Hoary manzanita (Arctostaphylos canescens), photo courtesy of Jim Webb.

By James Webb

About James (Jim) Webb: Jim began volunteering with Sugarloaf Ridge State Park last February 2023 as a trail patrol volunteer. His experience in previous work with USFS lends itself to very detailed trail reports. His reports of “What’s Blooming/Fruiting?” are a naturalist’s weekly treat, and his most recent efforts, concentrated on meticulous examination of data from our trails has led to improved data concerning ease of access descriptions of trails and areas in the park.

Goodspeed and Nattkemper Trails

I thought you might enjoy a combination of the Wildflower Walks and Fungus Among Us reports, with more photographs. I came across several lovely and interesting flowers and fungi during my walk on the Goodspeed and Nattkemper Trails yesterday. The trails leading to the top of Hood Mountain seem to host species I don’t often find elsewhere.

I’ll start with a beautiful cluster of shrubby flowers from one of the many manzanita species that thrive in the Mayacamas Mountains. This one is hoary manzanita (Arctostaphylos canescens) shown as the featured image.

Parish’s nightshade (Solanum parishii) is a very early blooming nightshade with small flowers that can be blue or a royal purple.

 Parish’s nightshade (Solanum parishii), photo courtesy of Jim Webb.

Orange bush monkeyflower (Diplacus aurantiacus) is one of those plants that doesn’t seem to have a “blooming season.” I have found it in bloom in every month of the year.

Orange bush monkeyflower (Diplacus aurantiacus), photo courtesy of Jim Webb.

Bluebuttons (Adelinia grande), often called grand hound’s tongue, have been blooming at lower elevations for a few weeks.  They are  very common along the middle section of the Goodspeed Trail.

Bluebuttons (Adelinia grande), photo courtesy of Jim Webb.

One of my favorite shrub genera is gooseberries because of the wide variability these species exhibit in flowers, thorniness, and size. The one I initially suggested to Alma as a Sierra gooseberry (Ribes roezlii) is actually a California gooseberry (R. californicum). The differences between the two species are subtle. Their flowers and leaves are somewhat similar, but small variations in the thorns and petals help distinguish them.

California gooseberry (R. californicum), photo courtesy of Jim Webb.

Warrior’s plume (Pedicularis densiflorus) is just starting to bloom. These plants are just poking out of the soil, with the red inflorescence that gives the plant its name appearing first.

Warrior’s plume (Pedicularis densiflorus), photo courtesy of Jim Webb. 

Turning to the fungi, one of the most colorful and obvious waxy caps has finally made an appearance this year:  the scarlet waxy cap (Hygrocybe coccinea). The species is only found under redwoods and I found this one, with several others, along Sonoma Creek at the start of the Goodspeed Trail.