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Knobcone to Oyster Point Hike By Steve Smith Reprinted from MDIA Newsletter November 2023 November 1, 2023 Scott Hein Oyster Point is a special treat as it is a remote destination packed full of adventure and scenic beauty. With the opening of Knobcone Point Road (through Save Mount Diablo’s Curry Canyon Ranch property) the opportunity for a proper loop hike abounds, yet this is not for the faint of heart. This hike is about 11 miles with 2,200 feet of elevation gain and Fall is a good time to do it while the weather is cool and before heavy rains (and mud) come. Starting from Curry Point we meander along Knobcone Point Road eventually making our way to Balancing Rock, a seemingly gravity-defying bit of Domengine sandstone. Just beyond you will pass through the gate and onto SMD property. (Please use the boot cleaning station before continuing.) The next 1.25 miles takes you through a lovely knobcone pine forest, through deep-shaded, rock-lined canyons, and across open grasslands. Views of the Summit and North Peak abound. Find another park gate which deposits you at the top of Riggs Canyon Road. This is a very steep descent into Riggs Canyon with expansive views of the southeastern side of the park including neighboring Morgan Territory Regional Preserve. At the end of Riggs Canyon, you’ll head right along Old Finley Road until you find the single-track Oyster Point Trail on the right. Winding ups and downs take you through Jackass Canyon on a pleasantly shady 2-mile journey to the Oyster Point turnoff. A signpost marks a trail up the hillside to the actual point, however, once you enter the chapparal up top the path is less obvious and you must hunt for the signpost. It is hidden off to the right, tucked in an alcove of chamise and black sage . Be sure to investigate the rocks around it, you will see the fossilized oysters for which it gets its name. Retrace your steps back down to the main trail and continue, admiring the views of Cave Rocks and Cave Point in the foreground. After another 1.3 miles you will find Blackhawk Ridge Road heading to the right and then steeply down. Continue along the road until you pop back up onto Knobcone Point Road and on back to Curry Point. Knobcone to Oyster hike map.jpg balancing rock by Steve Smith.jpg Cave rocks by Steve Smith.jpg Oyster post by Steve Smith.png Out of gallery BACK TO LIST

Poison Oak by Robert Smith Mountain News, January 1999 A Plant to Avoid January 1, 1999 Daniel Fitzgerald This uncherished native plant of California, the botanical name of which is Toxicodendron diversilobum (an older botanical designation being Rhus diversiloba) , is a close relative of poison ivy, which is widespread in the eastern and central United States. The sap oil (urushiol) produces an allergic reaction in most persons who touch it. Regarding Califomia's poison oak, Dr. Glenn Keator writes in his Plants of the East Bay Parks (published by MDIA in cooperation with Roberts Rinehart Publishers, 1994): "Poison Oak has earned for itself an indelible reputation; approach it always with care. Even those who have immunity may later lose it; better to be safe than sorry. Should you touch the twigs (even the bare twigs in winter) or leaves, rinse your hands immediately and wash with mild soap; this should remove oils. Remember to wash your dog if it has accompanied you, and wash your clothes as well." "Despite the consequences of its toxicity, poison oak is an interesting -- even attractive -- deciduous shrub. Thriving on disturbance, it has ventured into a wide range of different plant communities, behaving in each one according to circumstances: near the coast it lies prostrate next to the ground; in bright light it forms a dense shrub; in shade it climbs toward the sun, often ascending thirty to forty feet up a tree." "New growth is signaled in early spring by a flush of glossy reddish new leaves. By mid-spring, dangling chains of whitish-green flowers perfume the air, attracting bees for pollination. This perfume is harmless to humans and actually enhances many a spring outing. By summer, there are whitish berries the birds consume, and in fall the foliage turns brilliant red before falling. When leaves color up in summer, it's a sign that the dry period has stressed the shrubs, telling them it's time to lose leaves before they lose too much water. Out of leaf, poison oak may be identified by the long upright main branches with short, stubby side branches." Since allergic reactions to poison oak are unpredictable, one should avoid contact with the plant, both leaves and branches. Anyone with known sensitivity who is hiking in infested areas may with to apply the preparation Ivy Block (which prevents the oil from being