Wildflower Mount Diablo Yerba Santa Scientific Name: Eriodictyon californicum Family: Hydrophyllaceae (Waterleaf Family) Blooms: Apr - Jun Color: White Shrub Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Mike Woodring

Black Point Trail by J. Frank Valle-Riestra Reproduced from Mountain News, Summer 2012 June 1, 2012 Leslie Contreras Ticks are found almost everywhere on Bay Area trails. With reasonable precautions, they do not pose an appreciable hazard to hikers, just a bit of a nuisance. We mention ticks here because a portion of the loop to be described passes through some fine stands of native bunch grasses, and bunch grasses are a favorite host plant to ticks. So, let us face it, at some periods during the year (which are unpredictable), you will pick up ticks on your clothing. Wear light colors to make the ticks easier to spot or to pick off or rather scrape off; it is amazing how the little critters can flatten out and hang on for dear life to resist casual efforts to brush them off. The portion of the loop in question is the Black Point Trail, not long ago cleaned up and cleared by the park’s maintenance personnel and volunteers, and now in excellent shape. The work did clear away bothersome poison oak, but could not clear away the seasonal black flies around the Black Point summit or eliminate a few very steep stretches with somewhat slippery footing on the south-facing slopes. You may well wonder - ticks? Black flies? Slippery slopes? This is a favorite trail? Rest assured that there are compensating features - the Black Point Trail is one of the park’s top attractions, best appreciated during the spring months. Your exploration starts at the Mitchell Canyon Road trailhead, at the end of the paved Mitchell Canyon Road on the outskirts of the little town of Clayton. A modest parking fee is charged. On weekends and holidays, drop in at the Visitor Center to get the latest information on trail conditions. And before starting your trek, be sure to visit the native plant garden behind the Center, an amazing display created almost singlehandedly by Dave Caniglia, a park volunteer. Now follow the road along Mitchell Canyon for just 1/2 mile, to the first posted trail on your right. This is the beginning of the Black Point Trail, and the first part is a gently ascending road with a packed sandy soil base. In the middle of spring, the road base is transformed into delightful carpets of bright, ground-hugging wildflowers - in particular, Bird’s Eye Gilia (Gilia tricolor ), Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii ), Goldfields (Lasthenia californica ), and many others. More flower species, some blooming right into the warm summer months, favor the narrow zone between the road and the surrounding chaparral, in particular, Blue Witch (Solanum umbelliferum ), Indian Paint Brush (Castilleja spp. ), and Deer Weed (Lotus scoparius). If you enjoy flower identification, this is the trail for you, although other attractions will vie for your attention - such as the ever-changing views of Mitchell Rock across Mitchell Canyon. Soon you reach the end of the road, and a single-track trail beckons you to plunge into the cool, mixed-green woodland of Black Point’s north-facing slopes. The forest here is typical of Mount Diablo - a mix of Bay Laurel (Umbellularia californica ), Madrone (Arbutus menziesii ), Gray Pine (Pinus sabiniana ), and oak species. The flowers are not as noticeable, but the eye is gladdened by a profusion of bunch grasses which at one time covered the mountain, to be displaced by introduced Mediterranean grasses. The well-engineered trail is a pleasure to follow, zig-zagging its way moderately to ascend the flanks of Black Point. All too soon, and quite suddenly, the trail leaves the forest and starts its way through “hard” chaparral. This portion of the trail, right up to the summit at 1,790 feet, can be quite warm in summer, but is quite tolerable during the rest of the year. The dominant chaparral shrub is Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum ) in springtime it displays myriad showy cream-colored flowers, and in the fall its rust-colored fruits turn whole hillsides a rich, vibrant brown, worthy of a Flemish painting, and a joy to behold. Quite a few other species proliferate among the Chamise: the aromatic California Sagebrush (Artemisia californica ), Black Sage (Salvia mellifera ) with its attractive spikes of springtime flowers, Big-berry Manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca ) blooming late in winter. But two species, blooming spectacularly in good years, will monopolize your attention. One is Pitcher Sage (Lepechinia calycina ), an unexpectedly lush-looking small plant along all those tough drought survivors. It has felt-like leaves and beautiful pale purple flowers enclosed in an urn of sepals - the “pitchers.” The other spectacular bloomer is the Bush Monkey Flower (Mimulus aurantiacus ) unlike the rarer Pitcher Sage, it proliferates. It prefers the narrow zone between the chaparral and trail’s edge, and on occasion one walks along corridors with walls of bloom, in colors of peach, salmon and rose wine. These blooms often last into the warm months of summer. The trail reaches its highest point in a saddle below the summit of Black Point. A short spur trail of about 100 yards leads to the summit proper, which is pretty overgrown; better views are obtained by continuing on the Black Point Trail as it rounds the western flank of the mountain. Far below you, you will spot gently rolling, grassy foothills, the grazing spread of John Ginocchio’s cattle ranch, and an effective and welcome barrier to the flood of development reaching toward the park’s wilderness. Here the plant world benefits from a little more moisture even in summer, moisture brought in by morning mists. The chaparral is “softer,” with shrubs, such as Squawbush (Rhus trilobata ), that are characterized by more pliable, “softer” leaves. As you head south, the chaparral again becomes “harder,” and Black Point Trail descends, sharply at times, into the depths of White Canyon. The trail ends at its junction with Red Road, and here you turn left to meet Mitchell Canyon Road, after a gentle descent of about one mile. A metal bench at this junction offers a welcome rest in a shady nook. Rather than returning to the trailhead entirely along Mitchell Canyon Road, we suggest that you backtrack a few yards along Red Road to the beginning of the Globe Lily Trail. This is another of the park’s “secret” trails with any number of visual surprises. It is a showplace of wildflowers, and in the middle of spring you are likely to spot beauties such as the Mount Diablo Globe Tulip (Calochortus pulchellus ) and the Checker Lily (Fritillaria lanceolata ). The trail’s end closes your loop trip at the Black Point Trail where you started, and you retrace your steps back to the Mitchell Canyon Road trailhead. The total distance traversed is about 4-3/4 miles, and you climb some 1,200 feet. A gentle pace with rest stops will require 3-1/2 to 4 hours. Check out more Spring Wildflower Hikes: Springtime in North Peak Globe Lily Trail Mary Bowerman Hike Black Point Trail Map Black Point Trail Elevation BACK TO LIST

