When we took this hike around the same time last year, the landscape was still in winter’s clutches. This year, however, plenty of fall precipitation and warm temperatures have accelerated early blooming in many species: we counted over two dozen species in bloom on this trip versus a handful last year.
Photo taken January 30, 2022, by Don Burk.
Our main objective on this hike was to look for silverback fern (Pentagramma pallida) on the granitic west-facing slope of Mule Mountain, Swasey Recreation Area, Redding. We had just seen it on the relatively close-by Cloverdale Trails for the first time, and wondered if it might not be present on Mule Mountain as well.
We did not find any silverback ferns, but we were pleasantly surprised to find Pacific hound’s-tongue (Cynoglossum grande) in full bloom along Mule Ridge Trail. Milkmaids (Cardamine californica) were also blooming in abundance on several higher-elevation trails. Lower down, on the Princess Ditch Trail, Henderson’s shooting-stars (Primula hendersonii) were really starting to pop, and fragrant cudweed (Pseudognaphalium beneolens) was in flower almost everywhere. Other notable blossoms that brought smiles to our faces included foothill poppy (Eschscholzia caespitosa), silver bush lupine (Lupinus albifrons), and Fremont’s silk tassel (Garrya fremontii).
Compared with last year, we found a bonanza of blooms! Definitely makes for a rewarding outing for the weekend botanist. For details about hiking these trails, please see last year’s write-up, Mule Mountain from Stoney Gulch, February 7, 2021. Happy hiking! ~Laurie & Don Burk
