Warrior’s Plume (Pedicularis densiflora)
A rainy walk in the woods with Jack London's ghost...
There weren’t many of them, but where they were, the world seemed warmer, brighter and noticeably more fascinating. Warrior’s Plume (Pedicularis densiflora), is currently abloom in the semi-shady, mixed oak woodlands and chaparral on the friendly slopes of the Valley of the Moon near Glen Ellen, CA.
We came upon these beauties while walking the muddy path to Jack London’s gravesite and Wolf House Ruins in a steady rain at Jack London State Historic Park over the weekend. They were silent flames rising up from the landscape and more than worth the wet knees that were the admission price for kneeling before them, supplicant camera in hand.
There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. Bundle up and head out there. Give your senses a treat …and every possible opportunity to get lost in a swirl of wonder. Different kinds of magic choose to reveal themselves on rainy days.
What a gorgeous sight! I’ve been there, but it was December. Still beautiful... I brought home a small walnut, and as I visit my tiny walnut tree, I imagine the conversations had by good friends Jack and Luther and wonder if this is the offspring of one of the breeding experiments.
Your photos are beautiful, as always, making me wish I could crawl in and examine that beautiful pale lichen, and the bracket fungi, and what is that graceful, pale flower? A Toothwort? And I wonder what host the Plumes have found there... they are supposed to favor the Ericaceae. Fungi, parasites, and Ericaceous plants, such a fascinating web of life.
You inspire road trips, David., and other images. I'm always intrigued by the descriptive names given to botanicals ... warrior's plume. I envision a proud warrior on horseback bearing a tall staff embellished with feathers, red feathers among them.