Autumn at the Creek

One common creekside plant we see is Cocklebur. Its little burs can be painful to the touch, but fun to stick to each other and on unsuspecting friends. Under close inspection, you can see that each spine is hooked. These burs carrying the plant's seeds can be carried long ways to propagate. Rumor has it these inspired the invention of velcro. When you play with them you can easily see the similarity.

Cocklebur (Xanthium)

These interesting scale-like bugs seemed to attach themselves along the veins of the leaves of this plant.

Unidentified Scale Bugs

Close up

The California Sycamore is beginning to change its dress and looks so beautiful in the open air contrasted with the blue, blue sky.

California Sycamore (Platanus racemosa)

Coyote brush is a very common sighting and it wasn't until years of passing it by that we noticed it is dioecius, meaning its male and female flowers are on different plants. Pictured below is a female.

Coyote Bush (Baccharis pilularis) Sunflower Family

Female coyote brush flower on the left, male on the right, leaves below, note the unique shape.

One of the plants that contribute a great deal of fall color to our landscape is the California Buckwheat. Its white and pink flowers of Springtime have turned a gorgeous rust brown now, crumbling at the touch. Hopes of bringing it home and preserving its beauty for a lovely fall centerpiece on the table are dashed when you find it sprinkled all over the inside of your car!

California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum)

I brought home a sampling of water from the creek with a bit of algae for the microsope and was amazed at what I saw. You can see for yourself on this video. The geometric form of the algae and the larva at the end are fascinating. I think it may be a midge fly larva.