I started photographing wildflowers because I wished to learn what was around me at scenic Lick Observatory. This spring (May-June 2003) was particularly good for wildflowers. I decided now was the time to learn about local wildflowers because Bill Gehri, our local wildflower expert, is retiring from the Observatory. I figured I needed to learn as much from him as possible before he left Mount Hamilton. Many of the identifications here are possible because of his expertice (all mistakes are mine, not his, in the list below). This catalog began as a way for me to remember and look up names of flowers I've seen before (I have a terrible memory for names and I'm sure next year I'll only remember a fraction of the flower names I learned this year). However, some of the pictures are so pretty, I felt I had to share them.
Some of the images below are very nice, others are a bit out of focus, over exposed, not enough zoom, etc. Each year I'll try photographing the flowers again in hopes of eventually having good pictures of as many flowers as possible.
All images are copyright 2003 by Elinor Gates.
| Picture | Flower Name | Location and Date of Photo & Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Bedstraw | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003 | |
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Bird's Beak | Mount Hamilton Road, Grant Ranch, 31 May 2003 | |
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Blue Dicks (brodea) | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003 | |
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Blue-Eyed Grass | Mt. Hamilton Road, Grant Ranch, 29 May 2003 | |
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Blue Witch | Quimby Road, 29 May 2003, poisonous to cows and people | |
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Branched Phacelia | Mt. Hamilton Road, Lick Observatory, 30 May 2003, slightly greenish flowers. | |
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Buckeye | Mt. Hamilton Road, Lick Observatory, 29 May 2003 | |
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Bush Mallow | Quimby Road, 29 May 2003 | |
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Bush Monkeyflower | Mt. Hamilton Road, Grant Ranch, 29 May 2003 | |
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Buttercup | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003, 6 petals or less is western buttercup | |
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California Phacilia | Rattlesnake Ridge, 26 May 2003 | |
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California Poppy | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003 | |
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Candy Flower | Trumpler's Garden, 26 May 2003 | |
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Chinesehouses | Trumpler's Garden, 26 May 2003 | |
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Chia | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003, seeds were an indian food source | |
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Clarkia | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003 | |
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Clarkia, No common name | South Spring, 2 June 2003, closely related to 5 spot clarkia | |
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Clover, Non-Native | Mt. Hamilton Road, Lick Observatory, 30 May 2003 | |
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Colchita (Lotus Humistratus) | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003 | |
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Columbine | Mt. Hamilton Road, Smith Creek, 29 May 2003 | |
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Coyotemint | Rattlesnake Ridge, 15 June 2003 | |
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Common Dudlea | Observatory Peak, 15 June 2003 | |
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Dandelion | South Spring, 8 June 2003, in seed | |
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Dog Fennel | Mount Hamilton Road, Grant Ranch, 29 May 2003, smells bad | |
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Douglas' Catchfly | Mt. Hamilton Road, Lick Observatory, 30 May 2003, small white 5 petals, sticky inner node | |
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Douglas Wallflower (mustard) | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003 | |
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Elderberry | Mt. Hamilton Road, Smith Creek, 29 May 2003 | |
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Elegant Brodiaea | South Spring, 10 June 2003 | |
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Elegant Clarkia | Mt. Hamilton Road, Lick Observatory, 29 May 2003 | |
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Fairy Fan Clarkia | South Spring, 2 June 2003, pretty smell | |
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False Lupine (thermopsis) | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003 | |
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Fiddleneck | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003 | |
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Geranium | Quimby Road, 31 May 2003 | |
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Gilia | Mt. Hamilton Road, Lick Observatory, 30 May 2003 | |
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Globe Lily | Mt. Hamilton Road, Lick Observatory, 29 May 2003 | |
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Goldenbush | Rattlesnake Ridge, 15 June 2003 | |
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Golden Yarrow | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003 | |
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Hillside Pea | Trumpler's Garden, 26 May 2003 | |
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Hirschfeldia | Mt. Hamilton Road, Lick Observatory, 29 May 2003 | |
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Indian Paintbrush | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003 | |
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Italian Thistle | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003 | |
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Ithuriel's-Spear | Mt. Hamilton Road, Smith Creek, 29 May 2003 | |
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Linanthus | Mt. Hamilton Road, Lick Observatory, 30 May 2003 | |
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Lindley Blazing-Star | Observatory Peak, 23 May 2003 | |
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Lomatium of some variety | Quimby Road, 29 May 2003 | |
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Lotus | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003, with linanthus | |
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Lupine | Mt. Hamilton Road, Grant Ranch, 29 May 2003. White/Yellow flowers, in seed. | |
