Wildflowers are already blooming on Mt. Diablo in Northern California!

@TheHorse (238388)

Walnut Creek, California

February 12, 2016 2:42pm CST

I took a 12-year-old boy (a really good hiker) out to Black Diamond Mines on Wednesday. We made it our "goal" to eat some miner's lettuce and see if the Indian Warrior wildflowers are blooming yet in the Mt. Diablo foothills. Indian Warrior are among the first wildflowers to come up in (early) Spring, and they're really distinctive looking. Apparently the Indians used them as a sedative, and contemporary herbalists still do. They are parasitic to Manzanita trees (they reach their roots down and take nutrients from the roots of Manzanita trees), so the best place to find Indian Warrior is at the base of Manzanita trees. Disappointed that we didn't find any, we decided to explore a "skinny trail" that went straight up the side of a small mountain. We were both sweating and swilling Gatorade when we reached the top. And there, in front of us, was a grove of Manzanita trees with Indian Warrior all around! I got all excited. He got all excited (he'd never seen them before). I allowed him to pick one to show his mom. Next time I go to Black Diamond Mines, I'll bring my camera. I'll attach a picture I took either last Spring or the Spring before (Spring in California means late January on). I may allow myself to pick one to show the kids at the preschool next Friday.

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12 responses

Patsie Hatley is Deceased

@Hatley (163772)

• Garden Grove, California

12 Feb 16

Those Indian Warrior remind me of the Indian paintbush that blooms in alpine meadows in the Blak Hills of South Dakota in the summertime but the brush is more pronounced and a bright red color those are so pretty the Indian warrior wow and a great photo too.

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@TheHorse (238388)

• Walnut Creek, California

12 Feb 16

Yes! I used to call Indian Warrior "The red flower that is not Indian Paintbrush" until I researched it and figured out what it was. On Mt. Diablo, Indian Paintbrush comes in later, as things start to dry up. I'll attach a picture I took of Indian Paintbrush, for contrast.

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@TheHorse (238388)

• Walnut Creek, California

13 Feb 16

@Corbin5 I do that too. Sometimes, here in California, I dream of snowball fights.

@LadyDuck (502886)

• Italy

13 Feb 16

I think that I have never seen those flowers, they are beautiful and I like their name too.

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@LadyDuck (502886)

• Italy

13 Feb 16

@TheHorse As most of the wild plants, it's a shame that we have lost the knowledge.

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@TheHorse (238388)

• Walnut Creek, California

13 Feb 16

@LadyDuck I'm going to keep trying to learn a bit more each year, and passing on that knowledge to the kids I worked with.

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@TheHorse (238388)

• Walnut Creek, California

13 Feb 16

I think their name is pretty cool as well. Also the fact that they can be used for medicinal purposes.

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@celticeagle (190074)

• Boise, Idaho

12 Feb 16

That is a pretty plant. I bet you were excited to find one.

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@TheHorse (238388)

• Walnut Creek, California

12 Feb 16

I was! I couldn't hide my enthusiasm. We had given up on our "Indian Warrior search" when we found them.

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@celticeagle (190074)

• Boise, Idaho

13 Feb 16

@TheHorse ....That's usually when it happens. When you have given up.

@Morleyhunt (21741)

• Canada

12 Feb 16

I learned something new. I often would identify wildflowers when I hiked in the woods. Obviously I would be much more familiar th the flowers in my area.

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@JudyEv (382664)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Feb 16

That is really pretty. I can imagine the excitement of seeing one after being disappointed for a while.

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@TheHorse (238388)

• Walnut Creek, California

13 Feb 16

It was a cool moment. And the kid I was with was as excited as I was.

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@Ladypeace (2028)

• Singapore

13 Feb 16

What a great hike and interesting plant sighting. The Indian Warrior has medicinal properties and vibrant flowers that are eye catching. They will be great to show to the kids.

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@TheHorse (238388)

• Walnut Creek, California

13 Feb 16

I always wonder if I should tell young teens that they have medicinal properties.

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@Ladypeace (2028)

• Singapore

13 Feb 16

@TheHorse Yeah, since it's a sedative that could be used in home made smoking blends. I'd let them know of this piece of knowledge still.

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@Ladypeace (2028)

• Singapore

13 Feb 16

@TheHorse You're right. That's a good way for explaining to them.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

13 Feb 16

No wonder they are wild if someone is plucking their friends out of the ground. They may anticipate your return and move somewhere else out of the way.

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@TheHorse (238388)

• Walnut Creek, California

13 Feb 16

I hope not. I fancy that I know where to find them. I told my kid only pluck one.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

13 Feb 16

@TheHorse Hopefully it was the unpopular in the bunch, so the others will not be distressed about losing it.

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@TheHorse (238388)

• Walnut Creek, California

13 Feb 16

@Asylum I actually DO feel bad when I take one of their friends. I let the others know it's in the name of educating humans. Maybe if they (young humans) develop an interest in natural science, they'll be more respectful of nature in the future, and future generations of Indian Warrior will live unmolested.

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@jaboUK (64346)

• United Kingdom

13 Feb 16

I'd never heard of either the tree or the plant before. it does look really pretty.

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@TheHorse (238388)

• Walnut Creek, California

13 Feb 16

I'm learning a bit more each year. I knew of Manzanitas, but I didn't know the name of these flowers until last Spring.

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@Tampa_girl7 (54741)

• United States

12 Feb 16

I don't believe that I have ever seen them before, very pretty.

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@TheHorse (238388)

• Walnut Creek, California

12 Feb 16

They're pretty col. I'll try to take a pretty picture of Indian Warrior shaded by a Manzanita grove next week.

@Jessicalynnt (50523)

• Centralia, Missouri

13 Feb 16

what is miner lettuce?

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@Jessicalynnt (50523)

• Centralia, Missouri

13 Feb 16

@TheHorse if you see, take a photo and then make a post out of it, very curious what it looks like

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@TheHorse (238388)

• Walnut Creek, California

13 Feb 16

@Jessicalynnt Will do. I brought some home and took a photo. I'll take one of them in the wild as well.

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@TheHorse (238388)

• Walnut Creek, California

13 Feb 16

It's a plant that grows in early spring in the foothills. It is circular with a tiny pink flower in the midddle, and can be eaten. It's actually kind of yummy.

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Nanette Piotrowski

@nanette64 (20363)

• Fairfield, Texas

13 Feb 16

What a beautiful flower @TheHorse . I know here in Spring, I get all kinds of wild flowers and I'm out the door with a vase with water and a pair of scissors.

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@TheHorse (238388)

• Walnut Creek, California

13 Feb 16

I'm going to harvest a couple of Indian Warrior flowers next week and bring them to the preschool on Friday to show the kids.

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Nanette Piotrowski

@nanette64 (20363)

• Fairfield, Texas

13 Feb 16

@TheHorse They will love them and it will be a learning experience for them as well.

@DeborahDiane (40852)

• Laguna Woods, California

13 Feb 16

What a beautiful wildflower! We get wild mustard and Marguerites here in So Cal (when it rains in the winter), but I have not seen these Indian Warrior plants!

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@TheHorse (238388)

• Walnut Creek, California

13 Feb 16

I don't know how far South they go. It looks like we'll have a lot of them this year.