Forest Home

California Redwoods and Waterfalls:
Big Basin Berry Creek Falls in July

July on the Berry Creek Falls Loop (BCFL) Trail in the Forest of Big Basin State Park. [Route was clockwise except where stated otherwise. Report is by J. Zimmerman except where stated otherwise.]

Flower are our stars 2008 (counter-clockwise).
Flower are our stars 2007 (counter-clockwise).
Flower are our stars 2006.
Flower are our stars 2005.
Flower are our stars 2004
Flower are our stars 2003 (minimal data).
Flower are our stars 2002 by Scott Peden.

Flower are our stars 7-year summary of flower-slug-newt data.
Flower are our stars Flower-slug-newt count graph.
Flower are our stars Wildflower species calendar on BCFL Trail.
Flower are our stars Walk With Scott Peden in Big Basin State Park.
NEW AUGUST 2005 Paces calibration (Berry Creek Falls Loop Trail).
Life History and Ecological Guide to the Coast Redwood by Daniel J. Miller. 		Leopard lily by Scott Peden
Leopard lily (a.k.a. Tiger Lily) close-up (Adenocaulon bicolor)
(© 2006 by Scott Peden);
blooms July to August

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Redwood Region Flower Finder:
A Guide to Identifying Wildflowers
of The Coastal Fog Belt of California
by Phoebe Watts, Sarah Ellen Watts (Illustrator). 		Glossary:
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z.
Monthly reports:
January, February, March, April, May, June.
July, August, September, October, November, December.

Wilderness Preservation from Bikes.

Designation of "unique": In these reports, "unique" refers to any species that was seen in a single location on the reported day.

Designation of "early": In these reports, "early" refers to any species that we are seeing this month on this trail for the first time since we started this record.
Note that these flowers have often been reported by others this early.
They are, however, early for us.

Designation of New flower added to our spotting: In these reports, New flower added to our spotting ("New") refers to a flower that was not spotted by us in previous years.

Friday, July 4, 2008.

Report by J. Zimmerman.

1-layer warm to start the day; 1-layer hot and sweaty fairly quickly.
(8:30 a.m. - 5:50 p.m.) Team of three observers, with three additional part-time observers; met 129 people.
Waterfalls pretty but reduced from their spring splendor.
Only 30 Banana Slugs.
47 different flower species in bloom.
Flower-of-the-hike award: Burning Bush (though still rare, it was more prevalent than we have ever seen it).
Leopard Lily (a.k.a. Tiger Lily) is the Runner Up.
Fruit and berries include: California wild lilac, branched (or fat) Solomon's seal, hooker's fairy bell, huckleberry (still green), nutmeg (Torreya californica) (green drupes), salal, sensitive manzanita, strawberry, wood rose.
Wasp gall on some roses.
Two glorious yellow slime mold, leaving a trail as it slowly moved across a stump.
(Access Scott's Flower Photos in his on-line portfolio.)
(Look at slug and flower count graph in a new window.)
12 adult aquatic herps (all Newts, most likely California Newts); 7 baby giant salamanders.
6-inch fish in Waddell Creek.
Many butterflies, particularly California Sisters; a bee in a damp spot.
Lots of spider webs; some good views of sallying spiders.
Birds seen include: chickadee, raven, Steller's jay, winter wren.
Birds heard and not seen include: hermit thrush, wrentit.


