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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

Wildflower Mount Diablo Dudleya, Rock Lettuce, Stonecrop Scientific Name: Dudleya cymosa Family: Crassulaceae (Stonecrop Family) Blooms: May - Jun Color: White Perennial herb Native, endemic to California White form is shown here. Flowers are typically a vibrant orange, yellow or pink. Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Kevin Hintsa

Wildflower Mount Diablo Pearly Everlasting Scientific Name: Anaphalis margaritacea Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower Family) Blooms: Jun - Aug Color: White Perennial herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Hank Fabian, iNaturalist

Wildflower Mount Diablo Glittering Vervain Scientific Name: Verbena gemmea Family: Verbenaceae Blooms: Color: Blue-Purple Perennial herb Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants

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

Wildflower Mount Diablo Big Flower Agoseris Scientific Name: Agoseris grandiflora Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower Family) Blooms: Mar-May Color: Yellow-Orange Perennial herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Steven Beatty

Wildflower Mount Diablo Alkali Desertparsley, Caraway-leaved Lomatium Scientific Name: Lomatium caruifolium Family: Apiaceae (Parsley-Carrot Family) Blooms: Apr - May Color: Yellow-Orange Perennial herb Native, endemic to California Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Kevin Hintsa

An Island in Suburbia by Naturalist Michael Marchiano April 1, 1998 Mount Diablo is an island in the middle of suburbia. It is a diverse habitat of cool wooded canyons with flowing creeks and cataracts in winter, spring, and early summer. It is a wooded oak forest, a grassy savannah, and a wonderment of rocky slopes covered in fascinating chaparral growth of ceanothus, chemise, manzanita, sages, toyon, currants, and silk tassels. It is a treasure of wildflowers in springtime and summer, a paradise for bird watchers, a challenge to hikers, and until recently, a mystery to geologists. I was fortunate to be born and raised in the East Bay, living at the base of the Mountain since my early childhood. My first experience of snow as an eight-year-old was when my mother drove me, my brother, and our neighborhood friends up to Mount Diablo after one of those low elevation snow storms. I experienced cold snow and the worst case of poison oak I have ever had. Yes, you can catch poison oak in freezing weather from the leafless twigs of a poison oak plant. As a Naturalist, I fell in love with Mount Diablo years ago. The various intriguing habitats offer a richness and fantastic diversity of plant and animal life. I am constantly learning new things every time I explore an area of the mountain. I first hiked it as a child and then as a teenager. I lived on the mountain for one year in my early twenties, fulfilling a childhood fantasy of working for Diablo Ranch as a cowboy. As a young adult, I led outings for the Lindsey Museum, 4H groups, schools, and scouts. As a teacher, I had my 8th grade science class do a full semester ecology study of the mountain, including several camping and field trips. Students that I have run into years after I had them in class have told me their greatest memories of junior high were the explorations and camping trips on Mount Diablo. Many can still recount to me the specific animal or plants that they wrote about for their project. When a child or an adult mentions his or her fear of snakes or spiders and then at the end of a presentation or hike volunteers to touch or hold one of these creatures, it validates all of the effort to do these programs. By volunteering with the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association (MDIA), I have been afforded the unbelievable opportunity to share this wonderland with school groups, organizations, and visitors from near and far. In all of these endeavors I have had the opportunity to impart some of my love for the mountain to others. I have been given the chance to show people the wonders and mysteries of the marvelous plant and animal life on Mount Diablo and in the surrounding foothills. Seeing the amazement and wonder in people’s eyes as they learn about the relationship between a local and harmless tarantula and its foe, the tarantula "Hawk", or see a coyote in the wild for the first time, or watch a peregrine falcon flying overhead, is a great reward for me. Saving and protecting Mount Diablo for all the flora and fauna is of paramount importance, but educating the public, especially upcoming generations as to the significance of biodiversity, whether the smallest microbe or an apex predator like a mountain lion, is also crucial. MDIA has become a crucial link between the park and the public. For example, seeing the evidence of badgers on the north/west side of the Mountain for the first time in 40 years is extremely rewarding. It means that efforts to ban poisoning of ground squirrels and other rodents may be having some positive effect. Mount Diablo is home to many rare and endemic plants, as well as several protected and threatened animals. In spring, people can easily see over 75 different wildflowers, 40 different species of birds, and 15 different species of butterflies all within a two-mile walk. Add to that the beautiful oaks, maples, buckeyes, pines, and other lush shrubbery, and you may feel like you are in the Garden of Eden. Because of the enlightened thinking of prior generations and the continued effort of this generation. I am able to walk out of my home in Martinez, enter a public access path maintained by the Contra Costa Water District and East Bay Regional Parks, walk along this trail to Shell Ridge in Walnut Creek or Lime Ridge in Concord, into Foothills Park, following Pine Canyon into Mount Diablo State Park, hike over Curry Point, down the back side of the Mountain into Morgan Territory Park, into Round Valley Park through Los Vaqueros Reservoir property, and over to Brushy Peak on the Alameda County border. Many of the missing pieces of property that have made that trip possible were put in place by Save Mount Diablo. With the continued support of this and our next generations, that quilt of open and protected space will continue to grow for all generations to enjoy. BACK TO LIST

Wildflower Mount Diablo San Luis Stickleaf, San Luis Blazingstar Scientific Name: Mentzelia micrantha Family: Loasaceae (Loasa Family) Blooms: Apr-Jun Color: Yellow-Orange Annual Herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Daniel Fitzgerald Daniel Fitzgerald Daniel Fitzgerald Daniel Fitzgerald

Hylaeus Masked Bees Hylaeus Colletidae Hylaeus Describe your image Describe your image Describe your image Describe your image Describe your image Describe your image Description Hylaeus are tiny to small-medium (3-8 mm), slender bees with a black body and distinctive yellow (sometimes white) markings on the face and legs. Their bodies look wasp-like. They have very little hair and females have no scopae. Forewing has 2 submarginal cells. Males have more extensive yellow face markings (see photo top-right). Nectar/ Pollen Plants Hylaeus are mostly generalists, and eat pollen and nectar (rather than carry it on scopae), and regurgitate it in their nests. Habits Hylaeus nest in hollow twigs or existing holes in wood. Females line cell walls with gluey, silk-like secretions. May have two generations per year. Season April - September

Wildflower Mount Diablo Nevada Stickleaf Scientific Name: Mentzelia dispersa Family: Loasaceae (Loasa Family) Blooms: May-Aug Color: Yellow-Orange Annual herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants

Wildflower Mount Diablo Red Maids Scientific Name: Calandrinia menziesii Family: Montiaceae (Spring Beauty Family) Blooms: Jan - Apr Color: Red-Pink Annual herb Native Compared to Brewer's Calandrinia , Red Maids have larger flower petals, 4-15 mm, and smaller, narrower leaves. Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Mike Woodring