Behr's Silvery Blue Glaucopsyche lygdamus incognitus Lycaenidae Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks Flies March to May Host Plant Lupine, Legumes, Vetches Nectar Plant Daniel Fitzgerald Female Daniel Fitzgerald Male Daniel Fitzgerald Underwing

Wildflower Mount Diablo Golden Yarrow Scientific Name: Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower Family) Blooms: May - Jun Color: Yellow-Orange Shrub Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Kevin Hintsa

Falls Trail Hike Steve Smith, MDIA President Hike of the Month, March 2024 eNewsletter March 1, 2024 Scott Hein It's that time of year again when the Winter rains have had a chance to fill up our mountain springs and creeks. As all of that water cascades down the mountain, one of the best features to explore are our waterfalls. This is a gorgeous hike no matter the time of year but made special by the sights and sounds of the rushing waters above, below and through the Falls Trail. Due to the popularity of this trail on weekends, if you can experience this during the week you will have it all to yourself. There are so many ways to get there, but this is my favorite. Starting from Mitchell Canyon Road make your first left on Oak Road and continue slight right as it becomes Coulter Pine Trail. At its terminus hang a right up Bruce Lee Road and then make a tricky creek crossing. Then head right up Back Creek Trail, another gorgeous site. Make your first left onto Tickwood Trail and enjoy a journey through grassland, woodland, and chaparral before ending at Donner Canyon Road. Take a right and climb up the wide road to its terminus, turning right on Meridian Ridge Road and then a hidden left onto Middle Trail. Hike among the gorgeous chaparral as you search out some lovely wildflowers along the way. At the junction continue straight onto Falls Trail and wind your way up and down some steep grades, pausing to admire rushing streams and the roar of water above. Keep checking your view as the triplet of falls comes into view. Continue around for a mile as you negotiate the rocky terrain and check over your shoulder often for the quintessential view of all three falls. Once at the end, turn right on Cardinet Oaks briefly then a left and down Wasserman Trail for a journey through chaparral, pine forests, oak woodlands and eventually riparian habitats as you near Donner Creek. At the junction turn left on Donner Trail and head down to the creek, you may be ankle-deep crossing it. At the next junction turn right on Hetherington until crossing the creek again. At the main trail turn right onto Donner Canyon Road. Continue to a left on Murchio Road across the meadows, sure to be loaded with flowers. At its terminus turn right on Watertower Road, then left on Bruce Lee Trail, a small single track down the hillside. Re-enter the parking lot (you're now in the lower lot) and head back to your vehicle. This adventure takes you 7.3 miles and 1500 feet of climbing and is guaranteed to wow you. Map of Falls Trail Hike.jpg Falls Trail Hikers by Steve Smith Wasserman Trail by Steve Smith Moist Landscape by Steve Smith Coulter Pine Trail by Steve Smith BACK TO LIST