Starting with the flowers (alphabetically) at Ranger Station HQ (many of which are seen on the loop trail also):
  1. Azalea: Western azalea (cream; the most delicious honey-like perfume).
  2. ["unique"] Brodiaea: Golden Brodiaea (Brodiaea lutea).
  3. [ALIEN] ["unique"] Bur chervil (Anthriscus caucalis).
  4. [ALIEN] Cat's ear: Smooth cat's ear (yellow composite).
  5. [ALIEN] ["unique"] Foxglove.
  6. Hedge nettle: California hedge nettle (Stachys bulleta) Not a true nettle, so you may touch it painlessly. Rose/blue/purplish flowers.
  7. [ALIEN] Helleborine: Broad-leaved helleborine (Epipactis helleborine).
  8. Madia: Slender madia (a.k.a. grassy tarweed) (Madia gracilis). 5-petal yellow flower; thin alternate leaves. [Identified by Scott Peden.]
  9. Madia: Woodland madia (a.k.a. tarweed) (Madia madioides).
  10. Milkwort: California milkwort, Polygala californica (rose-purple pea-like flowers on a herbaceous plant with dark leaves).
  11. ["unique"] Rush: Spreading or Common Rush, Juncus patens.
  12. ["unique"] Sedge (reddish flowers on a single spike).
  13. Sugar scoop (saxifrage, sometimes called False Mitrewort), Tiatella unifoliata (white).
  14. ["unique"] Stinging nettle (pale green). [*OUCH* do not *TOUCH*]
  15. Yerba buena (pale blue).

    Additional flowers (alphabetically) seen on the loop trail.

  16. Alum root (a.k.a. small-flowered Heuchera) (white).
  17. Bedstraw a.k.a. Cleavers (Galium aparine). Tiny white flowers.
  18. Brodia: Blue brodia; a.k.a. Ithuriel's spear (or Grass nut or Triplet lily) (Triteleia laxa). Blue.
  19. Boykinia: Coast Boykinia (a.k.a. Brook Foam), Boykinia Elata. 5 open white petals.
  20. Broom: California Broom a.k.a. deerweed, Lotus Scoparius. Yellow and red.
  21. Burning Bush near streams. Brownish-red flowers hide under the outermost leaves.
  22. Bush poppy. Yellow.
  23. Chamise. White.
  24. Elk's Clover a.k.a. Spikenard. White flowers, huge leaves, always near water.
  25. Fireweed: New Zealand fireweed (Erichtides minima). [Identified by Tim Hyland from photographs by Scott Peden.] Tiny yellow composites on tall (4 or 5 feet) plant with alternate 4-plus-inch leaves (half-inch wide).
  26. Golden Chinquapin.
  27. Harebell: California Harebell, Asyneuma prenanthoides (blue).
  28. Hawkweed (white; similar growth pattern to madia).
  29. Hairy honeysuckle, Lonicera hispidula (pink).
  30. ["unique"] Lily: Leopard lily (a.k.a. Panther lily or tiger lily), Lilium pardalinum. Orange.
  31. Madia: [SP to id.]. Alternate leaves on stem (like Slender madia) but far more petals.
  32. Monkey flower: Orange sticky monkey flower (orange).
  33. Ocean spray (white).
  34. ["unique"] Orchid: Rein (or White Rein or royal) orchid, Piperia transversa; white flower and white-greenish stem; tail to the flower.
  35. ["unique"] Orchid: Spotted coral root orchid (yellow flower, spots on white lower lip).
  36. ["unique"] Rose: Wood rose (Rosa gymnocarpa). [The flowers were in the transition zone of having color but starting to wither; green rose hips developing; still smaller than many of the flower, but definitely looking like green hips!]
  37. ["unique"] Salal, Gaultheria shallon
  38. Sorrel: Redwood sorrel (white with thin maroon strips).
  39. Sugar scoop (saxifrage, sometimes called False Mitrewort), Tiatella unifoliata (white).
  40. Tanoak catkins.
  41. ["unique"] Toothwort: California toothwort, Dentaria californica (mauve).
  42. ["unique"] Toyon (green-white).
  43. Trail Plant (Adenocaulon bicolor) (cluster of very tiny 5-petaled white flowers. Bring your magnifying glass!!).
  44. Violet: Redwood violet (yellow).
  45. Violet: Two-eyed violet (white with purple eye spots and purple back to top two petals).
  46. Wintergreen, Pyrola picta var. aphylla (red).
  47. Yerba de selva (white).

Slug and herp (usually newt) counts by sections (walking counter-clockwise), taking Dool Trail toward Sunset Trail - beginning our counter-clockwise exploration.

