There are many spring and early summer flowering plants to observe on Race Rocks but most of them are introduced species. I has happy to find the fringed redmaids (Calandrinia ciliata) growing in a dense mat near the top of east beach. This small annual flowering plant species is one of the few native species found here.
I have started on the thistle removal program again, only this year I am starting off double-gloved! It has heightened my awareness of how many introduced species there are on the island. It would be impossible to remove them all. Below are photos taken today of some of the introduced “weedy” plants in flower.
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- red stemmed stork’s bill
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- dove’s foot crane’s bill
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- ribwort plantain
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- sow thistle
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- groundsel
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- spotted Medick
Facility work
- weeding/clearing walkways
- thistle removal
Vessels
- ecotourism: 8
- private: 1
Weather
Winds calm in the am building to WNW 25 in the pm. Skies partly cloudy. Day time temperature: low 9, high 12.