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February 20 notes on Pt. Lobos from Rosemary Foster

Many flowers and shrubs are blooming early this year. Ceanothus thyrsiflorus is in full bloom throughout the reserve. Solanum douglasii is blooming very early along North Shore Trail. Iris douglasiana is blooming throughout the reserve. Poison oak is blooming before it is fully leafed out.

In the Marks Addition, Point Lobos East, the Monterey pines have almost finiished pollinating. Both Arctostaphylos tomentosa and A. hookeri still have some blooms, there are many berries on A. tomentosa. Three Ceanothus species are in full bloom: C. thyrsiflorus, several C. cuneatus v. rigidus (including 1 white-blossomed form) and one C. papillosus are covered in bloom. Several Indian warrior, Pedicularis densiflorus, were found in the maritime chapparal. Many newly fertilized Cupressus goveniana v. goveniana cones were spotted in the Pygmy Forest area. Ribes sanguineum is blooming under the Monterey Pines and in Fern Canyon under the redwoods. Many fern species are growing well under the redwoods. The big surprise, Toyon, Heteromeles arbutifolia, blooming in February. It is rarely found blooming in Monterey County before late April or May.

February 4 notes from Rose Ashbach

Here are some of the latest bloomers at Fort Ord

Plagiobothrys tenellus - slender popcorn flower (I am not 100% on the species (Reservation/blanco) 2/3
Sanicula arctopoides - footsteps-of-spring (all areas) 1/26, 2/3
Sidalcea malviflora - checker bloom (skyline) 1/26
Sisyrinchium bellum - blue-eyed grass (skyline) 1/26
Amsinckia sp. - fiddleneck (reservation/blanco) 2/3
Lupinus chamissonis - silver beach lupine (reservation/blaco 2/3
Calandrinia ciliata - red maids (reservation/blaco and skyline) 2/3, 1/26
Camissonia ovata - suncups (torro creek area) 1/28
Ceanothus cuneatus var. rigidus - Monterey ceanothus (Watkins gate area) 2/2
Castilleja affinis - coast paint-brush (reservation road/ blanco road) 2/3
Dodecatheon clevelandii ssp. sanctarum - padre's shooting star (skyline) 1/26
Galium porrigens - climbing bedstraw (reservation/blanco) 2/3
Rumex acetosella - sheep sorrel (all areas) 1/26
Ranunculus californicus - California buttercup (skyline) 1/26
Arctostaphylos hookeri ssp. hookeri - Hooker's manzanita
Arctostaphylos montereyensis - Toro manzanita
Arctostaphylos pumila - sandmat manzanita
Arctostaphylos tomentosa ssp. bracteosa - Monterey manzanita
Arctostaphylos tomentosa ssp. crinita - shaggy-barked manzanita
Arctostaphylos tomentosa ssp. crustacea - brittle-leaf manzanita
Arctostaphylos tomentosa ssp. tomentosa - shaggy-barked manzanita

(all of the manzanita sp. have been blooming for a while now. as well as the Currants and Goosberries.)