Search Results

Blooming wildflowers Mount Diablo Blooming Now Download list Prev 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 ... 5 Next Alkali Heliotrope, Seaside Heliotrope Heliotropium curassavicum var. oculatum American Brooklime Veronica americana Brewer's Phacelia Phacelia breweri California Gilia Gilia achilleifolia ssp. achilleifolia California Swamp Thistle Cirsium douglasii Chicory Cichorium intybus Glittering Vervain Verbena gemmea Mount Diablo Jewelflower Streptanthus hispidus Pacific Hound's Tongue Cynoglossum grandis Purple Spot Gilia, Grassland Gilia Gilia clivorum Snapdragon Sairocarpus vexillocalyculatus Spearmint Mentha spicata Spreading Phacelia Phacelia divaricata Summer Lupine Lupinus formosus Tall Stephanomeria, Rod Wirelettuce Stephanomeria virgata ssp. pleurocarpa Tansy-leaf Phacelia, Lacy Phacelia Phacelia tanacetifolia Vinegar Weed Trichostema lanceolatum Wild Radish Raphanus sativus Delta Coyote-Thistle (Green) Eryngium jepsonii Brewer's Rockcress Boechera breweri ssp. breweri Broadleaf Filaree, Grape Storksbill, Long-beaked Filaree Erodium botrys California Fuchsia, Hummingbird Fuchsia, Zauschneria Epilobium canum California Loosestrife Lythrum californicum California Pink Silene laciniata ssp. californica Cobweb Thistle, Venus Thistle Cirsium occidentale Prev 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 ... 5 Next Blooming Non-Native Jump to Blooming Native Wildflower Guide Up

Blue Purple Wildflowers Blue-Purple Wildflowers Prev 1 2 3 ... 7 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ... 7 Next Alkali Heliotrope, Seaside Heliotrope Heliotropium curassavicum var. oculatum American Brooklime Veronica americana American Vetch Vicia americana Arroyo Lupine Lupinus succulentus Artichoke Thistle Cynara cardunculus Baby Blue Eyes Nemophila menziesii var. menziesii Big Pod Lupine Lupinus pachylobus Bird's Eye Gilia Gilia tricolor ssp. tricolor Blue Dicks Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum Blue Scarlet Pimpernel Lysimachia loefingii Blue Skullcap Scutellaria tuberosa Blue Witch, Nightshade Solanum umbelliferum Prev 1 2 3 ... 7 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ... 7 Next Up

White wildflowers Mount Diablo White Wildflowers Prev 1 2 3 ... 13 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 ... 13 Next Alkali Mallow Malvella leprosa American Nightshade Solanum americanum Bellardia, Mediterranean Linseed Bellardia trixago Big Berry Manzanita, Great-berried Manzanita Arctostaphylos glauca Bittercress Cardamine oligosperma Bitterroot Lewisia rediviva var. rediviva Black Sage Salvia mellifera Blow Wives, seed pods Achyrachaena mollis Blue Dicks, white form Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum Blue-eyed Grass, white form Sisyrinchium bellum Bracted Popcornflower Plagiobothrys bracteatus Bristly Phacelia Phacelia nemoralis var. nemoralis Prev 1 2 3 ... 13 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 ... 13 Next Up

Birds A-Z 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 ... 5 Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus Allen's Hummingbird Selasphorus sasin American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos American Kestrel Falco sparverius American Pipit Anthus rubescens American Robin Turdus migratorius Anna's Hummingbird Calypte anna Ash-throated Flycatcher Myiarchus cinerascens Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata Barn Owl Tyto alba Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Bell's Sparrow Artemisiospiza belli Bewick's Wren Thryomanes bewickii Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans Black-headed Grosbeak Pheucticus melanocephalus Black-throated Gray Warbler Setophaga nigrescens Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus Brown Creeper Certhia americana Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater Bullok's Oriole Icterus bullockii Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus California Quail Callipepla californica California Scrub Jay Aphelocoma californica 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 ... 5

