It's hard to hear the name Sierra without thinking granite, so finding out that there are some areas around here that are special for their lava flows may initially be a surprise.

In fact showers of volcanic ash were common the Sierra from 60 million years ago until about 9 million years ago. The ash came first from rhyolite explosions that slowed about 20 million years ago, then were followed by rhyolite explosions that slowed about 20 million years ago, then were followed by andesite eruptions along vents in the Northern Sierra.

All you need to do is drive up to the Crystal Basin Recreation area and turn onto Peavine Ridge and you will be on lava landscape. There are some areas where the volcanic soil is exposed a bit better and that soil holds water longer. The results of that moisture will become evident when you see the eye-opening displays of plants that have taken to that soil. There can be some wonderful displays of lupines so closely packed as to look like a display garden; scads of pink Clarkia take over from the lupines and hold their own. All throughout these patches are yellow madias, and many Stivers lupine (also called Harlequin lupine) with its distinctive yellow banner and pink wing-and-keel petals.

This display will change dramatically from April into May, then again into June, but by June the majority of the wildflowers will be finished, leaving the (listed 1B.2) Pleasant Valley mariposa lily, better know to botany buffs as Calochortus clavatus var. avius. I won't disclose just where these are, but perhaps a field trip next year with the El Dorado County Chapter of CNPS will go there for a visit, and you are welcome to participate.

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