Date: March 22, 2018
Location: San Bruno Mountain State Park 37.6969° N, 122.4338° W
Site description: San Bruno Mountain State Park is located in northern San Mateo County, near Brisbane, San Francisco, Colma, and Daly City. The park stands as a unique open-space island in the midge of the peninsula’s urbanization at the northern end of the Santa Cruz Mountain Range. The mountain’s ridge line runs in an east-west configuration, with considerable slopes and elevations ranging from 250 feet to 1,314 feet at the summit.
Species description: The rock phacelia, also known as phacelia californica in the boraginaceae family, is a perennial herb with a uniquely curled feature. The stem has generally densely stiff hair that is not glandular. The leaves are mostly basal and ovate. The flowers are blue to lavender and bell shaped.
Narrative: Although the weather was predicted to be stormy, it actually turned out to be clear and sunny. Still, the wind was still incredibly strong and still made the trip very cold. This fieldtrip to San Bruno State Park was more like a walk than a hike, since the trail was so flat. Normally, I would wish that the fieldtrips were less tiring, but this time I did miss having some of those hills. I especially missed those hills because Professor Paul was kind enough to let us stop by In-n-Out on the way back, but I did not feel as though I deserved my Double-Double animal style (though I enjoyed it anyway).