manzanita ~ 05/23/09 ~ Fort Ord

manzanita
Arctostaphylos sp.
Ericaceae

There are at least 13 manzanitas listed on Calflora for the area. I don't think I could even begin to identify this to species.

yellow mariposa lily
Calochortus luteus
Liliaceae

CA buckeye ~ 05/23/09 ~ Fort Ord

California buckeye
Aesculus californica
Sapindaceae (formerly Hippocastanaceae)

 I never really looked at the blooms up-close before. They're beautiful! My friend told me the California buckeye is poisonous to European honeybees (Apis mellifera), but not to our native bees. I was surprised to hear this. Has anyone else heard this?

pitcher sage / woodbalm
Lepechinia calycina
Lamiaceae

Had no idea what this was when we were hiking. Simply going through Calflora pics for the Monterey area, I came across this. Should have known it was in the mint family!