By Middle Ridge Fire Road: 0 slugs.

By Sky-Line-to-the-Sea Trail Connector on Sunset Trail: 15 new slugs; 15 total.

By West Waddell Creek Bridge on Sunset Trail: 0 new slugs; 15 total.

By Timms Creek Trail on Sunset Trail: 3 new slugs; 18 total.

By East Berry Creek Bridge: 0 new slugs; 18 total. 4 aquatic herps in the stream.

By Sunset camp connector trail: 0 new slugs; 18 total. 0 new herps; 4 total.

By Silver Falls: 0 new slugs; 18 total. 5 herps at the Falls; 9 total; plus 7 baby giant salamanders.

By Berry Creek Falls Bench and Viewing Platform: 0 new slugs; 18 total. 3 new herps; 12 total.

By Berry Creek Falls view from Seat: 0 new slugs; 18 total.

By West Waddell Creek Bridge: 0 new slugs; 18 total.

By Timms Creek Trail: 2 new slugs; 20 total.

By West (lower) End of the connector trail: 0 new slugs; 20 total.

By East (upper) End of the connector trail: 1 new slug; 21 total.

By Kelly Creek Bridge: 2 new slugs; 23 total.

By Sunset Connector: 0 new slugs; 23 total.

By Middle Ridge Fire Road: 7 new slugs; 30 total.

Arriving back at Park Head Quarters: 0 new slugs; 30 total.

Wednesday, July 4, 2007.

Report by J. Zimmerman.

2-layer fresh to start the day; 1-layer hot and sweaty fairly quickly; temperature over 90°C;
98°C recorded at Park Head Quarters.
(9:00 a.m. - 6:25 p.m.) Team of three observers; met 64 people.
Waterfalls pretty but reduced from their spring splendor.
Only 8 Banana Slugs; probably the high air temperature discouraged them from venturing above ground.
52 different flower species in bloom.
(Access Scott's Flower Photos in his on-line portfolio.)
(Look at slug and flower count graph in a new window.)
17 Aquatic Newts, several of which were newt juveniles (shorter than adults; disproportionately short legs).
Many fingerlings in Waddell Creek and fish up to 6"; a 6-inch trout was spotted by Don Maier.
Many butterflies, particularly California Sisters; one yellow spotted millipede.
Lots of dragonfly including a SPECTACULAR yellow-headed and yellow-and-black-ringed dragonfly, possibly the Pacific Spiketail (Cordulegaster dorsalis).
Alligator lizard: 12-inch; slinky, blue-tailed, flash of blue; at connector to Sunset Camp.
A quite beautiful western aquatic garter snake, about two feet long.
Green cones of the redwoods on the trees and fallen on the forest floor already.

We list the flowers below in the order that we encountered them for the first time on the hike.


Starting with the flowers (alphabetically) at Ranger Station HQ (many of which are seen on the loop trail also):
  1. [ALIEN] Broad-leaved helleborine (Epipactis helleborine).
  2. [ALIEN] ["unique"] Bur chervil (Anthriscus caucalis).
  3. California hedge nettle (Stachys bulleta) Not a true nettle, so you may touch it painlessly. Rose/blue/purplish flowers.
  4. [ALIEN] ["unique"] Foxglove.
  5. ["unique"] Golden Brodiaea (Brodiaea lutea).
  6. Hawkweed (white; similar growth pattern to madia).
  7. New flower added to our spotting Spreading or Common Rush, Juncus patens.
  8. New flower added to our spotting Pacific or Western Rush, Juncus occidentalis. Flower is a fuzzy ball.
  9. ["unique"] Sedge (reddish flowers on a single spike).
  10. ["unique"] Star lily or Fremont's star lily (Zygadenus fremontii).
  11. ["unique"] Stinging nettle (pale green). [*OUCH* do not *TOUCH*]
  12. Western azalea (cream; the most delicious honey-like perfume).
  13. Woodland madia (a.k.a. tarweed) (Madia madioides).
  14. Yerba buena (pale blue).

