May 25th 2024, Red Hill, Reno.. Thank you to John Weiser for leading our Red Hill field trip, it was great to see so many new faces and meet fellow plant enthusiasts. John shared his knowledge of the geology and flora of this special site. Red Hill, off Dandini Blvd., is home to five species of Eriogonum: E. umbellatum var. nevadense, E. sphaerocephalum, E. ochrocephalum, E. strictum var. anserinum and E. robustum. Eriognum robustum is endemic to southern Washoe County and extreme western Storey County, Nevada, in the Virginia and Carson ranges, and on Peavine Mountain and the Red Hill area. It is found in shallow, rocky, highly acidic (pH 3.3-5.5) soils derived from weathering of hydrothermal iron sulfide deposits formed mainly in andesite, and occasionally in rhyolitic or granitoid rocks, on dry, nearly barren ridges, knolls, and gentle to steep slopes on all aspects.
If you wish to see E. robustum and the other buckwheats yourself park here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/75XBwEocTPz3Z5sF7 and ramble along the trails on the hill above you.
April 13th 2024: Lower Thomas Creek Trail / Arrowcreek Openspace. 17 people gathered on a sunny spring morning to observe some spring wildflowers and learn about the geology and land use in this area. Plants seen in bloom include: Ribes velutinum, Lomatium austiniae, Lomatium nevadense, Antennaria dimorpha, Idahoa scapigera, Astragalus purshii, Collinsia parviflora, Microsteris gracilis, Ranunculus glaberrimus, Lithophragma glabrum, Viola becwithii, Draba verna, Holosteum umbellatum and Erodium cicutarium. We also saw the leaves of many other plants that will flower a bit later in the year, including: Calochortus bruneaunis, Lomatium macrocarpum, Perideridia bolanderi, Agoseris sp., Senecio integerrimus, Trifolium macrocephalum, Phacelia heterophylla, Toxicosordion paniculatum and Delphinium andersonii. The Beckwith violets were a highlight of the day with their diversity and density. They made our hearts sing with the joy of spring.
