Читать книгу Urban Trails East Bay - Alexandra Kenin - Страница 17

In the East Bay, wildflower season comes in spring, usually peaking in April. The flowers—natives and non-natives alike—arrive seemingly overnight, bringing splashes of vibrant color to the already verdant hills. Here are some popular varieties to look for, though there are so many more to see!

Lupine. There are many types of native lupine; one striking variety is the arroyo lupine, which is deep blue-purple with patches of white. This plant can be found throughout the entire state of California and can grow to more than two feet tall with columns of densely packed flowers toward the top. Look for the arroyo lupine along low-elevation hillsides with full sun. And look for other varieties of lupine along the trail, including the golden lupine, bush lupine, and more. These plants bloom predominantly between the months of February and May.

California Poppy. The native orange California poppy has been the state flower since 1903. The state celebrates poppy day on April 6 and poppy week May 13–18. At one to two inches across with four fan-shaped petals, these cheery blooms can generally be spotted between February and September.

Yarrow. Yarrow thrives in many places, but the varieties that grow natively in California produce lacy-looking clusters of white and pink flowers atop green one- to four-foot-tall stalks. They most frequently bloom in May and June. Native Americans used these plants as medicine, and they’re also a great addition to butterfly gardens.

Yellow Oxalis. Native to South Africa, this plant with cloverlike leaves and bell-shaped, almost neon yellow flowers was brought to California in the early 1900s. It blooms across grasslands from November to April, but seems to come out in full force in January and February just as spring arrives in the area. While beautiful, oxalis plants take light and space away from native wildflowers and are considered a nuisance.

A cluster of cheery California poppies brightens a trail at Point Pinole Regional Shoreline (Hike 4).

Wild Mustard. Hailing from Europe and Asia, wild mustard is thought to have been brought to California by Spanish missionaries who scattered seeds along El Camino Real to make the road easier to find. Now you can find these tall plants with small yellow blooms all over the Bay Area (and the state). Wild mustard crowds the habitat of native plants and is considered a nuisance.

Broom. Brought from Europe in the mid-1800s as a garden accent and soil stabilizer, broom grows as a dense shrub with fragrant yellow flowers and seedpods that look like peapods. While innocent looking, the plant is an aggressive invader that threatens native plants and is also a fire hazard.

Fragrant, but invasive broom flowers on a trail in Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve in spring (Hike 9).

Poison Oak. An unfortunate but common plant along East Bay hiking trails, poison oak contains urushiol, an oil that can cause a skin rash or blisters. Remembering the old adage “leaves of three, let it be” can help you avoid it.

To distinguish poison oak from other plants with clusters of three leaves, remember that poison oak leaves have smooth edges, rather than jagged ones, and can be green or red, depending on the season. The leaves somewhat resemble those of oak trees and are often shiny. In winter, when there may not be leaves to help you identify poison oak, stay away from smooth branches; if the plant you’re looking at has thorns, it may be blackberry. On official trails, you are unlikely to come into direct contact with poison oak. If you think you or your pet has been exposed, wash your clothes and your pet; the oil can linger on both. Several products on the market can remove poison oak oil from your skin in case of exposure.