Maggie's Farm

Mountains are gorgeous!  Not used to Spring greenery out here in the Sierras.  Some rain, which is  blessing - the Pacific currents re now favoring us! 

The photo is the largest clump we have seen in many decades of the rare Snow Plant (Sarcodes sanguinea) which grows in the thick humus of coniferous forests between 4,000-8,000 feet after the snow melts.  We saw these at 7,100 feet on the road to our cabin.  It is a root parasite, fleshy and nonphotosynthetic!

“Few plants attract the attention of visitors as much as the fabled snow plant does.  Can anyone with a camera resist taking a photo?  This root parasite has specialized roots that invade other species through associated mycorrhizal fungi and obtains its nutrients from them.” - Wildflowers of California