Tuleyome's Science Corner: Wildflowers of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument

Nate Lillge • April 10, 2022

Looking up at a Golden Fairy Lantern (Calochortus amabilis)

If you have spent any time in the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument region recently, you will undoubtedly have seen many brilliant wildflowers. Like a lot of California, the Berryessa Snow Mountain area has a Mediterranean climate – typically cool, wet winters followed by hot, dry summers - which means that most of our wildflowers bloom January through May. Here is information about a few of the most eye-catching flowers.


Lupines may be the flower most recognizable from a distance or while driving through the Monument. Their shape is very distinctive – (usually) tall spires of flowers in a ring around the stem sticking up from leaves that look like fingers spread wide. The miniature lupine (Lupinus bicolor) however, is rather small and reminds you to slow down and take in your surroundings! Taking a look at the flowers of a lupine, it is easy to see that they are in the pea family. When the plant has gone to seed, the seed pods provide more proof as to lupines being legumes – the pods look like pea pods. The flowers come in many different colors, pale pink, light blue, dark blue, yellow.


Some of the most beautiful flowers are in the Calochortus genus, in the Lily family. The perennial flowers in this genus grow from a bulb and have 6 petals (actually tepals) in two series, and are different sizes. Close inspection of these flowers shows that some have “hairs” inside the petals, which are often used to distinguish some species, and that they are decorated with multiple colors and intricate patterns. Golden fairy lanterns (Colochortus amabilis) is noticeable because the flower hangs upside down!


Perhaps the most well-known California wildflower is the California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica). Hillside are often golden while these famous flowers are in bloom. These flowers are diurnal – they are most “active” during the day. The flowers will be closed in the morning then open as the sun shines on them and then close as the sun goes down! The tufted poppy or foothill poppy (Eschscholzia caespitosa) looks very similar but is slightly smaller (generally). To be sure of your identification, look where the petals meet the stem. If there is a ring, it is a California poppy, if not, it is a tufted poppy.


Paintbrushes, Castileja genus, can be overlooked but are none-the-less amazing flowers. These flowers are hemiparasitic which means that they obtain part of its nutriment from a host plant but also photosynthesize. Because of this, they are found near other plants – trees and shrubs to grasses and even other wildflowers like lupine. A flash of purple in a field of lupine is likely to be purple owls clover (Castilleja exserta). Paintbrushes and warrior’s plume (Pedicularis densiflora) are in the same family but different genera, despite having similar appearances and lifestyles.


California’s native bees have evolved with the State’s wildflowers and are most active January through May. Because the bees are most active during the spring and to beat out the hot, dry conditions to come, the native flowers seem to be competing as to which can be the most beautiful and therefore the most attractive to pollinators. We get to enjoy this competition!


Here is a list of flowers in these four genera that have been seen through the years on Tuleyome's wildflower tours into Bear Valley.


FABACEAE – pea family


Lupinus albifrons – silver bush lupine


Lupinus bicolor – miniature lupine


Lupinus micranthus – small-flowered lupine


Lupinus microcarpus var. densiflorus – yellow lupine


Lupinus microcarpus var. microcarpus – valley lupine


Lupinus nanus – sky lupine


Lupinus succulentus – arroyo lupine


LILIACEAE – lily family


Calochortus amabilis – golden fairy lantern


Calochortus luteus – golden mariposa lily


Calochortus splendens – splendid mariposa lily


Calochortus uniflorus– large-flowered star tulip


PAPAVERACEAE – poppy family


Eschscholzia caespitosa – small golden poppy; tufted poppy; foothill poppy


Eschscholzia californica – California poppy


Platystemon californicus – cream cups


OROBANCHACEAE - paintbrush family


Castilleja affinis – red paintbrush


Castilleja applegatei – round-leaved painbrush


Castilleja attenuata – valley tassels


Castilleja exserta – purple owl’s clover


Castilleja foliolosa – wooly paintbrush


-Nate Lillge; nlillge@tuleyome.org


Adventures and Engagement Director


Certified California Naturalist

RECENT ARTICLES

Policy Corner: Protect America's Roadless Forests!

October 2, 2026
 On August 29, USDA published a notice of intent to eliminate the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule – the Roadless Rule, jeopardizing protections for 45 million acres of America's wildest forests , about a third of our national forests. Throughout Mendocino National Forest, 154,332 acres of Roadless Areas would lose protection, including nearly 30,000 acres within Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. What's at Stake These forests have only remained intact because of the 25-year commitment not to build roads and open these special areas to industry. Roadless areas provide clean drinking water to 60 million Americans. These forests store 20% of all carbon in U.S. national forests. The outdoor recreation economy generates $730 billion annually. Roadless areas are critical habitat for 1,600+ threatened species. We already have 370,000 miles of roads in forests with a multi-billion dollar maintenance backlog. Studies show wildfire ignitions are 4 times more likely near roads than in roadless areas. We Have Until September 21 st to Save America’s Roadless Forests This our opportunity to inform USDA that we are opposed to rolling back the Roadless Rule. Our goal is one million comments in support of the Roadless Rule What Can You Do? Submit Comments Supporting the Roadless Rule Directly to USDA or Click Here to Sign on to Tuleyome’s letter Our goal is to get 1,000,000 comments into USDA in support of the Roadless Rule! Information on How to Submit Public Comments for USDA Roadless Rule Step 1: Think about what types of comments you want to share with USDA. Here are some suggestions on what makes a good comment: Be specific about what roadless lands matter to you and why, whether for water, wildlife, recreation, wild fire prevention, cultural sites or old growth trees. Show how you will be personally harmed if these protections are removed. That harm can be direct, like losing access to a favorite place, or it can be health-related. Road-building and logging increase smoke, dust and polluted runoff that affect human health. Point to consequences, since roads lead to the removal of trees, severing connected wilderness corridors, erosion and higher fire risk. Call out contradictions such as: Forest service promises conservation while encouraging logging USDA states the Roadless Rule hinders wildfire management but more roads actually increase the likelihood of fire ignition points Feel free to borrow ideas from others or sample letters while maintaining your own voice, this is your opportunity to contribute and speak truth to power. Include your full name and address. Step 2: Go to the Regulations.gov site. This is the official federal government website to submit comments. Step 3: Copy and paste or upload your comments as a PDF. Step 4: Scroll to the bottom of the page, verify that you’re not a robot and hit submit. Consider keeping a copy of your comments for your record. As a reminder the comment period ends on September 21st.

