Ginger, Karen and Karen's college classmate Barbara visited Jepson Prairie, part of the Solano County Land Trust, on a docent-led Wildflower and Critter Walk.

plaque by the meeting location

view of the parking along the gravel Cook Rd.

Seasonality, the three phases

Aquatic Phase - winter

Flowering Phase - spring

Dry Phase - summer

Olcott Pool, a vernal pool

power lines cross the vernal pools

masses of Vernal Pool Goldfields by Olcott Pool

Hairy Vetch (non-native purple flowers) growing on a Mima Mound

another view of the Goldfields

a group learns about the aquatic life in the vernal pool

cloudy water sample from the vernal pool

tadpole shrimp Lepidurus packardi

Fairy Shrimp (upper left of container)

Backswimmers (a type of beetle)

California Tiger Salamander Ambystoma californiense larvae

another view of the California Tiger Salamander Ambystoma californiense larvae

Pacific Chorus Frog

small fish (normally not found here, but extra rain this winter allowed them to swim in through overflow channels)

the drying edge of the vernal pool

part of the group walking on the path through a patch of Blow Wives

Vernal Pool Goldfields Lasthenia fremontii

view of Olcott Pool from Cook Rd.

by summer, all this will be dry

large military cargo jet from nearby Travis Air Force Base

Canada Geese

another view of the geese

wooden walkway from Cook Rd. to the private area of the preserve

only docent-led walks are allowed in this area

inside the private area

Ginger in the private area

Barbara in the private area

Vernal Pool Goldfields Lasthenia fremontii and Fringed Downingia Downingia concolor

another view of Ginger with Goldfields and Downingia

another view of Barbara with Goldfields and Downingia

closer view of the patch of Fringed Downingia Downingia concolor

mass of Fringed Downingia Downingia concolor

closer view of Fringed Downingia Downingia concolor

closest view of Fringed Downingia Downingia concolor

Dwarf Brodiaea Brodiaea terrestris

closeup of Dwarf Brodiaea Brodiaea terrestris

side view of Dwarf Brodiaea Brodiaea terrestris

more Dwarf Brodiaea Brodiaea terrestris

Gold Nuggets Calochortus luteus

more Gold Nuggets Calochortus luteus

closeup of Gold Nuggets Calochortus luteus

large patch of Blow Wives Achyrachaena mollis

Blow Wives Achyrachaena mollis gone to seed

Blow Wives seed pod

closeup of Blow Wives seeds

Butter & Eggs Triphysaria eriantha (surrounded by Goldfields)

closer view of Butter & Eggs Triphysaria eriantha

Butter & Eggs Triphysaria eriantha closest view

Butter & Eggs with Goldfields and Fringed Downingia

Goldfield just opening

Baker's Navarretia Navarretia leucocephala ssp. bakeri

another view of Baker's Navarretia Navarretia leucocephala ssp. bakeri

Vernal Pool Popcorn Flower Plagiobothrys stipitatus var. micranthus

Brass Buttons Cotula cornonopifolia (non-native)

closeup of Fringed Downingia and Brass Buttons

Meadowfoam Limnanthes douglasii ssp. rosea

closeup of Meadowfoam Limnanthes douglasii ssp. rosea

side view of Meadowfoam Limnanthes douglasii ssp. rosea

Seep Monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus

side view of Seep Monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus

Seep Monkeyflower flowering stalk

closeup of Seep Monkeyflower

power line tower above the reserve

Ginger's sister Renee and niece Erika visited the next day

Erika spotted this Gopher Snake, which their docent caught to show everyone

They also saw this different species, Cupped Downingia Downingia insignis

End of Photos!