Alum Rock, the City of San Jose’s largest wild park, was jumpin’ last weekend with people and plants.
Golden Drop
Right after another rain, this week’s redwood hike revealed so many natural glistening things, like a large golden drop. A misshapen spider web had caught a sphere of amber liquid, which sparkled like a jewel. I wonder if the web’s host would drink it. Our hike on the Bridle and Orchard trails showcased birds, moss…
Warblers in Winter
Yellow-rumped warblers are tearing through my backyard like wind-up dolls.
Who’s Living in the Plains?
My friend and colleague Rashida and I are heading into Carrizo Plain National Monument in southern California for a field class on the largest remaining segment of valley grasslands in the US. We drive alongside a riverbed where water once filled the ten-foot wide channel. Now dust-covered shrubs and trees fill the canal. As dusk…
Discovering Wildlife in the East Bay Redwoods
A quick survey of wildlife you’ll find in the East Bay from the perspective of a camp naturalist.
Monarchs of Mexico
Thousands and thousands of monarch butterflies whirred in unison as they dipped and flew through the trees. Those resting appeared like Christmas ornaments dangling from the tall Mexican pine trees.
“Lucy in the Sky with Islands”
The Sky Islands are the mountains of the Santa Rita range, including Madera Canyon. This relatively small region in the Coronado National Forest boasts more than 240 species of birds, a wide range of succulents, including cactus, yucca and agave, and an intermix of conifers, oaks, madrones and other plants that host fascinating insects and spiders.
