Touch of Spring on Cerro Alto

Once again , on Cerro alto Mountain -- Los Padres Forrest _ I am enjoying spring . The photo ops are endless . This year is a especially good year in the wilderness as water has been plentiful two years consecutively . Animal and plant life is thriving ! Butterflies and bees have caught my attention this spring , here you will see blue , brown ,black and white butterflies . The bees enjoy high country black sage blooms . I wonder what the honey from these blooms tastes like ?
The Yucca and Manzanita are doing well . Note the bears love to eat both along with Black Sage blooms .
Great year . I also remind you that the local natives in years past enjoyed these as food sources . The Yucca stalk yielded good liquid and then were roasted for eating . The Manzanita made tea. The Bay Laurel is best at the top of the mountain . The Blue Sage is very delightful this year and is all over the mountain . The Indian Paint Brush suffered from late frost , but the Lupines and the cream Cups are doing super . All and all mid and late blooming plant life should also do great this year . The creeks will be filled with Elderberries and mushrooms . Note that the elderberry is a late season food source for the bears so don't startle them in the creek beds !
Bush Bunnies are especially fat this year and plentiful and the Turkey Vultures are keeping a close eye on things . All in all , life is great on the mountain this spring . Spring is all over from the Yerba Santa to the Morning Glories . Enjoy and keep on hiking !!