Trails circumvent a large network of marshland, creeks, and small lakes. Shown here are reeds marking the wetlands in the background, peeking through the leaves of the trees lining the trail.
Horsetail Rush (Equisetum arvense)
This delicate, almost fern-like plant with thin, fine leaves like hair stood in isolated clumps near the wetlands along the trail. Its appearance and location makes me wonder if it likes to grow in damp places. Although it's native to California, some additional research indicated that it's invasive to our northern neighbors in Oregon.
Common monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus).
Blooms March-August. Apparently, the dark dots on the petals attract pollinators, including the larvae of the buckeye butterly. Beautiful four-petaled, bright yellow flower with dark, brown-orange centers, growing in clumps close to the ground. The leaves are edible and tasty on salads.
Black Mustard (Brassica nigra)
Very common in Southern California. Blooms in the spring. Native to the middle east and parts of Europe (non-native). Parts of the plant are edible and used a lot for spices in meals (hence, the familiar name).
Western goldentop (Euthamia occidentalis)
This is a common shrub found west of the Rockies. It sports finely petaled, yellow flowers, which honeybees love. In addition, it is most often found in riparian communities (coastal wetlands).
Purple Radish Raphanus raphanistrum
This grows wild in southern California. Many of the plants I've found on this hike have been edible! (not native).
Purple Radish (close-up)
--prickly pear cactus (seen on several hikes around my neighborhood)
Cholla cactus (Cylindropuntia fulgida)
A cactus with many branches and long, needle-like, white spines. Apparently, they are very hardy and can grow in high elevations, providing sustenance and water for bighorn sheep.
Cholla cactus (Cylindropuntia fulgida) (close-up)
--View of different cacti and mustard grass on the far side of Guajome.
--Southwestern waterwort
What is this plant? Your guess is as good as mine. I'm guessing it's southwestern waterwort (Elatine rubella) because that resembled it the most. This ground cover grows in dense, red, moss-like velvet over the dirt that may have recently dried up from a vernal spring (photo taken at the end of March).
--Southwestern waterwort (far view):
Distant view of one of the "heathers" of Elatine rubella (?),
which covers the dirt like a protective, brick-red blanket. I believe this growth is all that's left from this year's vernal pools at this location (until next year, of course). However, I would love help with identifying this mysterious plant!
Link: http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/img_query?rel-taxon=begins+with&where-taxon=Elatine+rubella
Southwestern waterwort (close-up)
Upon closer inspection, this plant has tiny, little purple flowers.
Grass Spider (Agelenidae family)
Upon much research (spiders are not easy to identify), I believe this guy is a "funnel weaver", part of a common species found all over North America. They are known for spinning sloppy webs that litter the grass in dewy cotton in the mornings. This guy was midst tons of his spider neighbors in a grassy field in Guajome, which reminded me of hobbit huts in the Shire.
Ice Plant--an invasive species in SoCal. Similar to all parks in California, work will need to be done to control some invasive species at Guajome.
Below--a video of the frogs croaking in the creek surrounding Guajome Park. Ah, it must be spring.
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