What a beautiful day for a flower walk and what a crowd showed up for it - sixteen people!   Kay and Elisabeth are becoming my best salespeople.  As expected, the Indian Warriors were out in force under the pines as we passed through the gate.   Lots of Shooting stars and Henderson fawn lilies soon made their appearance along the trail. 

As we passed from forest into the prairie and chaparral, blooming Whiteleaf manzanita, Hall's desert parsley, Miniature or Bicolor lupines, Grasslands saxifrage, Popcorn flowers, and Western buttercups appeared.  Underneath the blooming, honey-smelling Buckbrush ceononthus were teeny tiny True Baby stars, half the width of your pinkie, cute as heck. In the little more protected oak woodland further along, we found Tolmei's Mariposa lilies/Pussy ears along with the Upland larkspur, Pioneer violets, Blue dicks, Hound's tongue, Woodland strawberry and a new one for some, the Sierra sanicle.

Once into the shaded and wetter stream (riparian) area, we saw more fawn lilies, a couple of Hooker's fairybells,  Woodland star, Indian plum/Osoberry, Miner's lettuce, Fendler's waterleaf phacelia and the star of the show, the Giant white wake robin/trillium with its lovely white petals folder up in prayer, a distinguishing characteristic.

Afterwards, everyone came back to my place for a tour of the backyard Tulip Festival and Shakespeare garden, joined by John's Friday hikers. All were plied with wine and beer and munchies as they recounted their day to each other.  

To get to know the flowers mentioned here, check out the Wildflower Reference photo page on the website under Friday Flower walks.

Respectfully submitted,
Your Flower Floozy Liz