Events

Wildflowers in the East Bay Regional Parks

Published

7 years ago

March 21, 2019

Just back from a trip to San Diego and Baja California, I can report that the 2019 wildflower season looks like it will be one of the great ones.

The desert is in bloom, and the displays at Anza-Borrego State Park are said to be spectacular.

Farther north and closer to home, flower displays don’t appear to have peaked yet. But if the situation in the south is any indication, spring will be beautiful in Northern California too.

The best places to see wildflowers in the East Bay Regional Parks include Morgan Territory Regional Preserve east of Mt. Diablo, Black Diamond Mines in Antioch, Briones Regional Park in central Contra Costa, and Sunol Regional Wilderness south of I-680, where the wildflower festival will take place on April 14. Poppies often grow in profusion at Vargas Plateau near Fremont.

One really beautiful wildflower venue is Rocky Ridge at Del Valle Regional Park south of Livermore, but you have to work for it. It’s a two-mile climb up the Ohlone Wilderness Trail from Del Valle’s Lichen Bark picnic area. Because the trail leads through San Francisco Water Department lands, a permit is required; permits can be purchased at Del Valle’s entrance kiosk.

For the first in a series of guided wildflower walks, join naturalist Eddie Willis from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday, March 24 at Black Diamond Mines. Meet Eddie in the parking lot at the upper end of Somersville Road, 3½ miles south of Highway 4 in Antioch. He’ll lead a hilly two-mile walk through the chaparral in search of early-season blooms.

The hike is free. Black Diamond charges a parking fee of $5 per vehicle when the kiosk is staffed. For information call 888-327-2757, ext. 2750.

While we’re at Black Diamond Mines, the mine tour season opened officially on the first weekend in March. The park offers one-hour guided tours of the historic Hazel-Atlas silica sand mine at various times on weekends through November.

For safety reasons, tours are for ages seven and older, and there’s a fee of $5 per person. For information, call the park district at 888-327-2757 and select option 2 for the reservations office.

* * *

Elsewhere in East County, Big Break Regional Shoreline in Oakley plans a “S’mores Spring Break” event from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 23. Spend the afternoon discovering the region’s wildlife, learning fire safety and tent-building techniques, along with sampling the tasty campfire treat. Tents and s’mores will be provided.

Big Break is at 69 Big Break Road off Oakley’s Main Street. For information, call 888-327-2757, ext. 3050.

* * *

“Duck, Duck, Goose!” is the theme of Family Nature Fun Hour from 2 to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, March 23 and 24 at Crab Cove Visitor Center in Alameda. It’s a program about our feathered friends.

Family Nature Fun is from 2 to 3 p.m. every weekend, with a different topic each time. Then from 3 to 3:30 p.m. you can watch the staff feed the fish in the center’s large aquarium.

Crab Cove is at 1252 McKay Ave. off Alameda’s Central Avenue. Call 510-544-3187.

* * *

Saturday Strolls are a series of family-friendly walks led by park district naturalists, designed to encourage health and outdoor recreation.

There’s one from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 23 at Leona Canyon in the Oakland hills. It’s a moderate four-miler up the canyon to a view of five Bay Area bridges.

Meet at the Canyon Oaks parking area, which is off Keller Drive east of I-580. For information and directions, call 510-544-3187.

* * *

The Ohlone people have spent centuries learning the secrets of their homeland. In a program from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 23 at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont, naturalist Kristina Parkison will share Ohlone knowledge of plants and animals, and lead some Ohlone games.

The program is for ages seven and older. Meet Kristina at the park’s visitor center at the end of Patterson Ranch Road off Paseo Padre Parkway.

The program is free; there’s a parking fee of $5 per vehicle at Coyote Hills. For information, call 510-544-3220.

* * *

East Bay Regional Parks are never dormant, but springtime brings lots of great activities. For a full listing, visit the web site, www.ebparks.org.

Ned MacKay

Posts by Ned MacKay

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of December 24 – 30, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – December 24 – 30, 2025

Published

14 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Oakland Post

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Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Lu Lu’s House is Not Just Toying Around with the Community

Wilson and Lambert will be partnering with Mayor Barbara Lee on a toy giveaway on Dec. 20. Young people, like Dremont Wilkes, age 15, will help give away toys and encourage young people to stay in school and out of trouble. Wilkes wants to go to college and become a specialist in financial aid. Sports agent Aaron Goodwin has committed to giving all eight young people from Lu Lu’s House a fully paid free ride to college, provided they keep a 3.0 grade point average and continue the program. Lu Lu’s House is not toying around.

Published

5 days ago

December 20, 2025

Oakland Post

Tania Fuller Bryant, Zirl Wilson, Dremont Wilkes, Tracy Lambert and Dr. Geoffrey Watson. Courtesy Oakland Private Industry

Special to the Post

Lu Lu’s House is a 501c3 organization based in Oakland, founded by Mr. Zirl Wilson and Mr. Tracy Lambert, both previously incarcerated. After their release from jail, they wanted to change things for the better in the community — and wow, have they done that!

The duo developed housing for previously incarcerated people, calling it “Lu Lu’s House,” after Wilson’s wonderful wife. At a time when many young people were robbing, looting, and involved in shootings, Wilson and Lambert took it upon themselves to risk their lives to engage young gang members and teach them about nonviolence, safety, cleanliness, business, education, and the importance of health and longevity.

Lambert sold hats and T-shirts at the Eastmont Mall and was visited by his friend Wilson. At the mall, they witnessed gangs of young people running into the stores, stealing whatever they could get their hands on and then rushing out. Wilson tried to stop them after numerous robberies and finally called the police, who Wilson said, “did not respond.” Having been incarcerated previously, they realized that if the young people were allowed to continue to rob the stores, they could receive multiple criminal counts, which would take their case from misdemeanors to felonies, resulting in incarceration.

Lu Lu’s House traveled to Los Angeles and obtained more than 500 toys
for a Dec. 20 giveaway in partnership with Oakland Mayor Barbara
Lee. Courtesy Oakland Private Industry,

Wilson took it upon himself to follow the young people home and when he arrived at their subsidized homes, he realized the importance of trying to save the young people from violence, drug addiction, lack of self-worth, and incarceration — as well as their families from losing subsidized housing. Lambert and Wilson explained to the young men and women, ages 13-17, that there were positive options which might allow them to make money legally and stay out of jail. Wilson and Lambert decided to teach them how to wash cars and they opened a car wash in East Oakland. Oakland’s Initiative, “Keep the town clean,” involved the young people from Lu Lu’s House participating in more than eight cleanup sessions throughout Oakland. To assist with their infrastructure, Lu Lu’s House has partnered with Oakland’s Private Industry Council.

For the Christmas season, Lu Lu’s House and reformed young people (who were previously robbed) will continue to give back.

Lu Lu’s House traveled to Los Angeles and obtained more than 500 toys.