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Monarch Danaus plexippus Nymphalidae Brushfoots Flies March to December Host Plant Milkweed Nectar Plant California buckeye, Bull thistle Daniel Fitzgerald Kevin Hinsta Underwing

Propertius Duskywing Erynnis propertius Hesperiidae Skippers Flies February to June Host Plant Oak Nectar Plant Michael Marchiano Male Daniel Fitzgerald Female Clark Black Underwing

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 Purple Mouse Ears Scientific Name: Mimulus douglasii Family: Phrymaceae (Monkeyflower Family) Blooms: Feb - Mar Color: Blue-Purple Annual herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants iNaturalist observations

The Amphitheater by Frank Valle-Riestra Reprinted from Mountain News, Spring/Summer 2009 Frank's Favorite Hikes July 1, 1998 All of us who enjoy walking in Mount Diablo State Park have our own favorite destination, perhaps a secret spot which we visit now and then, where we find peace of mind and nature at its best. The topographic complexity of Mount Diablo shelters quite an array of such spots—possibly a hidden cascade on the Falls Trail, a favorite formation on China Wall, or the perennial display of JohnnyJump-Ups on the Bruce Lee Road. My own favorite secret spot is “The Amphitheater”. “The Amphitheater” is a unique phenomenon in Mount Diablo State Park. It is a large bowl formed by the vertical cliffs of Highland Ridge, with sides of enveloping sandstone strata tilted and eroded into picturesque outcrops, not unlike those in Rock City. The bowl bottom is a level area of deep soil supporting a growth of lush grasses and magnificent, centuries-old oak trees, scattered like isolated giant sentinels across the green sward. It is a pastoral scene of unmatched beauty, and on a quiet sunny day you can imagine ghostly images of dancing nymphs in the mottled shade of the huge overhanging limbs, a vision from Greek mythology. The magic of this secret spot is enhanced by its location, in the southeastern-most part of the Park bordering Morgan Territory Regional Preserve, an area much less often visited than the main peak. Chances are you will have “The Amphitheater” all to yourself. A relatively easy way to reach “The Amphitheater” is from the Red Corral trailhead. Red Corral is on Morgan Territory Road, just one half mile beyond the twin narrow bridges, in the direction of Morgan Territory Regional Preserve, or south. You cannot miss the corral on your left, as it is indeed painted red. There is very limited parking at the edge of the road; be sure not to block access to the two gates across the road from the corral. Start your walk at the left of the two gates, and follow the road straight ahead; posted “Morgan Creek Road”. The route takes you upward through a mature stream-side deciduous forest. Soon you penetrate a more open oak savanna where the road veers to the left. Here be on the lookout for a single-track trail on your right, Jeremiah Creek Trail. It is a delightful path that wends its way at the side of Jeremiah Creek, through an open forest typical of our coastal ranges. The gently rising route ends in a saddle of Highland Ridge, on the Old Finley Road. Take a left on Old Finley Road, and after a few steps, at another junction, follow the road as it veers off to the right and downhill. You will be treated to fine views of the Jackass Canyon wilderness below you and imposing Oyster Point beyond. After just a few minutes of easy walking, you will reach the first single-track trail on your left, the beginning of the posted Amphitheatre Trail. A short jaunt will deposit you in the middle of “The Amphitheater”, such a welcoming environment, to let you rest from your exertions so far. Find a sheltered spot for a picnic lunch, and afterward do a bit of exploring to discover any number of surprises. You might even scramble up one of the gentler sandstone formations for a bird’s-eye overlook. Photographic opportunities abound—if you find those nymphs, bring me a picture! The easiest way to return to your car is by retracing your steps. Should you prefer to see new things on the way back, however, why not complete a loop that will not take you all that much longer? Continue on the Amphitheatre Trail to its end at Crestview Road. This trail meanders below Highland Ridge, and its final climb to meet Crestview Road is quite steep, but not long. At Crestview Road turn left. Notice the spectacular views of Mount Diablo in profile and the distant delta region. Shortly you will reach the Highland Ridge Trail. Here make a sharp left and continue until you reach the posted “Morgan Creek Road” on your right, which you descend back to Red Corral. The loop is less than five miles, and your total climb is just under 1,000 feet. Figure on two-and-one-half hours of walking plus an hour in “The Amphitheater”. BACK TO LIST

Bell's Sparrow Towhees, Sparrows, Juncos, and Longspurs Bell's Sparrow Artemisiospiza belli All Year Towhees, Sparrows, Juncos, and Longspurs Daniel Fitzgerald This chaparral sparrow has a distinct breast spot, dark “whiskers” and white eye-ring. The gray head contrasts with the browner back and wing. It often runs on the ground with its longish tail held high.

