R: California Golden Violet.
Today I braved the HEAT WAVE and ventured out to find more Checker Lilies on San Bruno Mountain. Seemed like it might be time.
Started off via Firth Canyon to check out two of my favorite three spots on the Southeast side of the mountain. And the cool breeze that always comes down the canyon was a lovely welcome. Spotted some small orange mushrooms in the mossy banks. Maybe Deceivers? Super cool to see mushrooms despite the heat!
Took the trail East (that really needs a name), which is not what I usually do. Guess I thought it might be tough to get up higher to the second spot. Maybe too much Pacific Poison Oak? So I wussed out and went left.
Saw some fun things along the way, like an Oak-loving Elfin Saddle fungi in the usual spot, a Banana Slug surprisingly dealing with the heat better than I was, and a couple Amanitas in the usual spot, too! Thought I might’ve missed all the neato fungi on this trail, but apparently I got there in time!
Then I got to the clearing. Where the expected Checker Lilies awaited me! They were out, alright. The hillside meadow was full of them. And there were a number of green leaf carpets out waiting to sprout more. There were even a fair number East of the trail once it turns upward. Never seen them there before! Guess I never looked there??
Also in the area were a couple Variable Checkerspot caterpillars! TWO, in fact. And some cheerful Western Blue-eyed Grass blooms. AND a moth that kindly landed for me! Quite large and a pretty caramel color. Neoterpes edwardsata, perhaps?
After I had my fill (or couldn’t handle being in direct sun anymore), I headed back to continue up to the second spot. Encountering Pacific Pea and San Francisco Wallflower and more Checkerspot caterpillars on California Bee Plant along the way. And then I was there. And there they were. Nowhere near as many as I thought there’d be. But plenty of green leaf carpets out. So it’s not quite peak yet.
Also in that meadow were Milkmaids and Henderson’s Shooting Stars and Purple Sanicle. The barelytheretrail there is very overgrown with grass. I wonder if it’s less used in recent years?
After getting better looks at my photos once I got home, I inadvertently took a photo of an insect INSIDE a Checker Lily flower! Possibly a Margined Calligrapher?
Walked up the earth steps since they looked dry enough for my tastes and spotted MORE Checker Lilies up there, as was expected. Someday I need to go when it’s TOTALLY DRY. And bring walking sticks. And Brian. And make it up to the dang top. Just to see what’s up there.
After I was done, I spotted a Peziza fungus coming through a rope mat on the hillside. That stuff grows out of nowhere!
And then it was off to the third and final spot in the San Bruno Mountain Ecological Reserve. West end.
And I must say that meadow on the hillside is ABSOLUTELY STUNNING right now. STUN. ING. It looked like every single possible dang flowering plant was OUT and SOAKING UP EVERY BIT OF SUNSHINE. And, of course, no single photo I took of it does it justice. As usual. Just take my word for it.
What was especially delightful to see were BAJILLIONS of California Golden Violets. I wasn’t necessarily expecting them to be out yet, but THEY WERE. Does everyone else see an adorable lion face when looking at Violets like I do? Is that because of the Disney Alice in Wonderland movie?
I don’t have time to sing all their praises, but I’m quite certain that hillside meadow is currently at its PEAK. And if it really does rain in the next week or so, the whole area just might EXPLODE with wildflowers.
Another fantastic day on the mountain that never disappoints. Think I got my Checker Lily fill and THEN SOME today!
