The Courdet Trail takes off through grasslands and (at first) live oaks. _

Mid-way up, black oaks become very common, along with some buckeyes, a few sycamores along the water courses, and the every-present bays. This was taken on the way down later in the afternoon. _

Quercus kelloggii (black oak). This year most are going right from green to brown.

Higher up, it's back to coast live oaks.

Heteromeles arbutifolia under the oaks. I think this is the first one I've seen this year with the berries in full color.

Epilobium canum (California fuchsia) at the margins between the oak cover and more open areas.

I didn't shoot many wider views up top. Much is just simple grassland. This scene, shot ascending the Loop Trail, show a mix: oaks in the draws and grass on the open hillsides ... plus an ornament on the highest hill. _

Trichostema lanceolatum (vinegarweed). Occasional in the grasslands along (and in) the trail. But there was more of the yellow stuff behind ...

Centromadia fitchii (fitch spikeweed). Probably. Centromadia certrainly looks right, but C. parryi ssp. congdonii (Congdon's tarplant) and C. pungens ssp. pungens (common spikeweed) are also potentially here. All those glands support fitchii.

Centromadia fitchii (fitch spikeweed). Probably. Quite common today in the grasslands.

I saw ONE California poppy in bloom.

Asclepias fascicularis (narrow-leaf milkweed). There was a large stand at the junction of the Shady Creek and North Ridge Trails. Only a few plants had flowers out, and scraggly ones at that, but then I wouldn't have expected *any* in bloom this late.

Asclepias fascicularis (narrow-leaf milkweed). This was expected: plants with seeds ready to disperse. The yellow lumps below are non-native oleander aphids.

Asclepias fascicularis (narrow-leaf milkweed). Many more plants were like this: pods forming but not open -- Will they? -- plus some bugs but no dense clusters.

Baccharis pilularis (coyote bush) in maximum fuzz.

Baccharis pilularis (coyote bush) leaf detail.