המועדפים של lilyboy

Growing right by the western side of the road. A strong candidate for Q. garryana semota x john-tuckeri imo. (EDIT: I suppose most of the "QGS" traits could be Q. lobata as well. Tough to say. The leaf litter, indicating semi-deciduousity, and lobed leaves at the very least indicate some sort of lobed, deciduous parent.)

-QJT is the dominant oak species by far in this region with a minority of Q. agrifolia
-QGS traits: Suckering growth habit/stature, deciduousity, appearance of the leaf litter, lobed leaves and general leaf shape, new leaf shape and growth habit, filamentous bracts, yellow-green color of newer leaves
-QJT traits: spikiness of the lobes, rough/tomentose feeling of the leaves (especially the newer ones), wideness of the leaves, bluish-green color and "dustiness" of the mature leaves, dominant yellow central vein on mature leaves, dominant oak species in the area, material thickness and robustness of the twigs

I don't see any QGS in the vicinity. Since this was by the roadside, it is possible that an acorn got carried down from further up the road by water or human activity, and/or QGS from further north into the mountains pollinated some QJT in the area.

A common bunchgrass often in the lodgepole pine zone but also in open dry settings including open understory and subalpine settings. These high dry meadows on well drained substrates harbor plant communities (here dominated by grasses) that are reminscent of lower elevation sagebrush steppe.

For more photo documentation and species diagnosis, see https://www.flickr.com/photos/plant_diversity/sets/72157687441107123/