Policy Corner: Keep Yosemite Public - Stop the Private Developer Land Deal

By Shai Demus • September 10, 2026
 Yosemite National Park belongs to the people. It should not be carved up to benefit a private developer. The National Park Service is working on a new proposal to give up a quarter-mile strip of land inside Yosemite National Park in exchange for property elsewhere in California. What's the goal? To provide a private developer with a new road and direct access from his 83-acre planned real estate development abutting the park to one of Yosemite’s central roads. This proposal deserves the public’s attention. The property is owned by Kingsbarn Realty Capitol, whose CEO wants to build a road connecting the private property to Yosemite. Previous efforts to establish this private access were rejected, including in federal court. The National Park Service has repeatedly refused similar requests for more than two decades. Our National Parks should not be carved up for private profit. National Parks were established in this country to protect America’s most interesting and iconic places for everyone to access, not to provide special access or development opportunities for private interests. Your action is especially timely because the Park Service has acknowledged that no final decision has been made, meaning there is still an opportunity for public scrutiny and opposition. Any eventual land exchange should be subject to federal laws, environmental review, and public notification requirements. Tell the National Park Service: Keep Yosemite public We can’t allow a national park to be reshaped around the interests of a private developer. Yosemite is a national treasure. Its lands, wildlife, cultural resources, and landscapes belong to the American people, and they should remain protected for generations to come. We have seen this kind of proposal before, and the public and the courts rejected it. We must make sure it does not come back through the back door. Yosemite is worth protecting. Speak up and keep it public. TAKE ACTION: Tell Interior Secretary Burgum to Keep Yosemite Public! Here’s How: Call your elected officials. Here is a sample script: “Hi, my name is [NAME] and I'm a constituent from [CITY/ZIP]. I'm calling to urge [Representative/Senator NAME] to publicly oppose the National Park Service's proposed land exchange inside Yosemite National Park, which would give a billionaire private developer, Kingsbarn Realty Capital, new road access through park land. I'm also asking [him/her/them] to call on Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to reject any further privatization or sell-off of our public lands. Yosemite belongs to the public, not private developers. Thank you.” Send a letter or email. You can use this template: Dear [Representative/Senator NAME], I’m writing as your constituent to urge you to oppose the National Park Service’s proposed land exchange inside Yosemite National Park. This proposal would trade a strip of park land to provide Kingsbarn Realty Capital, a billionaire private developer, with new road access from an 83-acre private property to one of Yosemite’s central roads. This is not the first attempt to establish this private access – previous efforts were rejected, including in federal court, and the Park Service has denied similar requests for more than two decades. Our public lands exist to serve the public, not to create development opportunities for billionaires. I ask that you publicly oppose this proposal and call on Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to keep Yosemite, and all our national parks, fully public and protected for future generations. Thank you for representing our community on this issue. Sincerely, [NAME] [ADDRESS/ZIP] Not sure who represents you? Find your U.S. Representative and Senators here .

Donor Spotlight - Marita Cantwell

By Nate Lillge • September 10, 2026
I first learned of Tuleyome in 2015 when the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument was created and it was in the news. I thought then of what a marvelous and impressive, important effort this was by so many people, including Tuleyome. Importantly it was so inclusive, involving people of so many different backgrounds and interests, getting the buy-in from the community at large. Once I learned about Tuleyome (and the meaning of the name - deep home place) and some of its conservation efforts, I decided that I wanted to contribute, at least in a small way. I come from a farming and research background, and newly retired, wanted to be more involved in conservation efforts and Tuleyome was local and ideal! I think the aspect of Tuleyome’s work that most resonated with me is the focus on educational programs for young people and adults. As an older person, I know that experiences we have in childhood have life-long impacts. Let them be positive and enriching experiences and let them include conservation and the natural world! Young people have many demands on their time and attention and most have limited exposure to nature. Regardless of our career paths, an appreciation of nature is vital for the well-being of us all. As a docent helper this past spring I was touched by three students who said this was the first time they had been out in nature. In 2024 I had the opportunity to participate in the Certified California Naturalist Program (CalNat) and was inspired by the lead instructors Geoff Benn and Nate Lillge, and invited speakers. And, I love the new manual about the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument , especially the geology section. My donations can be used toward any need but I particularly want to support the educational efforts for young people. The National monument is a treasure in our backyards. Its creation and subsequent enlargement in 2024, reminded me of the adage “think globally, act locally”. The multi-pronged conservation efforts of Tuleyome and its commitment to a diverse regional community are such important and positive actions. I see Tuleyome as a small but powerful inspiring organization.