Welcome to Mount Diablo A Message from Steve Smith, MDIA President You have picked a perfect day to come, and we want to help make your visit the best experience. Perhaps you’re here for the first time, or are you a regular? Have you brought family and friends or are you looking for some solo contemplation? Is your destination the Summit to sightsee, or have you come to explore some of our 20,000 acres? Regardless of why you have arrived, you are no doubt here to enjoy what nature and the outdoors have to offer you. Whether you are exploring the backcountry or just sharing a meal at a picnic spot, the flora and fauna you will experience are wonderful distractions from the bustling metropolis surrounding us. Human beings have been enjoying this area for thousands of years and those of us who get to know it hold it in high regard. It truly is a special place. I am proud to lead the park’s non-profit cooperative association, the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association. Our mission is simple, Preservation through Education. Our website offers you more information in the form of interesting articles that are more specific to the reason you may be visiting the park. Thanks for coming and have a wonderful time! News and Park Alerts Select Category A Blooming Vision: Your Education Center Update Spring greetings from the mountain! The flowers are blooming in Mitchell Canyon, and so is our vision for the Mitchell Canyon Education Center—we're excited to share that the design is coming to life in inspiring ways. MDIA and Mount Diablo State Park have been collaborating closely with architects, lighting consultants, landscape architects, fire suppression engineers, structural engineers, and other specialists. From sunlight angles and shade structures to bird-safe glass and sustainable lighting, every detail is being thoughtfully planned to make this an outstanding educational destination. More Park Information For the latest information on Park closure, road conditions, or fire danger, call 925-837-2525 or check the Mount Diablo State Park Website: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=517 More Seasonal Peregrine Nesting Area Closure now includes Knobcone Point For 2024: Two Peregrine Nesting Closures From February 1st through July 31st, Mount Diablo State Park will close two small areas to all visitors to accommodate nesting peregrine falcons, a protected species in California. The closure zone in the Castle Rock cliffs of Pine Canyon was established in 2015. The second zone, Knobcone Point, established in 2022, lies in the remote cliffs of the Black Hills. MDIA Peregrine Team members monitor both sites and provide education to park visitors about these apex predators. All roads and trails within both areas are closed for the nesting season. To view the full closure notice, please visit mdia.org. Closure Map for Knobcone Point area Pine Canyon and Knobcone Point Area Closure Effective February 1st every year. More Mount Diablo receives $2.6 million for building new Education Center Mount Diablo Interpretive Association is pleased to announce that, on August 22, the California Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) awarded a grant of $2.6 million to help build the Mitchell Canyon Education Center in Mount Diablo State Park. “On behalf of MDIA, I want to express how thrilled we are. We are immensely grateful to the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) for this grant and to all the donors and community organizations who believed in the value of this project and generously provided the initial funding for it,” said Steve Smith, President of the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association (MDIA). MDIA is an all-volunteer association and the official support organization for Mount Diablo State Park. The organization has worked closely with California State Parks and the staff at Mount Diablo to pursue funding for a new education and visitor center. The grant provides critical funding that moves the project forward toward construction phases. The new facility will replace an aging trailer that is not ADA-compliant. The new facility will be fully accessible, able to accommodate school groups on the mountain, expand the natural and cultural history content, and enhance the visitor experience overall. Construction may begin as early as Fall 2025. The project has attracted wide community support, including from California Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (District 16), who secured a $1 million State allocation for the project, based in part on the new opportunity to serve all the school districts in Contra Costa. A wide variety of community leaders, foundations and organizations have also contributed to and endorsed the project. WCB is a California State Board whose primary purpose is to approve funding for wildlife habitat protection, restoration and wildlife-oriented public access projects. https://wcb.ca.gov Established in 1974, the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association (MDIA) is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization that assists the California Department of Parks and Recreation in maintaining and interpreting Mount Diablo State Park for its 700,000 visitors each year. In 2022, MDIA initiated a campaign to build a new education center in Mitchell Canyon, on Mount Diablo’s northeast side to better serve visitors and open new opportunities for students. For more information contact: Steve Smith at president@mdia.org or Mike Brandy at brandymike@gmail.com Ryen Goering (CSP), Mike Brandy (MDIA), Clint Elsholz (CSP), Linda Kwong (MDIA), Alyssa Benedetti (WCB), Steve Smith (MDIA), Julie Martin (MDIA), and Dan Sandri (MDIA) MDIA Press Release - August 2024 More Education Center Visioning Workshop with Sibbett Group Since we last wrote to you to share the success of passing the $2 million mark, there have been some wonderful developments in our quest to build the new Education Center: We received a unanimous endorsement from the Contra Costa County Mayor’s conference – the mayors from every city in the county. These mayors represent over 980,000 residents. We are excited to start bringing the educational program of the new center into focus. We have entered into a contract with The Sibbett Group, a professional exhibit design firm to help us create a vision for the internal and external exhibits. This Bay Area firm is nationally recognized, with extensive work at National Parks, State Parks, and museums. To help us develop the best educational content, we are working with a variety of leaders. Tracy McManus, the County Office of Education Science Coordinator, and Sharon Peterson, the Interpreter for Mount Diablo State Park, are helping to craft our interpretive design for the new Education Center and ensure that it aligns with State curriculum standards. In addition we are working with local tribal leadership to reflect Indigenous perspectives in the exhibits at the new Education Center. You can help us achieve the vision for the Education Center by donating today: