Pine Creek Valley

Yesterday I led a wildflower walk for Lassen Land and Trails Trust as part of their Discover Lassen County series.  This outing was originally scheduled for the Diamond Mountains, but as that ridgeline remains cloaked in snow, we decided to relocate to a more summery locale.  We chose Pine Creek Valley, a broad, alluvial flat along Highway 44.  These flats, particularly the low sage flats, represent some of my favorite local plant communities.  They are rather unremarkable at first glance, but populated by a host of tiny treasures this time of year.  Sighted in bloom this visit: Leucocrinum montanum (sand lily), Zigadenus paniculatus (panicled death camas), Penstemon speciosus (showy penstemon), Phlox hoodii ssp. canescens (creeping phlox), Castilleja pilosa (pilose paintbrush), and Fritillaria atropurpurea (purple fritillary).