Leanne Grossman’s Nature Guiding
Loch Lomond Recreation Area counts as Nature Rhythms’ favorite new discovery. It sits in the Santa Cruz mountains and serves dual purposes—the preserve contains the county’s drinking water reservoir, but looks like a lake and allows boating and other summer kicks. Spring wildflowers abound in the redwoods there.
It’s about 11:45 am on November 14th when I notice thousands of transparent wings lift into the sky. Termite larvae are emerging from the bricks of my backyard patio and becoming alates (their wings develop fairly instantly). In the past, no critters had overtly noticed them, but this year, local birds and migrators are indulging…
A pictorial journey through the redwoods.
People enjoy Sanborn County Park in Saratoga for quite a number of reasons: grassy meadows for picnics and play, the Nature Trail, a central platform that allows wheelchair users to sit in a grove of redwoods, the hiking trails and more. I started my hike on the Sanborn Trail to see the redwoods, which are…
We often think of winter as desolate and empty, but Nature Rhythms’ winter walk in Trione-Annadel State Park (aka Annadel State Park) felt anything but that. Instead, it felt ripe with a different kind of beauty than what stirs us in the springtime. You could more easily see moss-covered limbs or distinct designs on tree…
Description of a beautiful winter walk in Redwood Regional Park on the bridle trail.
Nature Rhythms’ recent trip was like walking into a fungi factory — mushrooms popping out of bark and wood at every turn — in every shape and texture.
On a recent hike through Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve in Santa Clara County, I found a sanctuary of mixed forest a mile from Highway 17. The beautiful preserve includes a natural lake (more of a pond) that was altered by former residents to serve as a water source for the land. Here…
…mature redwoods appear out of the sky like giants on their morning walk.
What Limekiln State Park lacks in size, it makes up in features—a lovely grove with a 100-foot waterfall, a creek running through it to the sea and a beach cove.
Park managers are seeking the right balance in sequoia groves to ensure their survival.
The daunting presence of the sequoias and the rich habitat that surrounds them.
I have to be honest. The 80+ changes the current administration is implementing to weaken environmental laws and regulations has really gotten me down. Each day, more regression. Each day, more species lost. But a half-day trip into the redwood forest at Samuel P. Taylor State Park relieved my anxiety and re-inspired my commitment to…
A big, bushy, beautiful silver tail passed over the path. The grey fox stole away into tightly enmeshed bushes of poison oak, ferns and coyote bush before I could see its face. If you assessed its health by the look of its tail, this was one healthy fox. Knowing it roamed here explained the scat…
I did not expect to run into loggers on my journey through redwood parks. But adjacent to Big Basin Redwoods State Park lies property that belongs to the reportedly largest timber company in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, Redtree Properties (formerly Santa Cruz Lumber). Bruce Baker, a retired logger of 30 years and…
What draws visitors to Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve is of course the two 300-foot-plus redwood trees on the forest floor as well as the rest of the old growth redwoods thriving there. But rather than name it after a land investor, why wasn’t it named after the area’s local residents, the Kashia bank of…
“The highlight for me was lying down, and while taking time to be silent, looking up at the trees and feeling the peace of the redwood cathedral within myself.”
By day, the silence and peace transformed my state of mind. After night fell, moonbeams aiming right into my body fully recharged me.
Alum Rock, the City of San Jose’s largest wild park, was jumpin’ last weekend with people and plants.
Botanical gardens are hot spots for seeing Spring wildflowers in bloom. Okay, they’re not totally wild, but they’re certainly well cared for. Nature Rhythms visited the Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden park recently. Some species that grow under the redwoods showed more blossoms than in past years. Take the alluring but poisonous Wake Robin,…
In nature I find peace, renewal and truth. Ever since I was a child I have loved being in forests and along streams. I feel blessed to be able to spend more time in nature now and share my knowledge and background with people of all ages. Read More…