Spring in the Snow Mountain Wilderness

Oak woodland.

It has been perfect spring weather in northern California, concerning only because it is scarcely past mid February and spring has already arrived. Yesterday I visited the SE corner of the Snow Mountain Wilderness which sits in the coast range of northern California. At only about 2000 ft, I visited one of the lowest elevations in the wilderness, which includes East Snow Mountain peak that exceeds 7000 ft elevation. Geographic names notwithstanding, there was not a trace of snow on the trail or on any mountains in the distance.

The region of the Bath House Trail that I explored included oak and pine woodland and chaparral. Some of the deciduous oaks were just beginning to produce new leaves, showing the brilliant tender green color of new foliage. Other species included manzanita, pines, poison oak and some scattered western redbud. The oak woodland had a carpet of green grass, Galium and several flowering species: purple onions, yellow buttercups, pink beak-shaped Dodecatheon and an interesting forb bearing bluish flowers that reminded me of a milkweed.

Unknown forb with blue flowers. The white hoods on the petals that
form a ring at the center of the flower remind me of a milkweed flower.

Fritillaria recurva.

On one north-east facing hillslope, I found scarlet fritillary, a lily-like herb with bright orange flowers. According to the Calflora website, Fritillaria recurva typically blooms from April to June, but flowers were already on full display during my visit. This species is also apparently associated with serpentine soils. Serpentine rocks can be greenish in color, and their soils are relatively low in calcium and high in magnesium, creating conditions that host quite a few endemic plant species. I would like to learn much more about the serpentine flora of the west coast.