BUENA VISTA TRAIL WILDFLOWER WALK

 

BUENA VISTA TRAIL WILDFLOWER WALK
mid March to early April

[THIS WALK NOT YET EDITED]

Description:  Counter-clockwise on Buena Vista Trail from West Climb Trail in Hillside to Hollow Reserve (Ussery or Hillside trailheads).  Full loop requires trail-only access through private land.  Difficulty:  2-3 miles roundtrip, 130 feet elevation gain.  Avoid when muddy!

Special plants for this trail include a large population of Aase’s onion (Allium aaseae) on the upper south-facing slopes.  This is also the best trail for our only native true primrose, Cusick’s primrose (Primula cusickiana), which is one of the earliest flowers to bloom locally.  A few small patches can be spotted in late winter/early spring on upper north-facing slopes.

Aase’s onion
Aase’s onion
Aase’s onion
Aase’s onion

 

Plants listed in approximate order of encounter within category.  * indicates native species

 

Download plant list pdf

 

WILDFLOWERS POTENTIALLY IN BLOOM

TREES AND SHRUBS (not in bloom)

  • Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) – non-native tree
  • *Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata subsp. tridentata)
  • *Rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria [formerly Chrysothamnus] nauseosa) — var. hololeuca is the more common larger variety; the smaller, more spindly var. oreophila is mostly on plateaus

SIGNIFICANT NOXIOUS WEEDS (not in bloom, but evident)

 

PRIMARY BUNCHGRASSES (mostly not in bloom, but evident)