It was a busy day at the Park today! We started off with a Junior Ranger program on plants, with a whole lot of enthusiastic kids. Then I worked in the Visitor Center for the afternoon; nearly 200 people came through in four hours, over three-quarters of them in the first two hours. I heard so many great questions, it made my inquiring heart happy.
It’s been a while since I hiked Piuma Ridge Trail. Not a whole ton of wildflowers, but this one bush poppy shrub/tree was stunning.
Mountain mahogany is one of my favourite chaparral shrubs. Right now, clusters of yellow flowers are attracting hummingbirds, butterflies—and nature journalers! It’s especially notable for its long, feathery seeds that curl like delicate spirals and glisten in the sunlight. The name Cercocarpus translates to “fruit with a tail,” a nod to these distinctive seed plumes. Despite its name—given for the dark, mahogany-colored bark—this native plant is actually in the Rose family.
Growing up in Canberra, Australia, we had a row of cotoneasters along the back fence, so I immediately recognised the one in the garden here. Silverleaf Cotoneaster, originally introduced from China as an ornamental plant, features white flowers and red fruits. It has escaped cultivation and is now found in disturbed areas, particularly near residential zones, as well as in undisturbed coastal scrub, grasslands, and forests. Each plant can produce thousands of fruits annually, which are spread by birds, small mammals, water, and human activity. Its Cal-IPC (Invasive Plants Council) rating is Moderate.
The berries are toxic to domestic pets, including dogs and cats, and are not considered safe for human consumption. I’ve read that blackbirds, thrushes and waxwings enjoy the fruit, but I have not observed that for myself — must keep an eye out for birds in the bush!
Along with dinosaurs and fossils and underwater photographs, this house has a lot of large Dieffenbachia plants.
Dieffenbachia is a perennial herbaceous plant with an upright stem and simple, alternate leaves marked by white spots and flecks, which make it a popular choice for indoor foliage. These plants are favored as houseplants due to their ability to thrive in low light conditions.
The common name “dumb cane” comes from the toxic effect of raphides found in the plant, which can impair speech. Ingesting the plant can lead to immediate numbness, followed by painful swelling of the feet, the formation of blisters, and swelling of the throat. These symptoms are accompanied by a painful stinging and burning sensation in the mouth and throat, which may persist for up to two weeks. So don’t be eating those leaves!
Continuous line drawing
It was so good to meet with SMMNJC again this past weekend. Due to vacation, holidays, and wildfires it had been four months since I’d got to hang out with the gang. We welcomed four newcomers, and all enjoyed our time in the sun. I got curious about the arroyo willow flowers and identified male/female. Did not identify the odd stem growth, but mysteries are OK by me.
hashiworks 