Vernal pools are rare, shallow bodies of water that fill with rain water in the winter, produce wildflowers in the spring, and are dried up by the end of summer. The word “vernal” means spring. The closest vernal pool reservation to Sacramento is at Mather Field off of the Sunrise Boulevard exit on Highway 50. Unlike ponds, which hold water year-round, vernal pools are seasonal and hold water until it evaporates in the summer,  said Volunteer Tour Docent Amanda Schmidt. The water comes from rain, not runoff from a stream or lake, so there are no fish, she added. Vernal pools are able to hold water until the sun dries them up because of the layer of hardpan that lies benath the surface o

Good taste prevents me from spelling out for you what it is about spring that really excites us, but the pipevine swallowtail butterflies (Battus philenor) in the photos above will give you some idea what I am talking about. After this all too literal hookup, the female will lay her eggs on the undersides of the leaves of the California Dutchman's-pipe vine, which is endemic to California. The California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is hard not to love, being our state flower and all, but to tell you the truth its floppy, orange pedals annoy me. For one, the pedals are difficult to photograph.  Secondly, they are too obviously beautiful. Like movie stars or fiscal years with never-end

Besides hayfever, what do weeks of rain followed by blue skies and balmy weather bring to Sacramento? Wildflowers, of course. There are preserves in the area where you can see rare, native wildflowers.  But for people who are taking a walk along the American River Parkway or just poking around in the backyard,  here are four wildflowers you are almost sure to enoucounter.  (The common name of the flowers are linked to hi-res photos) 1.  Shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)  This pretty weed is a great wildflower to point out to children.  It's unmistakable seedpod appearently looks like a shepherd's purse, but to our modern eyes it looks like a valentine's heart.  The child will