Wildflowers
Local hikes reveal many varieties
By Trina Kleist
City Editor, trinak@theunion.com
» More from Trina Kleist
city Editor
12:01 a.m. PT Mar 26, 2008
With a wet winter and warm days, wildflowers have sprung up all over Nevada County.
Recent trips to Bridgeport State Park, on the South Fork Yuba River, revealed vast stands of golden tufted poppies, arroyo lupine and blue dick everywhere.
The Buttermilk Bend trail, heading upriver from the covered bridge on the north side, has the best showing right now for wildflowers, and many varieties are marked with signs identifying them. The steep slopes dropping down to the river also offer spectacular views of the South Yuba, the white boulders still jutting up like bones from the icy water.
Another trail that goes downriver from the bridge to Englebright Lake also had many wildflowers. It's less-traveled and has a more woodsy feel on a narrow path peppered with roots and rocks. Sierra iris are plentiful there, along with cutleaf geranium, dove's foot geranium, red clover, Arroyo lupine and blue dick.
As the season unfolds at Bridgeport, other varieties of lupine pop up, along with ground iris, fairy lanterns, bush monkeyflower and more. Watch for the red-violet of redbud on the road to the park.
The Redbud Chapter of the California Native Plant Society has published "Wildflowers of Nevada and Placer Counties," a useful guide that describes flowers and offers commentary on uses by Native Americans and modern landscapers. It also offers directions for other hikes where you can see more flowers. "Wildflowers" is available at local bookstores and nurseries.
To get to Bridgeport, take Highway 20 west of Grass Valley to Pleasant Valley Road, turn right, follow the road all the way to the park, about 8 miles. For both hikes, cross the covered bridge to the far side of the river.
Bridgeport is part of the South Yuba River State Park.
Senior Staff Writer Dave Moller contributed to this report. To contact City Editor Trina Kleist, e-mail tkleist@theunion.com or call 477-4230.
