Wildflower Mount Diablo Windmill Pink, Common Catchfly Invasive Scientific Name: Silene gallica Family: Caryophyllaceae (Pink Family) Blooms: Apr - Jun Color: Red-Pink Annual herb Introduced Naturalized from Europe, per Errter & Bowerman Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Daniel Fitzgerald Daniel Fitzgerald Mike Woodring

Wildflower Mount Diablo Chia Scientific Name: Salvia columbariae Family: Lamiaceae (Mint Family) Blooms: May - Jun Color: Blue-Purple Annual herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Mike Woodring

Mount Diablo becomes a State Park They had a big party in 1921 January 1, 2024 Just over two weeks after the governor signed legislation creating state parkland on Mount Diablo there was a party to celebrate! According to the “Hikers” column by Harold French in the San Francisco Call, at the dedication on June 19, 1921, “Unique outdoor exercises were held …first in a natural amphitheater at the base, and later at the summit.” In addition to performances by the Martinez band and Choral Society, and speeches by local and state dignitaries, “Moving pictures and airplane stunts heightened the interest of the varied program conducted on the top of this 3850-foot mountain.” In 2022, Mount Diablo State Park celebrated its Centennial, and continues to attract thousands of visitors to its summit to enjoy the impressive views of Northern California. BACK TO LIST

American Robin Thrushes and Thrashers American Robin Turdus migratorius All Year Thrushes and Thrashers Daniel Fitzgerald Our "robin red-breast" is found in woodlands and along woodland edges. It takes advantage of fruit-bearing trees or shrubs in the winter. Yellowish bill, red to redish-orange breast, and white lower belly and undertail coverts. Male's head is darker than female's. Cup-shaped nest constructed from twigs, grass, and mud is placed in trees and is often easy to locate. Robins eat invertebrates and fruits.

California Thrasher Thrushes and Thrashers California Thrasher Toxostoma redivivum All Year Thrushes and Thrashers Daniel Fitzgerald Found in chaparral and riparian woodland, usually with extensive dense understory shrubs. Bill is noticeably decurved. Note dark, brownish-gray upperparts; somewhat paler below. Whitish throat, dark moustache, and dark eye are diagnostic. Can be heard singing at almost any time of year. Cup-shaped, twig nest is placed in shrubs or trees. This species feeds on insects, fruits, and berries.

Edwards Digger Bee Anthophora edwardsii Apidae Anthophora Describe your image Describe your image Describe your image Describe your image Describe your image Describe your image Description Anthophora edwardsii has a mostly dark abdomen without bold hair bands. There can be a metallic bluish sheen to abdomen. Nectar/ Pollen Plants Most local Anthophora are generalists. Habits Nests are usually single-celled and 3-4 inches deep. Nests are made in early Spring, with an egg laid on a pollen/nectar combination. Larvae hatch, feed and pupate in the Fall. Adults hatch in Fall and overwinter underground, and emerge the following Spring (males first). These Anthophora are often found in large, active aggregations along some of Mount Diablo State Park’s wide trails. Season Earlier Spring (starting late-February/early March)

Wildflower Mount Diablo Fitch's Tarweed Scientific Name: Centromadia fitchii Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower Family) Blooms: Jun - Oct 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

Edwards Melectum Melecta edwardsii Apidae Melecta Describe your image Describe your image Describe your image Describe your image Describe your image Describe your image Description Melecta edwardsii are medium to large-size bees that have a thorax covered on top with cream-colored hairs and a blue-black, rather hairless abdomen. Hairs under the wings are black.These bee lack any pale hairs on the top of the first abdominal segment. They have distinctive long spines on the scutellum (a hard triangular plate between the wing bases on the thorax), and the spines can be seen sticking out above the light-colored hairs of the thorax (see photo). Nectar/ Pollen Plants Likely nectar generalists. They have been seen on Mount Diablo nectaring on Yerba Santa and Vetch flowers. Habits Cleptoparasitic, these bees dig into completed nests of Anthophora digger bees and lay an egg on the roof or cell walls of the nest. Their larvae hatch and kill the host bee egg or larva and then feed on the nest provisions. Season March - early June

Wildflower Mount Diablo Redstem Filaree Invasive Scientific Name: Erodium cicutarium Family: Geraniaceae (Geranium Family) Blooms: Mar - Jun Color: Red-Pink Annual herb Introduced Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Damon Tighe

Wildflower Mount Diablo Intermediate Suncup Scientific Name: Camissonia intermedia Family: Onagraceae (Evening Primrose Family) Blooms: Mar-June Color: Yellow-Orange Annual herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Ken-ichi Ueda, iNaturalist

Wildflower Mount Diablo California Gilia Scientific Name: Gilia achilleifolia ssp. achilleifolia Family: Polemoniaceae (Phlox Familiy) Blooms: Apr - Jun Color: Blue-Purple Annual herb Native, endemic to California Larger flowers than Small California Gilia Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Bill Karieva

Wildflower Mount Diablo Slender Woolly Marbles Scientific Name: Psilocarphus tenellus Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower Family) Blooms: April Color: White Annual herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Steven Beatty