Table Mountain
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I’m feeling a bit guilty about the title of this blog.  I knew those of you under ice and snow probably would just get mad at me (again) and not even look at it if I gave it a more appropriate title, such as “Wildflowers Galore”, or “Out & About on a Warm Spring Morning”.  But wait – don’t hit the “delete” key yet!  Butterfly and I really did go to Table Mountain.  So technically speaking, I have every reason, every right, to call this blog by that name.  That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it.

It all started when I decided it was high time for us to pay a visit to Maureen in Chico.  I’d missed her birthday in March and I wanted to make it up to her by at least taking her out to lunch.  I mentioned to her that I wanted to see the Table Mountain wildflowers, stopping either on my way to Chico, or on the way back (Table Mountain is visible from the highway, especially when the wildflowers are in full bloom on warm spring days).

Table Mountain

I’ll give you three guesses why it’s called Table Mountain.

Every year I hear about the Table Mountain wildflowers.  I read about them in the newspaper. Yet for some reason I never manage to get there to see them.  When I made arrangements to visit Maureen, I called the Oroville Chamber of Commerce to find out the status of the wildflowers.  They told me there were just beginning to emerge and that they should be putting on a nice show by the time I arrived.  They probably say that to everyone.  I know I would if they put me on their phones. 

The day at Table Mountain started out stressfully for me.  Right off the bat I couldn’t find the back-up battery for my camera.  The battery in my camera was only about 2/3 full.  So there I was, headed off to a potential photographer’s paradise (I wasn’t ready to trust those Chamber folks just yet – seeing is believing) without much camera power.  I was ready to kill myself. 

Things only got worse.  As we meandered through the foothills on our way down into the valley there were gorgeous swaths of wildflowers everywhere. But could I take any pictures of them?  Not a one, because I had to save my battery for my final destination.

Things kept getting worse.  We hit the valley, and all those freaking, bloomin’ orchards.

guess where the flowers stop and the trees start

Every tree, except for the walnuts, was in beautiful, gorgeous, delicious bloom of white or pink (almonds, peaches, plums).  I let myself take this one photo of the orchard in the distance.  To make matters worse there were masses of yellow and white wildflowers all around and through the orchards.  Just put me out of my misery already.

We rendezvoused with Maureen in Oroville and trundled off to Table Mountain.  We traveled up a beautiful winding road through oak woodlands, enjoying the stunning green scenery.  We really appreciate the lush, green grasses of spring, because we know they don’t call this the Golden State for nothing.  Soon all of this will be dry and brown, or “golden” as we like to say.

When we reached the top of the mountain and the road leveled out, the wildflowers started to make an appearance.  I would have pulled over several times to take pictures if I’d had my spare battery, but I just white-knuckled the steering wheel in frustration and kept driving.  Having to “budget” my photos was probably going to take years off my life.

We eventually reached a parking area on the side of the road made just for all the crazy wildflower looky-loos (like us), where we parked with about 10 other cars.  I imagine the place is overflowing on the weekends.

the mighty oak

we've struck gold

flowers, flowers everywhere

When you go through the gate and enter the pasture, you think that all you will see are large fields of yellow flowers.  I would have loved to have taken a picture of the gate for you – one of those that people can walk through, but cows can’t.  But no, I had to save my pictures.

tiny poppies

Start taking a closer look, however, and you’ll begin to see lots of other little flowers tucked here and there.  These are the tiniest poppies I think I’ve ever seen.  Life is hard up here on the volcanic rock.

yummy colors

cattle country

The farther we walked over the rolling hills, the more spectacular the views we discovered.

Here are two women “outstanding in their field” – old joke, I know, but I couldn’t resist.  I think they’re discussing which flower is what.

Maureen pointed out what she thought were wild pansies.

Oh, great, I got everything in focus but the flower.  How is this possible with an auto-focus camera?

Oh my gosh, be still my heart.  Are we sure this isn’t a painted canvas?  Are we sure this isn’t a fake movie set?

The little lupine sprinkled here and there were adorable.

There were still bits of a stream gurgling along.

We went over the top of another rise and found this sight before us. 

We turned to the right and there was a field of white flowers looking glorious.

I could have spent hours wandering these hills and photographing each different kind of flower, but by now my camera battery was complaining loudly.  I think you’ve gotten the idea.  I somehow managed to survive, despite taking only a fraction of the photos that I needed to take.  Rest assured that the first thing I did upon arriving home was find that missing battery and put it back where it belongs.  I’ll not leave home without it again.  Ever.