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…
Fungi Free-for-All, Trip 14
After the rains, redwood forests always glisten especially brightly. Butano State Park is no exception. 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. Their bright colors tempted us, but of course we dared not taste…
Just Plain Beauty, Trip 13
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…
Outfoxed, Trip 5
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…
Who’s Zooming Who? Trip 2
“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.”
Blooming Botanical Wildflowers
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,…
Wet Redwood Forests
Nature Rhythms had our first public hike today in the redwoods. Recent rains have made their mark, yielding stunning results. Redwood creek is over 4 feet, the highest I’ve ever seen it. Moss covered the bay trees 360 degrees. And the lovely tri-petal white blossoms of a few trillium have now opened. On the Chown…
Acorn Rain in the Redwoods
The height and stature of the old growth in Big Basin Redwoods State Park astound you as soon as you arrive. When my friend and I began hiking recently, we heard various rustling sounds every few steps. We looked around expecting to find some hungry squirrels racing through the leaves eating nuts off the trees…
