Scenes from Second Saturday

Posted on by friendsofthewildernesspark
Dr. John Greenwod and his dog hiked the trail and picked up trash.
The 8:30-10:30 shift – Vicki, Nancy, Jim, and Terry.
A thirsty dog enjoys water from our dog bowl.
A new invasive plant – Brassica fruticulosa.
A dead tarantula found by a hiker.

December 8 was a lovely, clear day for the Second Saturday program. Here are a few scenes, including the greeters and trash picker-uppers, a thirsty dog, a tarantula, and a new invasive plant – Brassica fruticulosa (Mediterranean Cabbage or Twiggy Turnip).

Some Saturday sightings

Posted on by friendsofthewildernesspark

California mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus californicus) resting in the shade. ©Nancy Hamlett.
California Fuchsia (Epilobium canum subsp. canum). ©Nancy Hamlett.
A Woodland Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanoides) nectaring on California Aster (Corethrogyne filaginifolia). ©Nancy Hamlett.

Mouse over images to see captions; click on image to see full size.

It was a hot day (96°F) in the Wilderness Park Saturday, and along the Cobal Canyon trail animals as well as hikers were seeking refuge from the heat. A couple of mule deer were lying quietly in the shade of the oak trees, and a large Southern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus helleri) disappeared into a cool spot under a large fallen log converted into a bench. (We didn’t get a photo of the snake – we were too busy getting up off the bench – but you can see a similar one here.)

We also noticed red trumpets of California Fuchsia. (Epilobium canum subsp. canum) – a favorite fall flower – blooming on the slopes next to the trail and a Woodland Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanoides) nectaring on another fall flower – California Aster (Corethrogyne filaginifolia).