    Taking Dool Trail toward Sunset Trail - beginning our counter-clockwise exploration.

    By Middle Ridge Fire Road: 0 slugs.

  15. California Broom a.k.a. deerweed, Lotus Scoparius (yellow and red).
  16. California Harebell, Asyneuma prenanthoides (blue).

    By Sky-Line-to-the-Sea Trail Connector on Sunset Trail: 0 slugs.

  17. Coffee berry (green, 5-pointed, small flower).
  18. Orange sticky monkey flower (orange).
  19. Two-eyed violet (white with purple eye spots and purple back to top two petals).
  20. Wintergreen, Pyrola picta var. aphylla (red).
  21. ["unique"] Hairy Honeysuckle (Lonicera hispidula) (pink)
  22. California milkwort, Polygala californica (rose-purple pea-like flowers on a herbaceous plant with dark leaves).

    Abandoned hornet's nest on the ground; beautiful thin paper layers of various pale browns.

  23. Redwood violet (yellow).
  24. Yerba de Selva (white).

    By West Waddell Creek Bridge on Sunset Trail: 3 new slugs; 3 total.

  25. Nut sedge (a.k.a. Tall Cyperus), Cyperus eragrostis. Umbel of green flowers on top of long stem.

    By Timms Creek Trail on Sunset Trail: 0 new slugs.

  26. ["unique"] Pearl orchid (Piperia candida); white flower and white-greenish stem; no tail to the flower. ["The Pearl Orchid has no 'Tail'; otherwise it is like the Rein Orchid." Scott Peden.]
  27. ["unique"] Rein orchid (Habenaria unalascensis); white flower and white-greenish stem; tail to the flower. [Larger than the somewhat similar pearl orchid.]
  28. ["early"] Cudweed (Gnaphalium).
  29. Sugar scoop (saxifrage, sometimes called False Mitrewort), Tiatella unifoliata (white).

    By East Berry Creek Bridge: 1 new slug; 4 total. 11 aquatic newts (including juveniles of 2" with very short legs) in the stream.

  30. ["unique"] Salal, Gaultheria shallon
  31. Golden Chinquapin. Both flowers and fruit.
  32. Chamise (white).
  33. Bush poppy (yellow).
  34. New flower added to our spotting ["unique"] California ground cone (Boschniakia strobilacea).
  35. New flower added to our spotting Slender tarweed (a.k.a. grassy tarweed) (Madia gracilis). 5-petal yellow flower; thin alternate leaves. [Identified by Scott Peden.]
  36. New flower added to our spotting ["unique"] California nutmeg flowers. [Identified by Scott Peden.]
  37. ["unique"] Scrub oak flowers (Quercus dumosa). [Identified by Scott Peden.]
  38. ["unique"] Golden yarrow, Eriophyllum confertiflorum. [Identified by Tim Hyland from photographs by Scott Peden.]

    By Sunset camp connector trail: 0 new slugs. 0 new newts.

  39. Ocean spray (white).
  40. Coast Boykinia (a.k.a. Brook Foam), Boykinia Elata (5 open white petals).
  41. Trail Plant (Adenocaulon bicolor) (cluster of very tiny 5-petaled white flowers. Bring your magnifying glass!!).
  42. ["unique"] Wild Ginger (maroon).
  43. Elk's Clover a.k.a. Spikenard (white flowers, huge leaves, always near water).
  44. Bedstraw a.k.a. Cleavers (Galium aparine). Tiny white flowers.
  45. Sorrel: Redwood sorrel (white with thin maroon strips).

    By Silver Falls: 0 new slugs. 3 aquatic newts (2 at Golden Falls, 1 at Silver Falls); 14 total.

  46. Alum root (a.k.a. small-flowered Heuchera) (white).

    By Berry Creek Falls Bench and Viewing Platform: 0 new slugs. 2 new newts; 16 total.

  47. ["unique"] Leopard lily (a.k.a. Panther lily or tiger lily), Lilium pardalinum. Orange.