absorbed by the skin) before starting a hike, but usually long-sleeve shirts and trousers-plus due wariness on the trail are sufficient precautions. Urushiol is absorbed into the skin within minutes after contact, hence the recommended washing of affected skin after contact apparently has limited benefit. Redness and blisters appear after about 24 hours, and can linger for two weeks. Calamine lotion applied to itching, inflamed skin can have a soothing effect. For more information, here are books (available in paperback) related to Poison Oak/Ivy: Nature's Revenge: The Secrets of Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac, and Their Remedies , by Susan C. Hauser (Lyons Press, 1996) Gives a very reader-friendly presentation of relevant topics. Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac, and Their Relatives , by Edward Frankel (Boxwood Press, 1991). Frankel discusses where the plant grows, its characteristics, and remedies for persons afflicted by it. The Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac Book: A Short Natural History and Cautionary Account , by Thomas E. Anderson (Acton Circle Publish Co., 1995). Lots of scholarly research with sometimes surprising information about the plants and human allergic reactions. Spring Poison Oak | Mike Woodring Summer Poison Oak | Yulan Tong Fall Poison Oak | Mike Woodring Winter Poison Oak | Mike Woodring BACK TO LIST

How to Use the Park as a Resource Ok so you've decided you want to bring your kids to Mount Diablo State Park. Here's some tips and more information to help you plan your visit. Popular Destinations Field trips generally go to 3 locations in the Mount Diablo State Park. The Summit features the outstanding view of the Bay Area, the Summit Visitor Center, and the Mary Bowerman nature trail. Rock City is a great site to study Native American grinding holes, learn about park Oak trees, or climb the wind caves. Mitchell Canyon affords opportunities to study wildflowers, birds, geology, and tarantulas during the season. Map and Directions to these destinations are available here . Transportation The roads in the Mount Diablo State Park are narrow, winding, and difficult. Parents provide transportation for many organized field trips to the summit or Rock City. If a group would like to use a school bus, the Park requires prior approval and a pilot car. School buses are appropriate for Mitchell Canyon. Preparation Be sure to review expectations of the visit with your kids, behavior in the park, and safety matters in advance of the trip. Be aware of seasonal safety planning such as extreme temperatures, and fire danger. Mount Diablo State Park Safety Information Weather and Air Quality For the latest information on Park closure, road conditions, or fire danger, call 925-837-2525, or check the Mount Diablo State Park Website. Leave the Park as You Found It Help protect our park to preserve it for future visitors and for the future of wildlife that live here. Here are a few things to remember: Respect wildlife. All plants and animals are protected. While you look and enjoy the sights: Do not touch or try to remove the plants from the park. Do not feed or try to pet the animals. Stay on the walking trails to prevent erosion or damage to the landscape. Carry out what you bring in. Follow the instructions provided by the rangers or docents in the park. When we take good care of our park, we keep it safe and beautiful now and for the next hundred years. Thank you for doing your part to protect our natural world. School Groups/Educational Tours are available from California State Parks Please contact Park Interpreter Sharon Peterson via email (Sharon.Peterson@parks.ca.gov ) for information regarding School Group Programs and/or Education Tours. Permits are required for groups, and due to the fact that these groups often arrive in oversized vehicles, information must be provided to drivers in advance of their arrival that will help make the roads safer for all visitors at the park. Coming Soon to Mitchell Canyon Mount Diablo Interpretive Association (MDIA) official Park partner, is leading a campaign to raise funds to build a New Education Center in Mitchell Canyon. The new education center complex will educate park visitors about the natural and multicultural history of the mountain, communicate safety information, provide access for visitors with disabilities to outdoor exhibits and the visitor center, and create multiple spaces to accommodate K-12 classes and interpretive presentations. We are just as excited as you are to begin construction and develop inspiring new exhibits that will educate and engage for years to come. Back to Learn Summit Museum Windcaves at Rock City elephant rock at Rock City Mitchell Canyon Entrance Mitchell Canyon Education Center Entry Sketch Rendering BACK TO LIST

