"A scientific interest in at least certain features of our natural environment, as for example the trees, shrubs or herbaceous plants, directs one to useful and agreeable intellectual activity. Accurate and detailed knowledge of even a small area lifts the possessor out of the commonplace and enables him directly or indirectly to contribute to the well-being and happiness of his community."
—Willis JepsonClick to read Wikipedia info
about Jepson..., Trees of California, 1921
“...detailed knowledge of even a small area...”
What does it take to develop a detailed knowledge of our small area? Curiosity, an ability to see things, and maybe a book or twoSee the Book page for some recommended titles... to help learn the names of the native plants.
The snow is melting at Carson Pass, the areas above 4000 are starting to bloom, so why not prepare yourself to recognize some of the main native plant families? Get familiar with the easy ones first, and add to that knowledge as the season rolls on. Some of the first flowers you will see will be members of two large families: lupines are in FabaceaeClick to see the
Fabaceae of EDC... (the bean or pea family) and balsam-root and mules-ears are in AsteraceaeClick to see the
Asteraceae of EDC... (the sunflower family). Not to mislead, but these are also two of the largest plant families and are generally pretty challenging to identify to species! All I want is to encourage you to recognize the family characteristics of the ten most identifiable families.
Tip: There are two kinds of links used: yellow-highlighted tidbits are pop-up comments...like this! for quick reading when you roll the cursor over them; links to new pages are standard blue.
It’s curious to me that many people think learning plants names is hard to do. Botanical names just look intimidating. Common names look friendly but they are more confusing than helpful. I confess that starting to work with botanical names can be off-putting when you are suddenly faced with Sphenosciadium capitellatumRanger Buttons, but then there are plenty of easy ones like Agoseris grandifloraMountain Dandilion or Quercus durataLeather Oak. Once you get past the initial fear of trying to say the names, it gets easier and easier. Besides, you are more often reading the names rather than saying them.
And Now, Floralore comes with Butterflies!
Added to the mix of learning about native plants, butterflies have become a subject of real interest. With an active interest in flowers and butterflies both, you certainly won’t run out of things to do on any sunny day from now until October!
I started to watch for butterflies in 2007. Now you can visit my growing collection of photos, plus a list of butterflies in this part of California, and I hope you too will be inspired to look for butterflies with the new season now underway.
Enjoy the Many Environments of El Dorado County
The Eldorado National ForestIt's El Dorado (two words)
for the county, but
Eldorado (one word)
for the forest!' recognizes more than 1200 species of plantsClick to see a list.... And because El Dorado County offers over 10,000 feet in elevation change, we get a really long season: March through September. We have several interesting soil types, from serpentine outcrops like Traverse Creek, gabbro soils of Pine Hill, and a splendid mix of volcanic and granitic soils of the Crystal Range, the Desolation Wilderness, and of course the Sierra Nevada. We have riparian areas, chaparral, the Eldorado National Forest and Grass Lake, and the largest sphagnum bog in California. We have several excellent mountain passes nearby (see Google maps: Echo Summit, Carson, Monitor, Ebbetts, and Sonora) which each offer their own particular environments. In short, we have a wealth of habitats we can explore on any weekend we choose. And there almost certainly are still El Dorado County native plants which have not yet been identified! That's intriguing.
Are You Looking for Wheelchair Access to Nature in El Dorado County?
If you have a friend in a wheelchair, or if you yourself want to out for a wheelchair hike, I am adding some places that have trails (or good dirt roads) that can get you into close encounters with Nature.
Many backroads in the Eldorado Nat’l Forest have now been closed to any motorized vehicles, but that does not include motorized wheelchairs. Look at the page about access points and see what you think? Feedback invited.
But First, Let’s Clear This Up: It’s Sierra, not Sierras!
Just for fun, let's look at the name of California's best known mountain range: the Sierra Nevada. The Spanish word sierra has several meanings. In a general way, the word means a saw used to cut, as in sierra de mano, handsaw, or sierra circular, buzz saw. In a geologic sense, sierra means simply a “jagged mountain range”, nevada is a Spanish adjective formed from the word nieve, snow. The name Sierra Nevada simply means “snowy jagged mountain range.” In other words, the name Sierra Nevada should only be used in the singular for this California feature. Check this map of physiographic regions of California.
Disclaimer No. 1:
I am not a trained botanist but I do consider myself an amateur scientist; the word “amateur” comes from Latin, amar, to love, and “science” is from a Latin root which means to know, to learn; an amateur scientist simply loves to learn. We should all be scientists at some level.
Disclaimer No. 2:
This site is mostly concerned with the plants (and now butterflies) of El Dorado County, California, but it also includes information from around northern California in general (e.g., Habitats), plus information on plant names and how to learn to ID plants. If you are outside this area, I am hoping that much of the information will still be of interest.
Please E-mail me with any comments,
PS: A word about Calflora...
Most of the botanical name links will take you to a site called Calflora.org; it is an excellent source for plant photos, range maps, and information about California native (and many non-native) plants. As you get more interested in native plants Calflora will prove to be a valuable resource. I personally hope that you will find that the site is deserving of a donation.
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