11 Wednesday Walkers explored the south side of Mt Diablo. We started from Blue Oak Picnic Area and took Green Ranch Road to the old Green Ranch home site for lunch. 5 hikers returned to the cars via the Oak Knoll Trail (distance 2.6 miles). The other six continued on Green Ranch Rd to Frog Pond Rd, Curry Canyon Rd and Knobcone Rd to Curry Point (5.85 miles; elevation loss ~1500' followed by a gain of 550').
The genus of the day was Calochortus! Everyone saw masses of C. venustus, the white Mariposa. The group of six also saw a few of the Mt Diablo fairy lanterns and fields!!! of the yellow Mariposa (C. luteus). If you have a chance, drive up the mountain, park at Curry Point and go just past the gate which bars Knobcone Pt Rd. From there to the junction with Curry Canyon Rd, a matter of about 500 level feet, you will see more of these lovely flowers than you can count.
We also saw the second bloom of the fire-followers whispering bells and golden ear drops...not just a few, but lots of them!
For some history of the Green Ranch see: http://www.mdia.org/site/history/green-ranch
For pictures of today's hike: https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/i0u1F6
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