Close Call: The Near-Extinction of Peregrine Falcons by Anastasia Hobbet January 1, 2024 Dave Furseth Lea este artículo en español The fastest animal on earth is a neighbor of yours. It’s the peregrine falcon, clocked at well over 200 miles per hour during its precipitous dives while hunting. Address? Mount Diablo State Park and surroundings, where at least two pairs are now readying themselves to nest in the dramatic pinnacles of Pine Canyon and the remote Black Hills above Black Hawk, where they will spend the spring and summer brooding the eggs and nurturing the youngsters until the kids become independent. Sounds rosy, but there’s a big “if" needed at this point: if the birds can get enough privacy and seclusion. They need a lot of quiet space, and with well more than 100,000 visitors per year now visiting Pine Canyon, is privacy possible for any creature? The responsibility for ensuring some seclusion for the Pine Canyon birds falls to two parks: Castle Rock, which is an East Bay Regional Park; and Mount Diablo State Park. The main access to lower Pine Canyon is via the former, but Pine Canyon's sandstone cliffs lie just over the boundary inside the State Park, forming a section of its westernmost edge. Two annual nesting closure zones stretching from Februrary 1 through July 31 help these blistering-fast aerial hunters feel some confidence in their security. The staffs of the two adjacent parks cooperate in enforcing the closure, but it's tough for a park supervisor working with a tiny staff to dispatch anyone fast, which is key. Widespread use of DDT beginning in the late 1950's almost wiped out peregrines in the U.S. and across the western world. It interfered with calcium deposition, thinning the mother's eggshells so much that they cracked when she tried to sit on them. The embryos died, pitching the population into collapse. DDT was finally banned in the U.S. in 1972, and some years later, Save Mount Diablo inspired a massive, successful effort to return the birds to Castle Rock. Keeping the birds safe during their six-month breeding has proved dicey. The Covid era drove cabin-fevered people into the parks -- all parks everywhere -- and even the most secluded places on and around Mount Diablo, on legal trails and hacked trails, became patterned with boot prints, bike tires, and horse hooves. MDIA volunteers formed the Peregrine Team in 2015 to support the closure zone enforcements of the rangers and staff in the two parks. This (2024) is the team's 10th season. In addition to informing hikers about the closure, they spot hikers in the closure area, and, if possible, gently interact with them when they return to the legal trail -- or even better: before they leave it -- about the ethics and benefits of respecting closure zones. You can help too. Plan to hike Stage Road in Pine Canyon and the trails from Curry Point. You'll see closure signage. Visit with other hikers as you go. If you spot people who may be headed into the closure zones, draw their attention gently to the signs. If they choose to trespass, don't intervene. They'll remember your words. Crowd-sourcing works -- eventually. Back to the Peregrine Team Page Peregrine in Flight | Scott Hein Peregine Team in action. Peregrine Team members lead group hikes during the nesting season into Pine Canyon BACK TO LIST

Mount Diablo Summit Building by Linda Sanford Reprinted from the Mount Diablo Review April 1, 1998 Summit Building | Ruth Ann Kishi The idea of having a museum or visitor center on the summit of Mount Diablo has been around for a very long time. In fact, even before Mount Diablo became one of California’s original State Parks those that visited the mountain top by stage, wagon and horseback commented on how great it would be to have a facility at the top of the mountain to interpret the spectacular view as well as the natural history of the mountain. Mount Diablo became a park in 1921. Administered by its own Mount Diablo State Park Commission, it was one of seven state parks created before the establishment of the California State Park System. The first State Park Bond Act passed in 1928. It was primarily through local interest and extensive lobbying by local groups that 1500 acres came into State ownership as Mount Diablo State Park in 1931. Many of the local interest groups that had been formed to support the acquisition of the park continued to be active supporters of additional expansion of the park and construction of facilities. One common interest shared by all of the groups was the construction of an interpretive facility on the summit of the mountain. Although there was strong support from the Department of Parks and Recreation, the entire country