for launching rafts and kayaks. Only found one interesting plant down by the beach, a lonely specimen of Grass Pink, and delicate non-resident member of the carnation family. Then I walked through the intersection onto the Greenville Road to check the rocky area overlooking a large pool and cascade, a place where I've spent many an hour in early spring, usually looking for the Elegant Rock Cress and a few other plants before the place becomes too popular with rattlesnakes. I just

 happened to glance across the highway at the base of the cliffs where several years ago I found one specimen of Stream Orchid, pictured here.  I saw a large crop of yellowish-green leaves that puzzled me.  I crossed over the discover the largest crop of Stream Orchid I've ever seen.  The two photos above are a sampler of the several dozen I took. A subtly beautiful flower. Most of the blossoms were already wilting, but I got a few lucky shots of ones that still looked fresh.  I then crossed over to the aforementioned pile of rocks overlooking the pool on Indian Creek.  Saw my first adult Fence Lizard of the season, or, I should say the first one that didn't get away before I took the picture.  This one let me get really close.

Still struggling to find the time to catch up with narrative to accompany a few recent posts that currently have only photos.

Catchin' Up...Hopefully

My excitement over the delayed arrival of Spring has me going on many local photography adventures and running out of time to generate the intended text to accompany the photos.  The above photo of a member of the Gentian family - locals call it Monument Plant - is an example of a find that excites me. [I've been corrected. See comment below. It's Frasera albicaulis. At least I got the family right.] I now have a backlog of several weeks' worth of photos and notes in my daily journal, so today I hope to go back to several recent posts and add some text (explanations?). However, I'm not sure I can resist grabbing my camera and heading for the woods again today. It's already warm and sunny.
By the way, if there's a "real" botanist out there, can you confirm this is a species of Swertia? My Jepson is over 30 years old and my plant anatomy skills are rusty. Thanks.

On a Walk Downtown

Mantling?

Some Red Milkweed Beetles have finally emerged on the Showy Milkweed along Chandler Road near Quincy. This particular shot reminded my of my days of enjoying rock climbing. This beetle appears to be mantling.  I wonder if it's easier with six legs. And the antennae might provide a good counterweight.