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Madia | Mt. Hamilton Road, Lick Observatory, 30 May 2003 | |
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Manafala (spelling?) | Trumpler's Garden, 26 May 2003 | |
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Mariposa Lily | Mt. Hamilton Road, Lick Observatory, 29 May 2003 | |
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Miner's Lettuce | Trumpler's Garden, 26 May 2003 | |
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Miniature Lupine | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003 | |
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Mount Diablo Phacelia? | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003, rare | |
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Mules Ear Sunflower | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003 | |
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Mustard? | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003 | |
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Naked Broom-Rape | Trumpler's Garden, 26 May 2003. white flower in background is ??? | |
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Narrow Leaf Sunflower | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003 | |
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Oak Violet | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003 | |
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Owl's Clover | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003 | |
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Penstemon | Mt. Hamilton Road, Lick Observatory, 29 May 2003 | |
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Pineapple Weed | Mt. Hamilton Road, Lover's Lookout, Lick Observatory, 30 May 2003 | |
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Plectritus | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003, can also be pink | |
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Poison-Hemlock | Mount Hamilton Road, Grant Ranch, 31 May 2003 | |
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Popcorn Flower | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003 | |
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Red Larkspur | Trumpler's Garden, 26 May 2003 | |
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Redribbons | Trumpler's Garden, 26 May 2003 | |
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Red Thistle | Mount Hamilton Road, Lick Observatory, 30 May 2003 | |
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Royal Larkspur | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003 | |
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Sanicula Saxilitas? or Lomatium? | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003, Sanicula Saxilitas is Federally Endangered (Class I) | |
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Scarlet Pimpernel | Mt. Hamilton Road, Grant Ranch, 30 May 2003 | |
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Serviceberry | Mt. Hamilton Road, Smith Creek, 29 May 2003 | |
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Silky Lupine | Kepler Peak (hillside opposite Gehri residence) on Mt. Hamilton, 16 June 2003 | |
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Sky Lupine | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003 | |
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Soap-Plant | South Spring, 10 June 2003 | |
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Spring Vetch | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003 | |
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Starfruited Buckwheat | Observatory Peak, 23 May 2003, indian food (chia in foreground) | |
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Thornmint | Observatory Peak, 15 June 2003, rare | |
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Tomcat Clover | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003 | |
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White Chinesehouses | Mt. Hamilton Road, Smith Creek, 29 May 2003 | |
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Wild Parsley | Mt. Hamilton Road, Lick Observatory, 30 May 2003 | |
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Wild Teasle | Mt. Hamilton Road, Grant Ranch, 29 May 2003 | |
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Winter Vetch | Mt. Hamilton Road, Grant Ranch, 29 May 2003 | |
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Wiskerbrush Linanthus | South Spring, 2 June 2003 | |
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Woodland Star | Trumpler's Garden, 26 May 2003 | |
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Wood Mint | Rattlesnake Ridge, 15 June 2003 | |
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Yarrow | Rattlesnake Ridge, 26 May 2003 | |
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Yellow Mariposa Lily | Mt. Hamilton Road, Lick Observatory, 29 May 2003 | |
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Yellow Yarrow | Mt. Hamilton Road, Lick Observatory, 30 May 2003, with butterfly |
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???? | Brickyard, 23 June 2003 |
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Tiny Popcorn Flower? | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003 |
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Non-native species | Mt. Hamilton Road, Lover's Lookout, Lick Observatory, 30 May 2003 |
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carrot family, sanicula? | Shane Telescope, 15 June 2003 |
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???? | Observatory Peak, 15 June 2003 |
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???? | Observatory Peak, 15 June 2003 |
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???? | Shane Telescope, 15 June 2003 |
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???? | Shane Telescope, 15 June 2003 |
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White Clarkia? | Mount Hamilton Road, Grant Ranch, 31 May 2003 |
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???? | Kepler Peak, 16 June 2003 |
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Blue Dicks and Tomcat Clover | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003 |
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Sky Lupines on hillside looking up towards 36" Great Refractor | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003 |
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Douglas Wallflower, Lupine, Thistle | Rattlesnake Ridge, 26 May 2003 |
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California Poppies and Sky Lupine | Observatory Peak, 30 May 2003 |
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Mariposa Lilies, Elegant Brodiaea, and Clarkia | South Spring, 8 June 2003 |
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Buttercups, Spring Vetch, and Hillside Pea | Rattlesnake Ridge, 22 May 2003 |