was in the midst of the Great Depression, so little, if any, chance for public funds existed for such a facility. However, while the Great Depression eliminated the possibility that the State would construct a mountain top visitor center, it also offered a unique alternative in the form of the federally funded Work Program Administration (W.P.A.) and the Civilian Conservation Corps (C.C.C.). Both of these programs put people to work and both programs were interested in constructing public projects such as parks, museums, roads, and public buildings. In the mid 1930s the Department of Parks and Recreation entered into an agreement with the W.P.A. to complete sketches, drawings and paintings for pictorial histories of several State Parks for use in visitor centers and museums. Although Mount Diablo State Park did not have a visitor center of a museum at the time, it was included in the project. The plan was to complete the exhibits first and construct the facility to house them at a later date. Exhibits planned for Mount Diablo included the “scientific series” and “historic series”; each exhibit consisted of small panels in watercolor, gouache, pen and ink, or pastels. The artists and support personnel for the project worked in studios at the federal art project in the old Agricultural Department building, a converted school on Potrero Avenue in San Francisco. An advisory committee was set up to assist the artists working on the projects. The committee consisted of a group of seven university professors to provide technical assistance and twelve local citizens from Contra Costa and Alameda Counties whose interest and influence in community affairs provided the necessary community support for the project. Dr. Bruce L. Clark, Professor of Paleontology at the University of California served as chair of the Mount Diablo Museum Project. By 1938 enough displays had been finished to furnish the old single-story stucco building at the summit. The stucco structure was on the summit site at the time the park acquisition took place in 1931. In the meantime, plans for a permanent facility at the mountaintop were being developed. The new building was to be constructed by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) personnel living at the CCC camp on the south side of the mountain. Company 2932-V (World War I veterans) started work on the summit building in 1938. While plans for the new observation building were being finalized, a number of older structures were demolished and the area prepared for the new building that would house not only a viewing deck but also an aircraft beacon, a fire lookout, and the museum exhibits. The new building was constructed from sandstone quarried at Fossil Ridge on the mountain. Standard Oil of California donated money for the mortar, steel, and other materials need to complete the structure. Work on the new summit building came to a halt in 1940. The exterior of the building was completed, however, a serious problem with water leaks during storms developed during the winter months. Water would run through the mortar and sandstone into the interior of the building. Several attempts were made to solve the problem over the next several years. Although each solution helped, none seemed to totally resolve the problem. In the early 1950s, the Department of Parks and Recreation obtained several contracts to seal and complete the exterior of the building. The mortar joints were sealed and pointed, the observation deck roof was resealed, Gunite was applied to the interior of the building and the exterior of the building was sealed. However, even this did not make the building entirely waterproof. The work on the exhibits was completed by the W.P.A. in 1942 and the finished panels and displays were transferred to Contra Costa County’s Hall of Records for safe storage until the summit building was completed. When it became apparent that the leaks in the summit building would not be easily resolved, the displays were transferred to Mount Diablo State Park and stored at the recently abandoned Civilian Conservation Corps camp at Live Oak Campground. In 1951, after completion of additional efforts to seal the summit building, park employees discovered that many of the displays and paintings had been damaged beyond salvage by water, rodents, and dust. Those displays that could be salvaged were shipped to Sacramento where they were repaired and sent to other park units for use. The final blow for the summit museum came in 1956 when the temporary museum caught fire and burned to the ground. The displays were lost as well. