Purple Sage Blooms Along Mount Diablo Trails
Saturday, May 30th, 2026 at 2:43:52 PM · 2026/Mt Diablo Camping - Juniper Canyon
A striking macro photograph of what appears to be chia sage (Salvia columbariae) or a closely related native California sage species, captured in the Juniper Canyon area of Mount Diablo State Park. The spherical, spiky flower heads display deep burgundy-purple bracts with small vivid blue-violet florets emerging from the whorled seed heads. The shallow depth of field isolates the foreground flower clusters against a beautifully blurred background of green foliage and warm earth tones. The image captures multiple flower heads in various stages of bloom, from mature seed heads to those still bearing fresh florets, conveying the full lifecycle of the plant. The late afternoon light lends a warm, slightly ethereal quality to the spiky textures of the bracts.
Chronologically Adjacent
