Figwort Family 

Common Monkey Flower 

January-October

Wet Shady Areas

 Scrophulariaceae 

Mimulus guttatus 

"Comic actor for the grinning flowers"

"Speckled flowers"
This plant is able to grow and blossom almost all year round as it survives the summer drought by growing only in wet locations. The plant size varies from a few inches to a foot or more high depending on growing conditions. The flowers are 3/4"-wide.

There are usually some common monkey flowers growing where the water trough overflows near the park entrance. Others grow in the stream bed near China Hole and in gravel beds along the East Fork of Coyote Creek.

Another monkey flower, Mimulus cardinalis, which is brilliant red, is occasionally found at the upper Middle Fork of Coyote Creek and south of China Hole.

(large image)