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s interest in a summit building visitor center continued to come to the forefront; however, without the necessary leadership nothing happened. Then, in 1974, Mount Diablo Interpretive Association (MDIA) formed to promote public awareness of the cultural and natural history of Mount Diablo. The members developed a temporary visitor center in a portion of the old summit building, staffing it with volunteers and docents. As MDIA’s interpretive efforts grew they searched for ways in which the 40-year old dream of a museum and visitor center at the summit could be realized. In 1982, the California State Park Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding California’s parks and recreational opportunities, joined forces with MDIA to help raise the necessary funding for the summit building project. The next year, the Department of Parks and Recreation agreed to correct the water intrusion problem and prepare the structure for exhibits and displays. Daniel Quan Design of San Francisco developed the plans for the museum and visitor center. Installation of the exhibits was completed in 1984. Today, the museum and visitor center house exhibits including a topographic model of the mountain. Rotating displays of art and photography complement the permanent exhibits. In addition to the exhibits, there is a small gift center within the building. Outside the summit building, telescopes are mounted on the Mary Bowerman Interpretive Trail, a short walk away. On a clear day, the Sierra Nevada can be seen with the naked eye. If you look carefully, ancient marine fossils embedded in the sandstone walls can be seen along the stairway walls leading to the observation deck. The rotunda on top of the summit building is a reminder of Mount Diablo’s importance as a survey point. Sitting atop the rotunda is the old navigation beacon, lighted once a year on December 7 in memory of Pearl Harbor. Mount Diablo Summit circa 1930 Summit in Winter | Terese Dixon BACK TO LIST

Northern Pacific Rattlesnake by Michael Marchiano October 1, 1998 Michael Marchiano Ever since the story of Adam and Eve, western culture has had an aversion to snakes. The fact that a few species are venomous just adds more fear. In Northern California, there is only ONE venomous species of snake, the Northern Pacific Rattlesnakes (Crotalus oreganus oreganus ). All other snakes in the Bay Area are harmless. Our local rattlesnake is very distinctive from other local snakes because of the rattle attached to its tail and the diamond-shaped head that is far wider than its neck. Its coloration can vary, matching its environment. When young, its blotchy pattern is generally much more distinct, fading as the snake ages. Color can vary from drab olive green, to dusty brown, reddish brown, grey, or golden with the darker irregular blotching along the length. When encountered, this snake is not aggressive and either freezes so as not to draw attention to itself or flees, trying to escape any confrontation. Like any wild animal, it will attempt to defend itself when molested or attacked. This is when people see it in its most often portrayed position of coiled, tail rattling its warning, and head held high to observe its attacker. Like all snakes, rattlesnakes do not attack people. The venom they possess is for the purpose of killing small prey animals and they do not want to waste it on a two- legged predator. There are many, many myths and exaggerations concerning snakes in general, but there are even more concerning rattlesnakes. The Northern Pacific Rattlesnake rarely grows more than 36 inches in length - one over 48 inches is a real granddaddy, yet I commonly have people tell me stories of the 6- to 7-foot rattlesnakes they have encountered in the Bay Area (fear and imagination go together). The actual striking distance for a snake from a coiled position is approximately a third the distance of its body length, but let’s give the snake the benefit of half the distance, just to be safe. That means a three-foot snake can only strike out approximately 1-1.5 feet. You would have to be right in that snake's face to get him to strike. They do not strike without reason. Leave the snake alone and he will leave you alone. In late summer to early fall, we enter the birthing season for snakes. Rattlesnakes are one of the few live-bearing snakes (opposed to egg-lying). Mother rattlesnakes can give birth to 7-15 young who actually stay with her for the first couple of weeks. The young are distinctly patterned replicas of the adult except they initially have a single button on their tail. They will not get a second rattle until they shed their skin for the first time, generally within a few weeks. Rattlesnakes get a new rattle every time they shed and may shed three to four times in the same year. Therefore, the number of rattles does not tell the age of the snake. Secondly, as the