https://www.mdia.org/donate Our visioning workshop brought together officials from Indigenous Leadership, CA State Parks, MDIA and Sibbett Group. Pictured (l-r) are: Julie Braun-Martin, MDIA Board; Dan Sandri, MDIA Secretary; Brianna Cutts, Sibbett Consulting; Mark Brauer, MDIA Board; Christina McLain, CSP Biologist; Zack Moskowitz, CSP Archeologist; Steve Smith, MDIA President; Kanyon Sayers-Roods, Kanyon Konsulting, Indian Canyon Mutsun Band of Costanoan-Ohlone People; Sharon Peterson, CSP Interpreter; Mike Brandy, MDIA Vice President; Don Sibbett, Sibbett Consulting and Dick Nicoll, MDIA Board (not pictured). By Steve Smith More Protecting Mount Diablo's Peregrines Shooting through the sky at speeds reaching over 200 miles per hour, peregrine falcons, the fastest animals on earth, descend upon their prey in the blink of an eye. These extraordinary raptors nest at two locations within Mount Diablo State Park: Castle Rock and Knobcone Point. Though they may be mighty hunters, they need our help to complete a successful nesting season. Peregrine in flight by Wally De Young Courtesy of Mary Nagle, Save Mount Diablo More Together, We Did it! We are thrilled to announce that our community stepped up and pushed us over the $2 million milestone at the close of 2023! Thanks to all of you for helping the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association raise $1 million in private donations for the new Mitchell Canyon Education Center, matching the $1 million grant from the State of California. We are grateful for the enthusiastic support of the project and financial support from a wide range of individuals, companies, organizations, community leaders, and elected officials. A total of 116 local donors contributed to the campaign. They included current and former MDIA Board members, Cemex Corporation, the Kerr Foundation, Clayton Business & Community Association, PG&E, and numerous individuals. An anonymous donor made a major contribution that enabled us to achieve our goal. Mount Diablo Interpretive Association now has sufficient funds to start construction on at least one part of the project later this year, and we hope to be awarded a large grant to be able to complete the entire project. The new Mitchell Canyon Education Center will inspire thousands of visitors each year to explore the mountain, deepen their understanding of its rich history and biodiversity, wonder at its beauty, and ensure its protection. We are so grateful for your ongoing support and appreciate your commitment to our mission of Preservation Through Education. We could not do this important work without your help. Thank you for your ongoing generosity and congratulations on our success! Sincerely, Steve Smith Thanks from Leslie, Tere, Mark, Dan, Steve, Julie, Mike & Dick and the entire Board of Directors MDIA Press Release - January 2024 More Dan Sandri's Renaissance Career Dan Sandri, one of MDIA’s core volunteers, is a big hiker, but he doesn't usually leg it because he's looking for insects. His backstory is inspiring: He retired a handful of years ago after a career with the State, but he had earned a Bachelor's degree in entomology at UC Berkeley and his bug-love had stayed alive but dormant. Though he thought he'd forgotten most of what he'd learned way back then, he was soon out combing the mountain to recall and re-learn. He hooked up with old ento buddies, one of whom is a research professor in the field, and look at this: a scientific paper with his name on it and using his fine photos! The moral of the story: Never call retirement "retirement." Instead, it is your renaissance career. Congrats to Dan! Dan Sandri (middle) with two other insect-loving MDIA volunteers, Dan Fitzgerald (left) and Michael Marchiano (right). Photo by Daniel Fitzgerald Volunteer Highlights More East Bay Leadership Council Welcomes MDIA to its Membership Please welcome Mount Diablo Interpretive Association to EBLC! MDIA's team of volunteers are preserving the nature and history of Mount Diablo State Park through the development of interpretive and educational resources. Their dedication to this mission is an important component of improving the quality of life of East Bay residents. Last week Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan, California State Parks, and MDIA announced $1 million in State Funding for Mitchell Canyon Education Center to be built at Mount Diablo State Park. Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan and MDIA Board of Directors East Bay Leadership Council, LinkedIn More State writes big check to boost construction efforts for Mount Diablo education center The state of California gave the future Mitchell Canyon Education Center on Mount Diablo a check for $1 million to boost its construction efforts, the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association this week said. Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, D-Orinda, presented the check at the site on Sept. 20. The money will help fund the construction of a cutting-edge Education Center at the Mitchell Canyon entrance to the park. Rebecca Bauer-Kahan with Cameron Morrison and Stephen Smith by Tony Hicks, Bay City News Foundation More Mt. Diablo Interpretive Association gets $1 million from state for Mitchell Canyon Education Center Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) recently presented a check for $1 million from the state to the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association. This funding will enable the construction of a cutting-edge Education Center at the Mitchell Canyon entrance to Mount Diablo State Park. Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan and MDIA Board of Directors The Press More Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan, California State Parks and Mount Diablo Interpretive Association Announce $1,000,000 in State Funding for Mitchell Canyon Education Center Clayton, Calif.— Wednesday, September 20, Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) will visit the site of the future Mitchell Canyon Education Center to present a check for $1 million from the State of California to the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association. This funding will enable the construction of a cutting-edge Education Center at the Mitchell Canyon entrance to Mount Diablo State Park. “I’m thrilled to be presenting this funding which will mark a pivotal step toward enhancing educational opportunities, facilitating better access, and enriching the visitor experience at Mount Diablo,” said Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan. “As Chair of the Assembly’s Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee, I understand how crucial open space and nature are for our quality of life here in California, and I am proud of how this partnership will draw more visitors to Mount Diablo.” Rebecca Bauer-Kahan with Cameron Morrison and Steve Smith Joint Press Release by Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan, California State Parks and Mount Diablo Interpretive Association More Top Article Peregrine Closure Notice

