Nature Rhythms has launched a lengthy expedition – hiking one redwood park every other week until we’ve visited each one in California. Beginning this journey with the state redwood parks, which number 49, we will also include the municipal, county and botanical redwood preserves along the way.
Portola Redwoods State Park in San Mateo County was a wonderful place to start this current sojourn. The past week ensured me that 4 days in the redwoods does something inexplicable for the soul. By day, the silence and peace transformed my state of mind. After night fell, moonbeams aiming right into my body fully rejuvenated me.
At PRSP, wildflowers abound in June — sweet pink honeysuckle and lavender hedge nettles (not the pokey kind) adorned the paths. Tiptoe Falls granted relief from the 90-something heat and the mosquitoes. Emerald green grasses blowing over the creek sent out sprays of cool water.
I managed to capture, however blurrily, a shot of a pileated woodpecker, who hid as soon as I entered its territory and flew off a moment later. It must be rather rare there since it did not appear on the park’s bird list.
We’lll hit the Giant Sequoias September 14-15, 2019, with Ron Felzer’s upcoming field class at Merritt College, “Natural History of the Giant Sequoia in Yosemite and Sequoia Kings Canyon National Parks.” Ron is known for his vast knowledge of all things natural!
I invite you to join Nature Rhythms at any point throughout this adventure. Just email me through this web site and I’ll let you know our itinerary. Next stop is June 25, 2019 – we’ll hike Henry Cowell State Park. Meet me at the Visitor Center, 10:30 am. [Completed]
Wow, that looks totally cool. I don’t know how you ever saw that woodpecker because it’s so camouflaged!