snakes age, rattles will commonly break off. Young rattlesnakes possess venom when they are born - it is the same venom as the adults, just less of it. The bite of a small rattlesnake is NOT more venomous than an adult, but adult rattlesnakes have been known to give a dry bite (no venom), 30 to 40 percent of the time. The young snakes are still learning to control envenomation and therefore do inject venom with each bite. Nevertheless, any bite from a rattlesnake needs immediate medical attention. Although death from a bite is very rare (in the United States, 10-12 deaths from venomous snakebites occur annually per 10,000 bites), hospitalization with severe pain and suffering is the norm. Rattlesnakes, along with all other snakes, fill an important ecological niche and should not be killed. They eat numerous rodents and in turn are attacked and eaten by larger predators, including hawks, eagles, owls, bobcats, and coyotes. As a rule of thumb, do not try to touch, capture, pick up, or tease any wildlife. Even a cute little cottontail rabbit will bite and claw to defend itself if confronted. Northern Pacific Rattlesnake | Clayton Worsdel by Scott Hein BACK TO LIST

Wrentit by Dan Sandri January 1, 2024 Dan Sandri Perhaps a Wrentit (Chamaea fasciata) has been curious enough to have briefly shown itself to you? Wrentits are often heard and less-commonly seen, although if you wait one out, it may pop up for you. The male’s call is a distinctive sound of the chaparral landscape: an accelerating sequence of toots, sounding like a bouncing ball. Another description is it sounds like 3 – 5 pits, followed by an accelerating trill. The female’s call is a series of pits. A Wrentit is about the size of a Song Sparrow, with a yellow eye, round head and short wings, such that it appears plump in appearance. It has long legs and a quite a long tail, which is often held up and away from its body. Its bill is short and slightly curved. Males and females are visually indistinguishable from each other. Wrentits are found primarily in chaparral and brush along the coasts of Oregon, California and Baja California, although it is also in the Sierra foothills. On Mount Diablo, look for wrentits in the chaparral areas and in poison oak, such as along Red Road and Twin and Eagle Peaks. Wrentits don’t usually migrate - a bird may spend its entire adult life in an area of just a couple of acres. They are primarily insect eaters, but will also eat berries, including those of poison oak! Wrentits mate for life, and males and females take turns incubating eggs during the daytime, but females incubate the eggs at night. Wrentits belong to Family Paradoxornithidae - the Parrotbills, and all other birds in the family are found in SE Asia. It is the only member of Genus Chamaea. A rare bird indeed! Bird Guide: https://www.mdia.org/birds-1-1/wrentit Wrentit (Chamaea fasciata ) 2 DSandri.jpeg Wrentit (Chamaea fasciata ) 3 DSandri.jpeg BACK TO LIST

Hermit Thrush by Dan Sandri January 1, 2024 Dan Sandri Have you seen a Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) this Fall, either on your hikes or at home? They are back in the Bay Area, as well as farther south, after a Summer of breeding in the woods of Canada, southern Alaska, and the northeastern and western United States. They leave early for the North in the Spring and, depending on location, may raise 1-3 broods per year. These birds are pretty distinct this time of the year In the West; they are the only brownish, spotted thrushes around now (Swainson’s Thrushes have gone far south). Adult Hermit Thrushes are mainly grey-brown on the upperparts, with reddish tails. The underparts are white with dark spots on the breast and grey or brownish flanks. They have pink legs and a white eye ring. They forage on the ground, but also can appear in trees or bushes, and eat insects and berries. If startled from the ground, it often perches low, flicks its wings nervously and slowly raises and lowers its tail. Hermit thrushes have a truly beautiful song, but we don’t hear it here much, as they sing where they nest. We are more likely to hear their "tchup-tchup-tchup" call, which indicates perceived danger. The Hermit Thrush is the state bird of Vermont. Bird Guide: https://www.mdia.org/birds-1-1/hermit-thrush hermit thrush2 DSandri.jpg BACK TO LIST