Lovely-tailed Mourning Bee Melecta separata callura Apidae Melecta Description Melecta separata callura is a medium-to-large (~15 mm), beautiful cuckoo bee: it parasitizes the nest of Anthophora (Digger) bees by laying an egg in the completed, provisioned nest. Forewings have 3 submarginal cells. The abdomen is black, with white patching, and legs are white-patched. Females lack scopae (they don't provision nests). Nectar/ Pollen Plants Nectar generalists, without care for pollen. Habits Cleptoparasitic, these bees sneak into completed Anthophora nests (by digging down through the sealed burrows) and lay an egg on the nest cell cap. Its larva hatches, drains the Anthophora egg using its sickle like mandibles, and then eats the nest provisions. The larva pupates in the cell and emerges in Spring. Season March - May Size Medium (8-15 mm)

Lovely-tailed Mourning Bee Melecta separata callura Apidae Melecta Description Melecta separata callura is a medium-to-large (~15 mm), beautiful cuckoo bee: it parasitizes the nest of Anthophora (Digger) bees by laying an egg in the completed, provisioned nest. Forewings have 3 submarginal cells. The abdomen is black, with white patching, and legs are white-patched. Females lack scopae (they don't provision nests). Nectar/ Pollen Plants Nectar generalists, without care for pollen. Habits Cleptoparasitic, these bees sneak into completed Anthophora nests (by digging down through the sealed burrows) and lay an egg on the nest cell cap. Its larva hatches, drains the Anthophora egg using its sickle like mandibles, and then eats the nest provisions. The larva pupates in the cell and emerges in Spring. Season March - May Size Medium (8-15 mm)

