After a couple of relatively dry winters (including the ersatz 'Godzilla' El Nino of 2015-2016), we finally got a major dose of rain for the 2016-2017 winter season that filled the vernal pools at the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve. The wildflower bloom had not yet peaked on this visit, but the plateau was gorgeously green.
Main vernal pool on the Mesa de Colorado
Vasey's Prickly Pear (Opuntia vaseyi), Vernal Pool Trail
Johnny Jump-Ups/California Golden Violet (Viola pedunculata), Vernal Pool Trail
Main vernal pool
Main vernal pool
Boardwalk at main vernal pool
Main vernal pool
Main vernal pool
Main vernal pool
Boardwalk at main vernal pool
Boardwalk at main vernal pool
Main vernal pool
Main vernal pool
Boardwalk at main vernal pool
Boardwalk at main vernal pool
Main vernal pool
Main vernal pool
Boardwalk at main vernal pool
Two-Striped Garter Snake (Thamnophis hammondii) in main vernal pool
Two-Striped Garter Snakes
Probably orange-red Cyclops species of copepod in the main vernal pool
(per Tom Chester's Intro to the Pool Critters:
Yellow Carpet (Blennosperma nanum), Vernal Pool Trail
Yellow Carpet (Blennosperma nanum), Vernal Pool Trail
Vernal Pool Trail
California poppies (Eschscholzia californica), Vernal Pool Trail
Padre's Shooting Stars (Dodecatheon clevelandii ssp. clevelandii), Vernal Pool Trail
Vasey's Prickly Pear (Opuntia vaseyi), Vernal Pool Trail
Vasey's Prickly Pear (Opuntia vaseyi), Vernal Pool Trail
Blue Dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum), Vernal Pool Trail
Padre's Shooting Stars (Dodecatheon clevelandii ssp. clevelandii), Vernal Pool Trail
Padre's Shooting Stars (Dodecatheon clevelandii ssp. clevelandii),
Vernal Pool Trail
Padre's Shooting Stars (Dodecatheon clevelandii ssp. clevelandii),
Vernal Pool Trail
Ground Pink (Linanthus dianthiflorus), Vernal Pool Trail
Ground Pink (Linanthus dianthiflorus), Vernal Pool Trail
Vernal Pool Trail
Blue Dicks along the Vernal Pool Trail
Blue Dicks & San Diego Pea (Lathyrus vestitus var. alefeldii), Vernal Pool Trail
White Everlasting (Pseudognaphalium canescens),
Vernal Pool Trail
Vernal Pool Trail
Vernal Pool Trail
Vernal Pool Trail
California Burclover (Medicago polymorpha), Vernal Pool Trail
Purple Sanicle (Sanicula bipinnatifida), Vernal Pool Trail
Padre's Shooting Stars (Dodecatheon clevelandii ssp. clevelandii),
Vernal Pool Trail
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis bocourtii)?
Coast Range Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis bocourtii)?
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