As we move into spring, color is beginning to permeate the landscape once again. New blades of grass are pushing through the brown thatch, in shades of green so bright they are almost hard to look at. A smattering of oranges, yellows, and purples freckle the hills: flowers announcing their presence to insects looking for their next meal. Like the insects, people flock to see the flowers, as well. Admiring their beauty, we are reminded of spring’s ability to make us feel renewed.
In Contra Costa County, the wildflowers we find are often hidden—tucked away in small pockets, inviting us to search intently for them. Invasive annual grasses are forcing wildflowers into smaller and smaller patches each year. Spring wildflowers play a vital role providing nectar and pollen for pollinators and birds during a time when they need a lot of energy to reproduce. Because of invasive grass dominance, pollinators must compete over isolated wildflower patches, resulting in population decline of both wildflowers and pollinators.
Despite this decline, it is still very possible to see native wildflowers and their pollinators this spring, and perhaps their rarity makes finding them even more rewarding. Below are some wildflowers you can find in Contra Costa County, some of which you may have never noticed before!
Californiagoldfields (Lasthenia californica)
