The energy of life abounds everywhere. Such is spring at Pinnacles. Many insects such as butterflies and bees depend on specific plant species for shelter and food. For this service the insect pollinates the plant's flowers, thereby insuring its reproductive success. Here, a Checkerspot Butterfly sips nectar from a favorite flower, a Sticky Monkeyflower.
Wildflowers abound at Pinnacles.
Their abundance and diversity delight the eyes with a myriad of colors and forms. Here, a slash of White Linanthus is accented by a Mexican Poppy . A California Poppy , playing host to two beetles, illustrates the interdependence of flowering plants and insects. As days warm, reptiles, such as this Common Garter Snake , emerge from their winter hibernation and go hunting for their first meal of the season. The Warbling Vireo may be plain to look at, but this spring migrant is a beautiful singer and will serenade you as you hike.