Wildflowers of Table Mountain

“Despite the odds, patches of ‘Muir-ness’ still remain.” One of those patches is right here in Butte County, atop the vast flat-topped formation known appropriately as Table Mountain. And that “Muir-ness,” referred to in the preface of this guidebook by Butte College biology instructor Albin Bills and botanist Samantha Mackey, is a reference to the sea of wildflowers that—much as it used to across the whole Central Valley during John Muir’s day—overtakes the landmark mountain above Oroville each spring. Early chapters give tips on visiting the area, plus information on how the mountain formed as well as botanical insights on its flowers, but the bulk of the book is a guide to 70 or so wildflower species on Table Mountain—everything from the delicate Bird’s-Eye Gilia (Gilia tricolor) to the sulpher-yellow Johnnytuck (Triphysaria eriantha), aka “butter-and-eggs,” aka “Bidwell’s owl’s-clover” (collected by and formerly named for Annie Bidwell). This second edition augments the botanical drawings of Larry Jansen with full-color photos of all the flowers, and it comes out just in time for the wildflower season that begins in mid-March.

A book-signing will take place at Lyon Books tonight, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m.