Wildflowers at Calaveras Big Trees’ Bradley Grove

July 5, 2010:

Grand Collomia

The day after the 4th of July at the cabin, we decided to go for our annual wildflower walk at the Bradley Grove in nearby Calaveras Big Trees State Park.   Unlike the two other grove hikes in the park, this one does not have any Giant Sequoias, but rather is a grove dedicated to a patron of the park, and is second-growth mixed pine and such.

Mountain Pretty Face

Although it lacks pretty much any kind of grandeur or scenery, this short loop hike is easily in my top 5 wildflower hikes anywhere.  Many species that are hard to see elsewhere are quite reliable here (Snow Plant, Phantom Orchid, & Coralroots to name just three).

Fringed Pinesap

On this walk, to my surprise, I saw a new-to-me flower, the mycotrophic Fringed Pinesap, a ghostly fungus-feeder.

Phantom Orchid

As we climbed, we were pleased to see a good number of Phantom Orchids, another mycotrope.  This ghostly flower, once seen, is often easily seen again, but the first sighting can be difficult, as it blends in well in the sun-dappled forest duff.

Woods’ Rose

The wild roses were also blooming.  Despite being quite considerably less fancy than their cultivated counterparts, their scent is no less sweet.

White-veined Wintergreen

The tell-tale leaves of Wild-Ginger (not actually a ginger) were plentiful, but we saw none of their odd little flowers.  The similarly-leaved White-veined Wintergreen was blooming in a few patches, however.

Western Thimbleberry

As always in spring, Thimbleberry abounded in patches.

Queen’s Cup

Another common white flower nearly everywhere in Calaveras Big Trees in spring is Queen’s Cup AKA Bride’s Bonnet.  This lily exhibits perfect  three-symmetry, with three basal leaves, 6 petals, and 6 stamens.

Butterfly on Pussy Paws

We came to the meadow that marks the end of the slight uphill portion and saw fewer flowers there than usual.  Flitting about the Pussy Paws, however, was a new-to-me butterfly, whose name is unknown to me.   A nice fellow on Flickr’s ID Please group suggested it is one of the Parnassius swallowtails.  Do you know what it is?

No idea what this one is!

A bit father on, another mystery.  At first blush I thought it was another Fringed Pinesap, but looking now, I do not think it is.  Perhaps Sugar Sticks?  I really don’t know.

Mountain Pretty Face

There are usually good flowers along Beaver Creek, but not this time – little was in bloom of note, other than some not-yet-opened probable-Alpine Lilies.

Western Azalea

We crossed Beaver Creek, took a deep snort of the sweet Azaleas that grow here, and returned toward the car.

Torrey’s Monkeyflower

I’d missed them on the way in, but a little patch of the tiny magenta Torrey’s Monkeyflower bloomed in a sunny patch near the parking lot.

The Bradley Grove is always a wonderful walk in spring, and this time was no exception.

“In the flowering glade of the big trees, my peace I give unto you”
– John Muir

Distance: 2.5 miles
Time: 1hr 50min

Wildflowers seen:
– Bleeding Hearts
– Blue Nightshade
– Common Catchfly
– Crimson Columbine
– Deerbrush
* Fringed Pinesap
– Grand Collomia
– Hartweg’s Iris
– Mountain Misery
– Mountain Pretty Face
– Pacific Starflower
– Phantom Orchid
– Pine Violet
– Pinedrops
– Pussy Paws
– Queen’s Cup
– Royal Penstemon
– Snow Plant
– Striped Coralroot
– Torrey’s Monkeyflower
– Western Azalea
– Western Thimbleberry
– White-veined Wintergreen
– Wild-Ginger
– Woods’ Rose

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