All that rain has really gotten the wildflowers going this month. Here are some highlights from the past few weeks:
California goldfields (Lasthinia californica) and Gray’s clover (Trifolium grayi), share a meadow at The Indians in the upper Arroyo Seco watershed.
Monterey mariposa lily (Calochortus uniflorus) blooming at Ft. Ord National Monument.
Denseflower owl’s clover (Castilleja densiflora) in Carmel.
Tidestrom’s lupine (Lupinus tidestromii), a federally listed endangered species, attempts to assure its continued existence on the planet by setting some robust seed pods. Development of the beachfront dunes where it makes its home has brought this Monterey native to the brink of extinction.
Monterey gilia (Gilia tenuiflora arenaria), an even more highly endangered species, is another struggling denizen of the Monterey Peninsula’s vanishing dune ecosystems.
Pink sand verbena (Abronia umbellata) is holding its own better against the onslaught of houses, hotels and ice plant.
Yellow sand verbena (Abronia latifolia) is also doing well.
Orange sand verbena??? Probably the result of a genetic variation. Unexpected color schemes frequently complicate the task of identifying plants.
Pacific silver-weed (Potentilla anserina pacifica) is salt-tolerant enough to grow right down to the beach.
Beach evening-primrose (Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia). Imagine the lupine, gilias, verbenas, silver-weeds, and evening-primroses covering the dunes instead of houses and ice plant and you’ll get an idea of what the Monterey coast looked like 100 years ago.
Pipestem clematis (Clematis lasiantha) along Paloma Creek.
Western wallflower (Erysimum capitatum) along the Carmel Valley Rd.
Indian pink (Silene laciniata californica) in the San Antonio River watershed.
Canyon liveforever (Dudleya cymosa) at The Indians.
Mesa brodiaea (Brodiaea jolonensis), named for the bustling town of Jolon; also at The Indians.
Indian warrior (Pedicularis densiflora) along the Arroyo Seco River.
A Santa Lucia easter egg balanced on a ridge…
And it’s not just flowers that like a little warm spring rain. How about highly prized white porcini (Boletus barrowsii) fruiting in a Carmel city park?
Xasáuan Today 
Oh, what a delight it was to see all those various locales and their differing flowers. I get to go out the back tomorrow, and anxious to see if my red delphiniums have started a bloom – or the large patch of blue ones has. Probably too early still, but I hope…
I was going to take my family to the wild flower show in P.G.’s Natural History Museum. This is the next best thing….! We went a few days later, and my grandsons still enjoy the place immensely. Thanks for doing the hiking for me!
Very nice Keith.
Love it! Many thanks for photos & comments!
Excellent, I always look forward to reading your posts.
Beautiful Keith, thank you. Happy Earth Day, and thanks for all you do to help safeguard our little piece of the planet.