A Hint of Spring

 In the forest between the northern terminus of Oakland Camp and Gilson Creek off the sides of the Tollgate Creek trail, there are lots of Clarkia dudleyana, commonly known as Farewell-to-Spring.  I first learned this plant on the last day of spring some five years ago.  It seems they are blooming earlier every year, and this year the most abundant crop I can remember.  Yet a lot fewer species of other wildflowers are blooming.  My research into what is going on continues.

In the same area, there are lots of Penstemon blooming.  Or, in scientific terminology, Penstemon sp.  I am not sure of the species, and there are quite a few species of Pentstemon that are purple. Of note, this is one of the several species of local wildflowers whose common name is the same as the scientific name.  Another would be Rhododendron.