May 25, 2009
We returned yesterday from a quick Sierra Club backpacking trip to Castle Rock State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains. This is a lovely park. We hiked in along steep ridges covered with sticky monkey flowers, lupines and globe lilies. We gazed on a deep valley that was soon flooded with coastal fog. The campsite was great. Pacific madrone trees surrounded us; their crimson bark changed colors as the day grew old. Stellar’s jays and chickadees squawked at us endlessly. The stars were great Saturday night – they reminded me of white light needles streaking towards us from the heavens.
Another great thing was that our fellow hikers were our age or older. We hiked with
John, Al and Olivia and had a little community in the woods for the weekend. We
Hope to hike with them again. It’s well known that backpacking isn’t just for twenty somethings, but it’s always great to get real confirmation.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Wildflowers and time
What is it with wildflowers? Some only survive a few weeks; other species seem to be around for a long time.We hiked in Huckleberry Regional Botanical Preserve in the Oakland Hills on Saturday.Many wildflowers were blooming on schedule – wild roses and columbines shared their brief presence with us. Some of our favorites – trillium and hound’s tongue were long gone. These are early flowers, and they usually vanish by mid April.
Others survive for a longer period. Douglas Iris were still flowering in their glory. These first appeared a month or so ago, and since some buds haven't opened they look like they will last for a long time. These surprised us a lot less than a manzanita bush with its lantern shaped pink blossoms. This is one of the earliest flowers to appear; they generally thrive earlier in the season than trillium and hound’s tongue. There they were! I can only guess this particular shrub found enough water and shade to continue flowering this late in the season. The answer may elude me, but the forest remains a jigsaw puzzle both in time and in place.
Others survive for a longer period. Douglas Iris were still flowering in their glory. These first appeared a month or so ago, and since some buds haven't opened they look like they will last for a long time. These surprised us a lot less than a manzanita bush with its lantern shaped pink blossoms. This is one of the earliest flowers to appear; they generally thrive earlier in the season than trillium and hound’s tongue. There they were! I can only guess this particular shrub found enough water and shade to continue flowering this late in the season. The answer may elude me, but the forest remains a jigsaw puzzle both in time and in place.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Columbine Trail post
It's been a while but I have had trouble with my computer and web connection. The computer is fine, the web connection is if-fy, but here we go.
Kate and I camped at Chabot Regional Park near San Leandro last weekend. This park is known for its marina - kayakers and people who like to fish abound here. We have kayaked and enjoyed it a lot. It isn't wilderness; city noises and gunshots from the nearby shooting range can interrupt a hike or boat ride. But Chabot also shares natural history treasures to folks who explore.We left the campground and hit the Columbine Trail early Saturday afternoon. This trail winds through some eucalyptus and hits a bay-oak forest after a half mile. These great trees twist at all angles like dancing Shivas to catch sunlight We were surprised to see that the hillsides here were still green, given the ongoing drought. Wildflowers covered the hills. Blue eyed grass, actually a blue- purple iris with yellow sepals surprised us; we though we’d passed this beauty’s season. We were also stunned to find some small rust colored mushrooms. Fungi tend to grow in rainy times; these must have found enough left over dampness to survive.
Sticky monkey flowers thrived in sunny spots. These shrubs boast leaves covered with sticky resin to hold water in dry times. Their trumpet shaped flowers add butterscotch yellow to the forest’s collage. Globe lilies, delicate spherical flowers glowed like round candle flames. The day was hot, but cool wind caressed us like a full body kisses.
We sat on a bench for a while and listened to the white crowned sparrows that surrounded us. I felt like we were at the center of some undefined geometrical shape and the birds sang at its vertices. Turkey vultures cast drifting shadows on the forest floor. People associate these scavengers with death and shun them. They are actually very intelligent and curious birds who like to watch passing hikers. If you threaten them, they defend themselves by losing their last meal. I’m told the smell is bad enough to discourage any predator.
Chabot surprises us with its wildlife. We generally see black tailed deer. The Columbine trail crosses the territory for the biggest and most beautiful rattlesnake we’ve seen in the wild, although we haven’t met it in several years. Great horned owls love this park. We’ve watched them perching above Columbine Trail; one woke us with its hoot at 3 AM on Sunday.
The lake itself is full of life. Large fish – I am guessing they are carp – leapt high and scattered the surface. A lone swan drifted close to shore; we wondered if birds spend time alone to think about the meaning of love. Western grebes and coots passed the hoards of Canada geese. Three ospreys circled the lake; the fish remained still when these fish hawks passed.
This mini-vacation ended too soon, they all do that. We did come home refreshed. It is always good to see how many living things survive on the edges of our lives.
Kate and I camped at Chabot Regional Park near San Leandro last weekend. This park is known for its marina - kayakers and people who like to fish abound here. We have kayaked and enjoyed it a lot. It isn't wilderness; city noises and gunshots from the nearby shooting range can interrupt a hike or boat ride. But Chabot also shares natural history treasures to folks who explore.We left the campground and hit the Columbine Trail early Saturday afternoon. This trail winds through some eucalyptus and hits a bay-oak forest after a half mile. These great trees twist at all angles like dancing Shivas to catch sunlight We were surprised to see that the hillsides here were still green, given the ongoing drought. Wildflowers covered the hills. Blue eyed grass, actually a blue- purple iris with yellow sepals surprised us; we though we’d passed this beauty’s season. We were also stunned to find some small rust colored mushrooms. Fungi tend to grow in rainy times; these must have found enough left over dampness to survive.
Sticky monkey flowers thrived in sunny spots. These shrubs boast leaves covered with sticky resin to hold water in dry times. Their trumpet shaped flowers add butterscotch yellow to the forest’s collage. Globe lilies, delicate spherical flowers glowed like round candle flames. The day was hot, but cool wind caressed us like a full body kisses.
We sat on a bench for a while and listened to the white crowned sparrows that surrounded us. I felt like we were at the center of some undefined geometrical shape and the birds sang at its vertices. Turkey vultures cast drifting shadows on the forest floor. People associate these scavengers with death and shun them. They are actually very intelligent and curious birds who like to watch passing hikers. If you threaten them, they defend themselves by losing their last meal. I’m told the smell is bad enough to discourage any predator.
Chabot surprises us with its wildlife. We generally see black tailed deer. The Columbine trail crosses the territory for the biggest and most beautiful rattlesnake we’ve seen in the wild, although we haven’t met it in several years. Great horned owls love this park. We’ve watched them perching above Columbine Trail; one woke us with its hoot at 3 AM on Sunday.
The lake itself is full of life. Large fish – I am guessing they are carp – leapt high and scattered the surface. A lone swan drifted close to shore; we wondered if birds spend time alone to think about the meaning of love. Western grebes and coots passed the hoards of Canada geese. Three ospreys circled the lake; the fish remained still when these fish hawks passed.
This mini-vacation ended too soon, they all do that. We did come home refreshed. It is always good to see how many living things survive on the edges of our lives.
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