Tassajara Creek Hike by Steve Smith Reprinted from the MDIA E-Newsletter June 2024 June 1, 2024 Stephen Smith In the dog days of summer, it can sometimes be challenging to find a suitable hike on Mount Diablo. Tassajara Creek trail is a little out-of-the-way for most, off the beaten path, but partially shaded. Please note that the first and last ½ mile of this hike is along paved Finley Road until the new trailhead is built further up. Some consolation is offered in the pastures of horses, goats, geese, ponies and a llama along the way as well as the historic one-room Tassajara Schoolhouse on the drive there. This remote area of the park has many wonderful features including grand vistas of the Tassajara and Livermore Valleys as well as Cave Rocks and Cave Point. Rolling hills lead to a sheltered canyon at the headwaters of Tassajara Creek. Park on the shoulder of Finley Road and continue on foot for ½ mile to the entrance. You will first hike into EBRPD’s Morgan Territory up Old Finley Road. A left on Riggs Canyon Road will take you into MDSP. Continue for ¾ mile, Riggs Canyon will make a sharp left and begin climbing. At this bend look for an unsigned trail off to the right which will lead you 25 yards to Tassajara Creek. Turn left as you wind along the creek in the shaded canyon for 1 mile. Once you break out into the sunlight again, stop at the picnic table overlooking Bob’s Pond. Continue around the trail loop, now in full sun, as you wind along the base of Windy Point and Highland Ridge. At trail’s end, turn right on Highland Ridge Road, at the fork, stay right back onto Old Finley Road. Take this trail all the way back to the trailhead. Their are numerous side trips you can take including the Amphitheater Trail loop. This adventure takes you 8 miles with 1100 feet of climbing and is guaranteed to offer privacy, particularly on weekdays. Come early (or late) on weekends for parking. For directions to Finley Road trailhead, click here . For a route map click here . If you would like a .gpx file to help you navigate please download it here . Morgan Territory Tassajara Creek BACK TO LIST

Trail Through Time Hike A Geological Journey BACK TO LIST

Early Spring Wildflowers by Kevin Hintsa January 1, 1999 Mount Diablo Manzanita | Kevin Hintsa The winter rains and increasing daylight of early spring triggers a spring bloom for many of Mount Diablo's native wildflowers. The exact timing and quantity of blooming wildflowers will vary greatly year to year as it is controlled by a number of environmental factors. By late February there are a number of flowers to view, especially in the chaparral and at low elevation grassy hilltops. The following include most of the more striking species that one might find in the first three months of the calendar year. Bear Brush (Garrya fremontii ) starts off the new year in a bizarre manner by blooming in early January at the summit of Mount Diablo. This uncommon evergreen shrub, resembling the evergreen oaks in both leave and flowers, produces two inch long pale lavender catkins on the male shrubs. Blooming may be triggered by the increasing daylight as it often blooms in icy conditions. The more common Coast Silk-tassel (Garrya elliptical is easily found between Curry Point and Sycamore Canyon in February and March). Manzanita (Arctostaphylos sp. ) is perhaps the star attraction of December to March. These evergreen shrubs with red bark fill the chaparral (and a few wooded slopes) with delicate white to pink tiny bell-like flowers that attract a great number of insects and the occasional hummingbird. The Mount Diablo Manzanita (Arctostaphylos auriculata ) grows only around Mount Diablo and has the pinkest blossoms of the mountain's manzanita. It is easily seen around Wall Ridge, Live Oak Campground and also between Curry and Knobcone Point. Another early bloomer is Chaparral Currant (Ribes malvaceum ). This deciduous shrub often begins blooming in late December at lower elevations, finishing at the summit around early May. The flowers are pink and are quite striking when seen in mass. It is easily seen around Knobcone Point and along Summit Road. The similar Gooseberry differs in having thorns and smaller flowers. Mitchell Canyon and the summit area are good places to look for it. Warrior's Plume is a semi-parasitic herbaceous plant of chaparral-pine areas. The red green leaves are a pleasant sight in early March along Wall Ridge or Curry to Knobcone Point. It blooms in April at the summit. The newly opened leaves are pure red in this and many other species as a protection against ultra-violet light. Members of the Mustard family are well known early bloomers. Milk Maids (Cardamine californica ) is very common just about everywhere on Mount Diablo, often occurring in heavily shaded forests. Its simple white flowers can be common by mid-February at low elevations, finishing at the Fire Interpretive Trail in May. Our state flower, the California Poppy blooms nearly year round, mostly March to October on Mount Diablo. Its lacy gray-green leaves and golden yellow to orange flowers are well known to most Californians. It is generally found in the grasslands below 3500 feet. Check North Gate Road in mid-April