Tuesday, May 10, 2016. I drove from home this morning and was on the trail around 1:30 for today's just-under-5-mile hike. The route begins on the Arroyo Seco Road. It's paved for all of about 100 yards but is open to service vehicles for the next 2-1/2.

Not far along, the road looks like this. It's derivable ... but not exactly a good road. Fine for hikers and cyclists. On the rocks, there are paintbrush, monkeyflower, and golden yarrow, plus a few dudleyas tucked in.

There are forest sections too.

Holodiscus discolor (creambush oceanspray) in one of first steep roadside cuts.

Salvia spathacea (hummingbird sage) lined the road in some shadier spots. This was the most extensive collection I've seen. And yes, the stalks can lay at odd angles. This really is right.

Calochortus albus (white fairly lantern): flowers and developing seed pods. These were pretty common on the shady hillsides too.

Lot of bush monkeyflower (Diplacus sp, possibly D. grandiflorus) on the road cuts.

Hillside exposures by the road range from open rock to chaparral to oak savannah.

Below, the Arroyo Seco Gorge. More often Arroyo Seco was just a running stream, but this rock-lined pool was really nice.

2-1/2 miles in, I hit the Marble Peak Trail junction. (Service vehicles can drive this far in on the Arroyo Seco Road. Somebody has to empty those bins.)

Lonicera interrupta (chaparral honeysuckle). Possibly Lonicera subspicata but the former has glabrous flowers (as here) and top leaves fused around the stem (which I think I see).

Coming down to the horse bridge over Arroyo Seco.

The wilderness begins once across the river.

Adiantum jordanii (California maidenhair) in one of the shadiest nooks, along with some poison oak.

Salvia spathacea (hummingbird sage). One area had this form with pinkish-orange flowers rather than the usual strong pink.

Views on the Marble Peak Trail opened up only occasionally today. That notch to the right ahead holds Tassajara Creek as it bends north toward the hot springs. The Marble Peak Trail goes up a tributary, Willow Creek.

Piperia leptopetala (narrow-petaled rein orchid). Just a very thin but long stalk (~18") rising from a pair of basal leaves. P. elongata is possible but generally has wider petals. CNPS 4.3 (limited distribution).

California alligator lizard ( Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata). I saw several on the trip, but most ran before I could get the camera out. This one froze for a while.

Triteleia ixioides (pretty face, golden brodiaea).