    By Berry Creek Falls view from Seat: 0 new slugs. 0 new newts.

    By West Waddell Creek Bridge: 0 new slugs.

  48. ["unique"] Burning Bush near stream (brownish red flowers hide under the outermost leaves).
  49. New flower added to our spotting New Zealand fireweed (Erichtides minima). [Identified by Tim Hyland from photographs by Scott Peden.] Tiny yellow composites on tall (4 or 5 feet) plant with alternate 4-plus-inch leaves (half-inch wide).

    By Timms Creek Trail: 0 new slugs. 1 new newt; 17 total newts.

    By West (Lower) End of connector trail: 1 new slug; 5 total.

    By East (Upper) End of the connector trail: 0 new slugs.

    By Kelly Creek Bridge: 0 new slugs.

  50. Blue brodia (Triteleia laxa). [Compare with Golden brodia at HQ.]
  51. ["unique"] Wood rose (Rosa gymnocarpa).
  52. ["unique"] California blackberry (white).

    By Sunset connector: 3 new slugs; 8 total.

    By Middle Ridge Fire Road: 0 new slugs.

    Yellow jacket swarm at one of the rare areas of damp earth.

    Arriving back at Park Head Quarters: 0 new slugs; 8 total. 0 new newts; 17 total newts.

Wednesday, July 5, 2006.

Report by J. Zimmerman.

2-layers, overcast, and humid for first 2 miles; sunny and 1-layer warm the rest of the day. (8:45 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.)
Waterfalls quieter.
95 Banana Slugs.
35 different wildflower species in bloom.
1 newt (aquatic).
Several butterflies (California sisters).
Slug and flower graphs (in new window).
Met 9 hikers.

(Access Scott's Flower Photos in his on-line portfolio.)
We list the wildflowers below in the order that we encountered them for the first time on the hike.


Wildflowers visible by the Ranger Station HQ:
  1. Bedstraw a.k.a. Cleavers (Galium aparine). Tiny white flowers.
  2. Broad-leaved helleborine (Epipactis helleborine) (ALIEN).
  3. California hedge nettle (Stachys bulleta). Not a true nettle, so you may touch it painlessly.
  4. ["unique"] Forget-me-not (ALIEN).
  5. Golden Brodiaea (Triteleia ixioides).
  6. Western azalea (cream).
  7. Woodland madia (a.k.a. tarweed) (Madia madioides).
  8. Yerba buena (light blue).

    Take Sky-Line-to-the-Sea Trail toward Middle Ridge Fire Road. Slug count so far is 0.

  9. Redwood violet (a.k.a. Evergreen violet) (Viola sempervirens).
  10. Alum root (a.k.a. crevice heuchera or small-flowered heuchera) (Heuchera micrantha). The petals of this flower curl back.
  11. California milkwort (Polygala californica). Rose/blue/purplish flowers.
  12. Wintergreen (Pyrola picta var. aphylla) (red).
  13. Hawkweed (white; leaves alternate; otherwise similar growth pattern to madia).

    By Middle Ridge Fire Road: 7 new slugs, 7 total.

  14. Hairy Honeysuckle (Lonicera hispidula) (pink)
  15. Orange Sticky Monkey Flower (Diplacus aurantiacus).
  16. California Harebell, Asyneuma prenanthoides (blue).

    By Sunset Connector Trail junction: 24 new slugs, 31 total.

  17. Blue brodia (Triteleia laxa). [Compare with Golden brodia at HQ.]
  18. Two-eyed violet (Viola ocellata).
  19. Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus).

    By Kelly Creek Bridge: 23 new slugs, 54 total.

    By East End (upper) of the side trail: 5 new slug, 59 total.

  20. Yerba de selva (a.k.a. Weed of the Woods) (Whipplea modesta).

    By West End (lower) of the side trail: 6 new slugs, 65 total.

  21. Sugar scoop (saxifrage, sometimes called False Mitrewort), Tiatella unifoliata (white).

    By Timms Creek Trail: 7 new slugs, 72 total.

