We are very excited to partner with Dolby Laboratories for a special Nature in your Neighborhood project for Dolby Cares Week. A time when Dolby brings art and science together to inspire the next generation of innovators, and address the most critical needs in their communities. Thank you for contribution to Sutro Stewards!
By: Jessica Nguyen
Spring is my favorite season. It is a season of rebirth and life. The weather starts to warm up and the days start to get longer. Trees start to emerge from their winter slumber and the Bay Area starts to bloom in color. During this year of shelter in place, I have been trying to get out more and connect with nature. Getting out of the confines of the house and exploring trails has become a way of staying sane.
Before the pandemic, every Spring, I would promise myself that I would get out on trails in search of patches of wildflowers. But every year, life would get busy and I would miss the height of the wildflower blooms. This past year has allowed life to slow down a bit. The songbirds in the city became vibrant and I finally had the time to venture a bit. Sadly though, the only wildflower I could identify is the iconic California poppy. I knew that had to change, so during my last wildflower adventure I decided to learn to identify the other flowers. These were some of the flowers that I discovered off Mori Point in Pacifica.
Sky Lupine (Lupinus nanus)
Sky Lupine is a beautiful delicate purple flower. The color is so vibrant as they are clustered together. The Sky Lupine is native to the western United States, growing in California, Nevada and eastern Oregon. They like to grow in chaparral slopes near the coast and in interior foothills.
California Buttercup (Ranaculus californicus)
California Buttercup can be found over much of California, except the desert. It is identifiable by the bright yellow flowers, with 9 to 17 petals. In addition to being found in California, they also have native habitat in Baja California, Oregon and some Pacific coast islands.
Seaside Daisy (Erigeron glaucus)
Seaside Daisy is also known as seaside fleabane or beach aster. It is native to the Oregon and California coastlines, growing on beaches, dunes and coastal bluffs. The center of the flower is made up of yellow disc florets, surrounded with ray florets that could be shades of deep blue and purple, lavender or white.
Smooth Tidy Tips (Layia chrysanthemoides)
Smooth tidy tips are part of the daisy family.It lives in different habitats along the coast and in inland hills and valleys. It is endemic to California. They are identifiable by their bright yellow florest with white tips.
Wildflowers not only provide a beautiful visual landscape, they are an important part of the ecosystem providing food for local pollinators. It is important to not disturb wildflower patches by trampling on them or picking them.
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