Wild Woman of Nevada: A Hike and A Wildflower!!!

Dan's picture of TV mountain at sunset

Last week the kids and I went for a hike up TV mountain. TV mountain is a beautiful, cone shaped mountain that lies to the west of the ranch. It's not a terribly high mountain, but it sticks out because of its shape and how close to the ranch it is. TV mountain is very emblematic of the Ranch, it is one of the first images that enters my mind when I think of Leonard Creek Ranch. It got it's name because there is a large TV antenna located at the top. It's no longer in use, but when Dan was little that's how they got their television. Now it's all dish network or direct TV.

TV mountain last spring with blue mustard in the foreground

TV mountain last spring while bike irrigating

On the way up, I hiked up the east side of the mountain. The hike up is pretty steep, but not too long, it makes for a nice little workout. The hike is a lot of fun, especially once you get near the top and hit the big rocks that you need to pick and climb your way through. Bodie really enjoys that part of the hike, she loves rock hopping. Once we made it to the top we hung out for awhile so Bodie could play and so I could take some pictures.

Bodie and the antenna

Bodie playing on the rocks

Dusty overlooking the ranch from TV mountain

On the way home, we went down the west side of the mountain. When you go down the west side the top is steep and rocky, but then you hit a plateau where there is a road that leads down the mountain. So, the kids and I followed the road the rest of the way down. As we walked along the road I saw my first wildflower of the season. It seems a bit early to be seeing wildflowers, but there it was, a Lomatium Ravenii also known as Lassen Parsley or Raven's Lomatium.

Ranven's Lomatium is a dicot, and is native to Nevada, California, Idaho, Utah and Oregon. It lives in the sagebrush scrub habitat, which is characteristic of northern Nevada. The leaves are basal growing out of a long, deep, perennial taproot. The flowers grow in clusters called umbels and they tend to be white, but can be a light shade of purple as well. It is an early bloomer and can be one of the first to bloom in the spring. So it's not too surprising that I saw it first.