Walnut Creek
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Shell Ridge Open Space Walnut Creek |
April 2, 2024
For my first 'real' hike of the year I have joined up with a Sacramento-area hiking club for the first time, at the behest of one of its regular members. We will be venturing westward over near Mount Diablo for a springtime loop that should include some nice flowers.
Our two carloads prepare for the ordeal
Another few youngsters join us as well, for a total of 14.
At one juncture, the city fathers had the option of developing this area or preserving it; they did the right thing.
Getting started
The poppy garden is undergoing serious maintenance
Stay on the trail, or get barked at by a gardener
Coastal Tidy Tips
Kings Cup Buttercup
The group photographer invariably trails the pack
Menzies Fiddleneck
Virginia Perpperweed
Mouse Barley
Many varieties of oak are present
The trail junctions are well-marked
Approaching an historic cattle ranch
Entering in "stile"
Borges Ranch
Established in 1903, this place is a treasure/time capsule — an introduction
to life on a single-family cattle ranch in the late 1800s. It currently
serves as a ranger station/maintenance facility, and the local 4-H club maintains
some goats, sheep, pigs, and chickens here. The facility is accessible by car,
but of course we don't care about that.
Nifty door handle
Green Streak Gasoline was produced by Shell Oil
The outdoor classroom still is regularly used
Calf-roping test area
There are real eggs inside
Lunch time
The historic home looks interesting inside; but it can be accessed only when a docent is present for a special event, which is not today. There is a nice garden in the front yard, however.
Common Geranium
Mexican Bush Sage
Purple Sage
Black Sage
More plant varieties are found at the ranger's residence:
Common Lilac
Mealy Cup Sage
Leaving the ranch
Valley Oak
Blue-eyed Grass
Mount Diablo dominates the local landscape
It is about 75-degrees out now, which actually is quite warm when there is no shade and no breeze.
Everyone opts for the 'high road' to the ridge top, despite the sun
Walnut Creek look pretty good today
Hairy Vetch
Blue Dicks
Miners Lettuce
Cutleaf Geranium
Looking north toward the Sacramento River Delta
These were Pot Marigolds
California Poppy
More climbing to do
This is feeling a bit like a Sierra Club outing. Despite my generally high regard for those participants, virtually no one else cares to "stop and smell the flowers"; therefore, I invariably am left behind, and nobody seems to care. Today, at least, one of my trailmates hangs back as well, also to take pictures.
Spiny Sowthistle
Yarrow
Some blue-blooded guy bumped his head on that log
Purple Chinese Houses
Purple Owl's Clover is a personal favorite
Descending the ridge
Alternative trailhead
⇔
Some of the namesake shells
§: Well, that was a very pleasant outing in an area that is best-suited
for springtime visits. I didn't use any names today, because I couldn't remember
them all. Also, inadequate handling of a camera glitch caused a number of
worthwhile photos to be trashed.
I look forward to other outings with this group. One more walk will qualify me for the email listing!
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| Flowers | |