to early May for peak mass bloom. Buck Brush (Ceanothus cuneatus ) is an evergreen shrub that is fire dependent, as it gets crowded out in older stands of chaparral. Its mass of white blossoms (smelling like popcorn) starts in early February along lower South Gate Road, finishing in May at the Fire Interpretive Trail. Jim Brush (Ceanothus oliganthus ) is another of the so-called California Lilacsi. It has powder blue blossoms and blooms from late March through May, more commonly on the north side of the mountain. Very pleasing to the eye in early March is Johnny-Jump-Up (Viola-pedunculata ). These are golden yellow with black markings and have a striking reddish brown underside. Look for it a Curry Point. Much smaller and more widespread on the mountain is the similar looking Mountain Voilet (Viola purpurea ), blooming March to May. It is fairly common in the area around the Summit. Brewer's Rock Cress (Arabis Breweri ) is found on rock outcrops at 1200 feet to the summit. Its small pale green leaves grow in rock crevices and it has beautiful pink to purple flowers (that later form curved seed pods). The summit area is the best site to study this species, but also look for it at the Falls Trail in Donner Canyon. Mosquito-bills (Dodecatheon hendersonii ) is the common species of Shooting Star around Mount Diablo. The nodding pink flowers are quite adorable, especially when in mass. The leaves are simple and basal. Look for it from mid February through April, especially in Mitchell Canyon where it is very common. Grand Hound's-Tongue is a widespread member of the forget-me-not family on Mount Diablo, most found in wooded areas of light shade. It has foot tall flower stalks with powder blue to violet flowers. It usually is well in bloom by March 1 at lower elevations, and finishes in late April along the Fire Interpretive Trail. Brewer's rockcress | Kevin-Hintsa Warrior's plume | Mike Woodring Milk Maids | Kevin Hintsa California Poppy BACK TO LIST

California Tiger Salamander by Michael Marchiano The Secret Salamander of Mount Diablo April 1, 1998 Michael Marchiano The California Tiger Salamander, Ambystoma californiense is one of the least observed animals in Mount Diablo State Park. This salamander is exclusively found only in California and is now on both federal and state threatened species list. The tiger salamander is California’s second largest salamander reaching a length of seven to eight inches. Yellow bars and spots adorn a shiny black body of this robust amphibian. Found primarily in the central valley foothill, it thrives in grass lands and oak savannahs that have vernal pools and upland burrows of ground squirrels and pocket gophers. The poisoning of these rodents and destruction of their habitat leads to the demise of the salamander as well. With the introduction of agriculture and domestic grazing animals, vernal pools (long lasting seasonal pools) have all but been eradicated in California. This has forced the salamander to seek out stock ponds and occasionally slow-moving streams for breeding. Breeding pools must be fishless or the eggs will not survive. The tiger salamander is rarely seen because it is fossorial and lives under ground in mammal burrows eleven months of the year. It comes out to breed with the first heavy winter rains, usually in December. It travels at night to breeding ponds, males arriving first and then females. A short courtship takes place and the male deposits a spermatophore on the bottom of the pond which the female picks up. Several hundred eggs are laid by the female but few will reach maturity. Eggs take 10-14 days to hatch into small larva which have gills. The larva will metamorphosis over the next three to seven months and rarely do they survive over winter. Metamorphous appears to be speed up in dryer years when ponds do not stay full. In especially dry/drought years breeding does not take place at all. Salamanders reach maturity in 3-4 years and females will start to breed at six years old. They live to approximately twelve years and females may only mate once or twice in their lifetime with less than eight eggs making it through metamorphosis. Like most amphibians, Tiger salamanders feed on many invertebrates including, earthworms, insects, snails and occasionally will eat a small mammal. Habitat destruction, poisoning of rodents, slow breeding rates, and predators like the introduced Bullfrog are all threatening this unique animal. Other predators include raccoons, garter snakes, foxes, coyotes, and bobcats. Mount Diablo has a limited number of ponds in which these salamanders can breed and in the past few dry years little or no breeding has taken place obviously affecting future generations. tiger salamander larvae Salamander eggs BACK TO LIST