By James Webb

About James (Jim) Webb: Jim began volunteering with Sugarlaof 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 Trail:

The Goodspeed Trail is well graded and in good condition, though currently overgrown with grasses and thistles in places, and two small fallen trees are “step over” obstacles.  Flowering plants in bloom along the trail include Red Ribbons (Clarkia concinna, shown above), Western Morning Glory (Calystegia occidentalis), Cardinal Catchfly ((Silene laciniata), Texas Paintbrush (Castolleja foliosa), Paintbrush (Castilleja affinis), Sweet Bush (Calycanthus occidentalis), Orange Bush Monkeyflower (Diplacus aurantiaca), Wooly Sunflower (Eriophyllum lanatum),Yarrow (Achilea millefolium), California Milkwort (Rhinotropis californica), Globe Lily (Calochortus amabilis), Chaparral Pea (Pickeringia montana), White Hawkweed (Hieracium albiflorum), Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), Gold Wire (Hypericum concinnum), Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon californicum), Ithuriel’s Spear (Triteleia laxa), Harvest Brodiaea (Brodiaea elegans), and Peregrine Thistle (Cirsium cymosum).