The familiar view heading up the Summit Trail as an unfamiliar feature this April: lots of in-bloom buckbrush (Ceanothus cuneatus). This doesn't look like a fire scene, but those buckbrush flag what did and didn't burn. The big ones are only in areas not hit by the Morgan Fire. The burnt section has buckbrush too, but the shrubs a newly regrown and rather small.

The chaparral on this first hillside has mostly over-topped the old burned out shrubs, but occasionally one remains. Mostly chemise,. with some Ceanothus and pitcher sage, although as I've noted before, the last is slowly being squeezed out. Elsewhere on this hillside there's some shrub oak, toyon, and yerba santa.

Another familiar vantage, this just above the Old Pioneer Horse Camp. How long will that dead pine stand? Flowers in the grass often looked like this. Lots of goldenbush and poppies (as here) plus various others. Flowers scattered in with the grass rather than densely packed.

Poppies, up close, here with some popcorn flower and Erodium.

Solanum umbelliferum (blue witch nightshade), was doing very well at the margins of chaparral.

Streptanthus hispidus (Mt. Diablo jewel flower), here in bud. A fine year for these. I saw them in several places today, including some where I haven't seen them for a few years. (I also saw these on Eagle Peak earlier this week when out with a group. I'd never seen them there before.) Always on otherwise almost bare rocky slopes.

Streptanthus hispidus (Mt. Diablo jewel flower). This one is only a few inches high. Despite the numbers, all were quite small this year.

Castilleja exserta (purple owl's clover). These were scattered about, less prolifically than in some years, mostly in spots with thin grass on thin soils. All were small this year: no more than 6" high, mostly less.

Salvia columbariae (chia sage). Another small but interesting one for gravelly spots. This one was just below Devil's elbow.

Boechera breweri (Brewer's rockcress). These were up on the Mary Bowerman Trail.

North Peak from the Mary Bowerman Trail. Still some green, but as I observed last week in Morgan Territory, the most inland slopes are beginning to brown.

Claytonia gypsophiloides (springbeauty). A probably on the species based on the size, but C. exigua is possible. As I approached Devil's Pulpit on the Mary Bowerman Trail from the north, I didn't expect this pink carpet. Note the summit building just above.

Claytonia gypsophiloides (springbeauty). A probably on the species based on the size, but C. exigua is possible. The flowers could be quite closely packed.

Claytonia gypsophiloides (springbeauty). A probably on the species based on the size, but C. exigua is possible. A little better view of the fleshy leaves.

Viola purpurea (goosefoot violet) near Devil's Pulpit. All the leaves are basal.

Phacelia breweri (Brewer's Phacelia). Just west of Devil's Pulpit.

Another familiar view: the shoulder below Devil's Pulpit from Devil's Elbow. It's a popular trail. Even at this distance, the goldenbush and poppies are visible.

Between Devil's Elbow and the shoulder. Nice enough scattered color.

Cirsium occidentale (cobwebby thistle). Most had not yet opened.

Delphinium nudicaule (red larkspur) and others. As usual, the are just east of the shoulder had a good floral show and more diversity than elsewhere (although nothing to match what was here the first few years after fire.)

Phacelia distans (common phacelia). A little more widespread between here and Prospector's Gap.

Nemophila menziesii (baby blue eyes). A ways down from the shoulder now. There were a couple of *fields* of these in openings in the woods between the shoulder and Prospector's Gap.

Hydrophyllum occidentale (western waterleaf). Under forest cover maybe 1/4 mile south of (before) Prospector's Gap. Nice to spot these since they are fairly uncommon in the Bay Area. They're more common elsewhere in the state. Three plants within a few feet of each other and one more 100-200 feet north.

Lasthenia californica (goldfields) on the alternate final approach to Prospector's Gap. This is always a hot spot for goldfields.