Ways to support Mount Diablo Interpretive Association Ways to Support MDIA Mount Diablo Interpretive Association is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to supporting Mount Diablo State Park. We are a 501(c)(3) organization, and our Tax ID# is 23-7444529. Donate Today! Gift Giving Make a donation to support the general operations of MDIA. Tribute gifts are also a way to remember or honor a loved one. Gifts can be one-time, or recurring. Employer Matching Gifts You can make your donation accomplish twice as much when you request a matching gift! Check to see if your employer can match your generous donation. Donate a Vehicle Donate your vehicle through Cars2ndChance and designate MDIA as the charitable organization. Cars2ndChance are vehicle / car donation programs administered by the Clayton Valley Concord Sunrise Rotary Charitable Fund and staffed by all volunteers. Become a Member MDIA counts on your support to provide docents for the visitor centers, sponsor the Junior Ranger program, guide hikes, and provide interpretive material and publications to park visitors. Support the Mount Diablo Education Center in Mitchell Canyon MDIA has officially launched a campaign to build a new Education Center at the Mitchell Canyon entrance to Mount Diablo State Park. Please join us in inspiring new protectors and champions of Mount Diablo by making a generous tax-deductible contribution today. Your gift will leave a legacy of education, protection, and wonder for the present and future generations! Gift of Stock Gifting stock is a simple and powerful way to support MDIA and the new Education Center at Mitchell Canyon. Required Mandatory Distribution If you have investments in 401k’s or similar instruments, and must take a distribution, you can direct your broker to send it to MDIA as a donation and not have to report it as income on your tax forms. Become a Volunteer Volunteering allows members to commit to as little as a couple of hours a week and still provide vital assistance to the association and park.

Cowell Cement Industry Author: Craig Lyon (Compiled from several references - 1997) Cowell and Its Cement Industry January 1, 1997 Large Smokestack As one drives easterly on Ygnacio Valley Road across Lime Ridge northwest of Mount Diablo, scars from open pit quarry operations can be seen to the right of the road. To the left is a tall smokestack in an area that in past years was called Cowell but which is now part of Concord. This was the site of the Cowell Lime and Cement Company that produced Portland cement from 1905 to 1946. The cement plant was one of the largest employers in the area in the early 1900's. The rock was quarried in the Lime Ridge area and carried on a narrow gauge railroad, or by truck, to the Cowell plant where it was crushed, mixed with clay, and then converted to cement in roasting kilns. Sacked cement, which was marketed as "Mount Diablo Cement", left Cowell daily on the company's standard gauge Bay Point and Clayton Railroad, At Bay Point, the cars went on their way to other areas via Southern Pacific, Western Pacific, or Santa Fe railroads. Through the years farmers threatened to sue the Cowell plant over the air pollution which coated their vines and orchards with fine cement dust. The cement company built a 235-foot-high smokestack in 1934 in an effort to dissipate the dust into the atmosphere. Labor problems forced the plant to close in 1946. The plant was later torn down and the smokestack and quarries are all that remain of this once-thriving industry. The rock quarried at Lime Ridge and used to make cement is called travertine, It is the same composition as limestone - almost pure calcium carbonate. The rock is hard, sometimes shows banding, and is colored a light tan by the inclusion of a small amount of iron oxide. Cave formations are formed from the same kind of material. The travertine at Lime Ridge formed, probably in fairly recent geologic time, from circulating waters carrying calcium carbonate in solution which came to the surface through a very porous sandstone called, by geologists, the Domengine formation of Eocene age (about 50 million years old). The water evaporated, leaving behind the travertine which formed a layer on top of the sandstone that originally covered an area 2.5 miles long and 0.5 miles wide and varied in thickness up to a maximum of 20 feet. The Domengine sandstone is exposed in the light-colored quarry faces and can also be seen in the large roadcut just east of the entrance to Cal. State Hayward. 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

Rural Skipper Ochlodes agricola Hesperiidae Skippers Flies March to August Host Plant Grass Nectar Plant California buckeye, Coyote mint Daniel Fitzgerald Male Kevin Hinsta Male Underwing

Prong-faced Slender-Mason Bee Protosmia rubifloris Megachilidae Protosmia Describe your image Describe your image Describe your image Describe your image Describe your image Describe your image Description Protosmia rubifloris is a small-medium, black bee (~7.5 mm), with white hair bands at the apex of each tergal segment of the abdomen. Females have long, slender mandibles projecting forward and a spatula-like process projecting out from the clypeus (lower face). These facial features are lacking in males, which appear similar to Heriades , with six abdominal tergal segments visible, but Protosmia lack abdomen that curls under. Nectar/ Pollen Plants A flower generalist; may use a specific pollen/nectar flower species for each nest provisioning. Habits Nest in pieces of wood, including pine cones, using resin to cap each cell. Season April - August

Wildflower Mount Diablo Valley Spurge Scientific Name: Chamaesyce ocellata ssp. ocellata Family: Euphorbiacae (Spurge Family) Blooms: May-Oct Color: Yellow-Orange Annual or perennial herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants