I post more pictures of poppies not because it is prudent, but because I prefer it. I will post poppies until people pop from the persistence of poppies.
The yellow flowers in the middle, I believe, are the endemic Mt. Diablo Sunflowers, which only grow within a fairly close proximity of Mt. Diablo (this is about 40 miles away). They were all over the park.
What is that you say? That it is not possible to post more pictures of poppies? Pshaw! Pshaw!
For readers offended by the persistence of poppies, I post this picture, which I consider to be the anti-poppy, as consolation:
By the way, if anyone knows what species that is, I'm curious. Couldn't find him in the books. Found on the park road at Sunol Regional Wilderness Park, near the visitor's center.
Looks like a Scheider's Skink to me. My sons have two as pets, and they look almost exactly like this one.
I don't think he's a granite spiny lizard because he doesn't have any ridges. But he might be a type of Fence Lizard. The closest one I could find is endemic to Santa Cruz Island off of the south coast, but I don't imagine they get that far off the island. So maybe he's a close relative.
Granite spiny lizard?
I think he just ate a park ranger.
That lizard looks like it's about to pop.
Poppies appear to be particularly popular in those parts.
Not sure of the species of that guy, but he obviously is looking for a ride.