The Devil You Say

Clayton Peoples toured the east side this week, stopping by Devil’s Postpile National Monument, near Mammoth Lakes, to find Near Peak willows along the middle fork of the San Joaquin River.

Willows are the first autumn plants to show gold and Devil’s Postpile has lots of them, though few quaking aspen, gray or mountain alder, creek dogwood or black cottonwood.

In fact, nine species of willows grow in the area: arroyo, sandbar, shining, Scouler’s, yellow, Sierra, Lemmon’s, Geyer’s and Jepson’s.

We don’t attempt to identify them, as willows look so much alike. We do, however, credit willows for their fall color and benefit to the environment.

They’re favorite roosts for mountain butterflies, attracting a beautiful array of them in summer. Though the butterflies have all flown elsewhere by now.

• Devils Postpile (7,560′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW! – This report is only for the willows, as the deciduous trees are Just Starting. 

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