Lovely-tailed Mourning Bee Melecta separata callura Apidae Melecta Description Melecta separata callura is a medium-to-large (~15 mm), beautiful cuckoo bee: it parasitizes the nest of Anthophora (Digger) bees by laying an egg in the completed, provisioned nest. Forewings have 3 submarginal cells. The abdomen is black, with white patching, and legs are white-patched. Females lack scopae (they don't provision nests). Nectar/ Pollen Plants Nectar generalists, without care for pollen. Habits Cleptoparasitic, these bees sneak into completed Anthophora nests (by digging down through the sealed burrows) and lay an egg on the nest cell cap. Its larva hatches, drains the Anthophora egg using its sickle like mandibles, and then eats the nest provisions. The larva pupates in the cell and emerges in Spring. Season March - May Size Medium (8-15 mm)

Lovely-tailed Mourning Bee Melecta separata callura Apidae Melecta Description Melecta separata callura is a medium-to-large (~15 mm), beautiful cuckoo bee: it parasitizes the nest of Anthophora (Digger) bees by laying an egg in the completed, provisioned nest. Forewings have 3 submarginal cells. The abdomen is black, with white patching, and legs are white-patched. Females lack scopae (they don't provision nests). Nectar/ Pollen Plants Nectar generalists, without care for pollen. Habits Cleptoparasitic, these bees sneak into completed Anthophora nests (by digging down through the sealed burrows) and lay an egg on the nest cell cap. Its larva hatches, drains the Anthophora egg using its sickle like mandibles, and then eats the nest provisions. The larva pupates in the cell and emerges in Spring. Season March - May Size Medium (8-15 mm)

Lovely-tailed Mourning Bee Melecta separata callura Apidae Melecta Description Melecta separata callura is a medium-to-large (~15 mm), beautiful cuckoo bee: it parasitizes the nest of Anthophora (Digger) bees by laying an egg in the completed, provisioned nest. Forewings have 3 submarginal cells. The abdomen is black, with white patching, and legs are white-patched. Females lack scopae (they don't provision nests). Nectar/ Pollen Plants Nectar generalists, without care for pollen. Habits Cleptoparasitic, these bees sneak into completed Anthophora nests (by digging down through the sealed burrows) and lay an egg on the nest cell cap. Its larva hatches, drains the Anthophora egg using its sickle like mandibles, and then eats the nest provisions. The larva pupates in the cell and emerges in Spring. Season March - May Size Medium (8-15 mm)

Butterflies A-Z Acmon Blue Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks American Lady Brushfoots Anise Swallowtail Swallowtails Behr's Silvery Blue Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks Boisduval's Blue Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks Cabbage White Whites, Sulfurs California Hairstreak Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks California Pipevine Swallowtail Swallowtails California Ringlet Brushfoots California Sister Brushfoots California Tortoiseshell Brushfoots Callippe Fritillary Brushfoots Checkered White Whites, Sulfurs Columbian Skipper Skippers Common Checkered-Skipper Skippers Coronis Fritillary Brushfoots Echo Azure Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks Edith's Checkerspot Brushfoots Fiery Skipper Skippers Golden Hairstreak Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks Gorgon Copper Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks Gray Buckeye Brushfoots Gray Hairstreak Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks Great Basin Wood-Nymph Brushfoots Great Copper Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks Great Purple Hairstreak Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks Hedgerow Hairstreak Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks Large Marble Whites, Sulfurs Leanira Checkerspot Brushfoots Lindsey's Skipper Skippers Lorquin's Admiral Brushfoots Lotus Hairstreak Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks Margined White Whites, Sulfurs Monarch Brushfoots Mormon Metalmark Metalmarks Mountain Mahogany Hairstreak Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks Mournful Duskywing Skippers Mourning Cloak Brushfoots Muir's Hairstreak Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks Mylitta Crescent Brushfoots Northern Checkerspot Brushfoots Northern White-Skipper Skippers Orange Sulphur Whites, Sulfurs Painted Lady Brushfoots Pale Swallowtail Swallowtails Propertius Duskywing Skippers Purplish Copper Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks Red Admiral Brushfoots Rural Skipper Skippers Sachem Skippers Sara Orangetip Whites, Sulfurs Satyr Comma Brushfoots Thicket Hairstreak Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks Two-tailed Swallowtail Swallowtails Umber Skipper Skippers Variable Checkerspot Brushfoots Western Brown Elfin Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks Western Pygmy-Blue Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks Western Tiger Swallowtail Swallowtails Woodland Skipper Skippers