Wildflower Mount Diablo Cream Cups Scientific Name: Platystemon californicus Family: Papaveraceae (Poppy Family) Blooms: Mar - Apr Color: Yellow-Orange Annual herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Jenn Roe Mike Woodring

Pollen Wasp by Dan Sandri A much friendlier wasp June 20, 2025 by Dan Sandri These days there is a wasp flying around Mount Diablo State Park’s Bunchleaf Penstemon (Penstemon heterophyllus ) that looks somewhat like a Western Yellowjacket (Vespula pensylvanica ), but is much more peace-loving and delightful! It is a Pollen Wasp: Pseudomasaris vespoides . It isn’t a pest or a predator - this Pollen Wasp behaves more like a bee. Pseudomasaris vespoides is a specialist that relies solely on Penstemon for pollen and nectar to feed its larvae. To find it, look for the Penstemon . These wasps differ from yellowjackets in that they are larger and have clubbed antennae, among other differences. Unlike most bees, they do not carry nectar and pollen on their legs. They carry pollen and nectar back to their mud nests using their crops. Like most native bees, each female wasp is a solitary nester, not a communal nester – each nest cell contains one egg and the nectar and pollen to feed the larva when the egg hatches. A mud nest may be a collection of parallel cells attached to a rock. Certain Penstemon plants, including some endangered plants across the Western United States, rely on Pseudomasaris vespoides for pollination – they would go extinct without the wasp. Pollen wasps have long tongues that enable them to reach the nectar at the base of long, tubular flowers. If you watch Pseudomasaris vespoides wasps collect nectar from Bunchleaf Penstemon, you will hear them too, as their backs make a rasping sound when they rub against spines in the Bunchleaf Penstemon flowers. Note that there are at least three species on Pseudomasaris in Mount Diablo State Park, but if you see one on Bunchleaf Penstemon, it will be Pseudomasaris vespoides . The upper parts of Mount Diablo have a lot of Penstemon right now, and a lot of these wasps. Perhaps try Mary Bowerman Fire Interpretive Trail or one of the other higher elevation trails. by Dan Sandri Pollen Wasp (Pseudomasaris vespoides) by Dan Sandri Pollen Wasp (Pseudomasaris vespoides) BACK TO LIST

Wildflower Mount Diablo Wind Poppy Scientific Name: Papaver heterophyllum Family: Papaveraceae (Poppy Family) Blooms: Apr - Jun Color: Yellow-Orange Annual herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Mike Woodring

Wildflower Mount Diablo Rough Cockleburr Scientific Name: Xanthium strumarium Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower Family) Blooms: August Color: Yellow-Orange Annual herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Steven Beatty Steven Beatty Leaf detail

Wildflower Mount Diablo Golden Eardrops Scientific Name: Ehrendorferia chrysantha Family: Papaveraceae (Poppy Family) Blooms: Apr - Jul Color: Yellow-Orange Perennial herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Mike Woodring

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Wildflower Mount Diablo Jepson's Woolly Sunflower Scientific Name: Eriophyllum jepsonii Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower Family) Blooms: Apr-Jul Color: Yellow-Orange Perennial herb Native, endemic to California California Rare Plant Rank: 4.3 (limited distribution ). This plant is rare in Mount Diablo State Park. See full list Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Daniel Fitzgerald Daniel Fitzgerald