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“The wildflower that’s my favorite is usually the one I’m looking at.”
Talk with Dolores Bengtson, Wildflower Enthusiast
By Elena Frink, Naturalist
Most people in Pleasanton have heard of the Dolores Bengtson Aquatic Park, though fewer know that Dolores is also an inspiring wildflower enthusiast who has been observing flowers for over 40 years. She has been a docent with the Alviso Adobe Community Park since its inception and continues to inspire visitors here with her love of natural and cultural history. I more recently became aware of her enthusiasm for wildflowers through an informational pamphlet she made some years ago. As a budding wildflower enthusiast myself, you can say I got flowers in my eyes when I saw her pamphlet. Dolores generously shared some of her knowledge and experience of wildflowers with me and here’s what I learned!
When did you become interested in wildflowers? What drew you to them?
“I’ve always been interested in wildflowers. Ever since I was a child. In fact, I was so interested in them that my mother and dad, as poor as we were, bought me some boots because they wanted to protect my legs from rattle snakes because I would take off up to the hills to look at wildflowers. I would pick my mother a little bouquet—I was not environmentally tuned in back then—so they would forgive me for going up on the hills by myself. I lived in a little town called Klickitat in Washington... It was rife with wildflowers.”
When did you begin wildflower explorations of Augustin Bernal?
“I went through a number of years when I didn’t live near wild flowers. I lived in a desert area, so when I came here, of course, wildflowers! We moved here in 1968. It was 1970 when I started exploring the Pleasanton ridge.”
Walter Johnson allowed access to Dolores to go through his property to what was to become Augustin Bernal Park. She has respect for Johnson as an excellent husbander of his land. When she discovered there was a water service road up top, she began to explore the top of the ridge including some fence climbing and other exploratory trespassing! This familiarity with the ridge led her to become a hike leader on the Pleasanton Ridge and other nearby wild areas. She has taken over 5,000 people on hikes over the years, with some hikes reaching an attendance of 84 people!
Have you noticed and changes in wildflower blooms over your years of observation? Any flowers more or less prevalent than in the past?
“Yes. I have noticed it. Unfortunately, one of the things I’ve noticed is that there are less wildflowers, and I’m not sure why.”
Dolores said this and then continued to describe a number of reasonable guesses for the diminishing wildflowers on the ridge:
- Cyclists ride through and off trail. Dolores noticed less wildflowers in areas where this was the case.
- Cleared areas on Augustin Bernal once were full of wildflower growth. Now those areas are less frequently cleared and less frequented by wildflowers.
- Sheep that graze on the fields in the East Bay parks property during the wildflower bloom may have decreased the next year’s blooms since the flowers never got to go to seed. Grazing later in the season could have avoided this issue.
Dolores also mentioned that she and her hikers would participate in increasing wildflowers and wild grasses by pulling seeds
Which wildflowers can people expect to see in this upcoming month? How about later in spring?
“Right now of course Hound’s Tongue will be in bloom. I for one call some things flowers that other people wouldn’t call flowers because I like to see the flowers on the Poison Hemlock and the Cow Parsnip because of the umbels on them. They grow so fast! If you take kids up in the morning and put a stick to mark it and hike all day, when you come down, you can see the measurement change.”
Other flowers Dolores mentioned:
Narrow Leafed Mules Ear (a kind of sunflower)
Shooting Stars
Blue Eyed Grass (not in the morning though!)
Sticky Monkey Plant
Baby Blues (only at the very top of the ridge)
Chinese Houses
Wind Poppies
Later in spring, you can find:
Butter Cups
Lupines
Violets
Soap Plant
White Vetch
Purple Vetch
Clarkia
Johnny Jump Up
Woodland Star
Globe Lilies
Brodiaea
Triteleia
Paintbrush
One more note of wisdom from Dolores: things you think of as weeds can be beautiful flowers!
Do you have any recommendations for people new to wildflower viewing? Any tips, resources or places to start?
“Once you start looking for them, they’re there! I’ve been on hikes with people who hiked the ridge many times and I’ve never seen all these flowers!”
Dolores recommends:
-Field guides (and suggested Peterson’s Field Guide)
-Fold out field guide of Bay Area wildflowers
-Take hikes with the Naturalists
-Check out the Wildflower Festival in Sunol
-Don’t hike with the “conditioning hikers” (really fast paced hiking)
Do you have a favorite wildflower?
“I always think I have a favorite flower, but I’m not sure I really do. I’m really fickle. The wildflower that’s my favorite is usually the one I’m looking at.”
Dolores also mentioned a few other favorites: Mariposa Tulip, Shooting Stars, Blue-Eyed Grass, Violets, Mallow (and many more)
Whether you hike up to Augustin Bernal, explore the new Castleridge Staging Area, or simply notice wildflowers that peep through the cracks on sidewalks that may be labeled “weeds” otherwise, wildflowers are there for you this season. You may not be ready to commit a lifetime to wildflower observation like Dolores (and hopefully myself!) but you can still enjoy their beauty that returns every spring.
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The City of Pleasanton Trails Master Plan is underway and we want to know what you think!
How to get involved:
- Hike a trail with us – sign up at PleasantonTrails.com
- Identify your favorite trail or show us a new trail connection you’d like on the interactive map found at PleasantonTrails.com
- Email or call us directly: Matt Gruber mgruber@cityofpleasantonca.gov (P) 925.931.5672
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Upcoming Programs and Events
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Coffee with the Birds (or Hot Coco!) - Marilyn Murphy Kane Trail
Come learn how to recognize different bird species as we go on a hike! Bring your own mug, we will provide the coffee! Feel free to bring your own binoculars, if you don't we will have extras to loan. This week we will be meeting at the Marilyn Murphy Kane Trail Head across from Cubby's Dog Park.
Event will take place every 2nd Sunday of each month from February – May.
All ages welcome
Sunday, March 11
9:00am-11:00am
$5R/$8N
Registration Code: 6686
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Spring Celebration!
Welcome Spring at the Alviso Adobe Community Park! Join us for eggcelent activities and an egg scavenger hunt around the park!
Ages 4-12
Saturday, March 24
10:30am-Noon
$12R/$15N
Registration Code: 6268
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Introduction to Natural Dyeing - New!
Plants, minerals, and even fungi have been used for thousands of years to make textiles colorful. Learn about local plants used for color and naturally dye a textile yourself.
10 years & up
Saturday, April 14
1-4pm
$12R/$15N
Registration Code: 6267
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Alviso Adobe Community Park
3465 Old Foothill Road
Pleasanton, CA 94588
Facility Hours:
Wednesday-Sunday
10:00am-4:00pm
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Contact our Staff:
Elena Frink
Naturalist
Martha Cerda
Assistant Naturalist
Jillian Gamache
Marketing/Volunteer Coordinator
Heather Smalley
Advanced Ridge Runners Camp Coordinator
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