Rich Blackmarr and John Hunter, members of the Sacramento Chapter of
the California Native Plant Society, led a hike along Walker Ridge in
Colusa County seeking early spring blooming flora. Dick Fraschetti
and Geno Masuda, a couple novices, tagged along to learn more about native
flowers and plant identification from these two
passionate
experts.
The foursome enjoyed a pleasant April day hiking 4 leisurely miles in chapparral country. They lunched high on top of Signal Rock overlooking Sulpher Springs Valley and visited an abandoned mercury mine.
There was enough time left in the day to drive into Bear Valley to see the valley floor carpeted with a spectacular mix of wildflowers. The soil composition of Bear Valley has the ideal mix of serpentine rock and exposure to produce some of the finest bouquets of spring wildflowers to be found anywhere in Northern California.
When conditions are right, like this year, the results can be quite dazzling. Bear Valley is located on a gravel road north of Hwy 20 about 18 miles west of Williams. Walker Ridge Road is just west of Bear Valley forming the boundary between Colusa and Lake counties.
Elgin mine at right