  22. Coast Boykinia (Boykinia Elata) (white). Aka Brook Foam. (5 open white petals).
  23. Trail Plant (white)
  24. Burning Bush near stream: brownish red flowers hide under the outermost leaves.

    By West Waddell Creek Bridge: 5 new slugs, 77 total.

    By Berry Creek Falls first view (at Seat): 1 new slug, 78 total.

  25. Leopard lily (a.k.a. Panther lily or tiger lily) (Lilium pardalinum) Orange.

    By Berry Creek Falls viewing platform and bench: 1 new slug, 79 total.

    By Silver Falls: 1 new slug, 80 total. 1 aquatic NEWT.

    By Sunset Camp Connector Trail junction with Sunset Trail: 3 new slugs, 83 total.

  26. Coffee berry (Rhamnus californica). Greenish-lemonish white flowers in clusters.
  27. Small-flowered Trefoil (Lotus micranthus).
  28. Chamise (Adenostoma fasiculatum).
  29. Bush Poppy. Yellow.
  30. SYCs: Small Yellow composites.
  31. Salal (Gaultheria shallon).

    By East Berry Creek Bridge: 0 new slugs, 84 total.

  32. Spotted Coral Root Orchid.
  33. Pearl orchid (Piperia candida); white flower and white-greenish stem; no tail to the flower. ["The Pearl Orchid has no 'Tail'; otherwise it is like the Rein Orchid." Scott Peden.]

    By Timms Creek Trail junction with Sunset Trail: 2 new slugs, 86 total.

    By West Waddell Creek Bridge: 0 new slugs, 86 total.

  34. Redwood sorrel (Oxalis oregana). White; sometimes mauve, pinkish, or bluish.
  35. ["unique"] Rein orchid (Habenaria unalascensis); white flower and white-greenish stem; tail to the flower. [Larger than the somewhat similar pearl orchid.]

    By Sky-Line-to-the-Sea Trail Connector junction with Sunset Trail: 8 new slugs, 94 total.

    By Middle Ridge Fire Road: 1 new slug, 95 total.

    By Dool Trail: No additions.

    By HQ: No additions.

Wednesday, July 6, 2005.

Report by J. Zimmerman.

1-layer warm most of day; to 85°. A little humid. (9:15 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.)
Waterfalls still glorious.
92 Banana Slugs.
45 different wildflower species in bloom.
No newts.
1 snake (coast garter snake).
Many butterflies especially the checkerspot (primarily orange) and the California sister.
Slug and flower graphs (in new window).

(Access Scott's Flower Photos in his on-line portfolio.)
We list the wildflowers below in the order that we encountered them for the first time on the hike.


Lots of wildflowers visible by the Ranger Station HQ:
  1. Bedstraw a.k.a. Cleavers (Galium aparine). Tiny white flowers.
  2. Blue brodia (light blue).
  3. ["unique"] Broad Leaved Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine) (ALIEN).
  4. ["unique"] Bur chervil (Anthriscus caucalis) (ALIEN). 5 small white wedge-shaped petals with straight wide ends.
  5. California hedge nettle (Stachys bulleta). Not a true nettle, so you may touch it painlessly.
  6. ["unique"] Common or Bull thistle (ALIEN).
  7. ["unique"] Forget-me-not (ALIEN).
  8. Golden Brodiaea (Triteleia ixioides).
  9. Miner's Lettuce (Montia perfoliata).
  10. Redwood sorrel (Oxalis oregana). White; sometimes mauve, pinkish, or bluish.
  11. Smooth cat's ear (yellow composite) (ALIEN).
  12. Sow thistle (yellow composite) (ALIEN). Smooth, branched stem; leaves have prickly edges.
  13. Stinging nettle (ALIEN).
  14. Western azalea (cream).
  15. Woodland madia (a.k.a. tarweed) (Madia madioides).
  16. Yerba buena (light blue).

    Take Sky-Line-to-the-Sea Trail toward Middle Ridge Fire Road. Slug count so far is 0.

  17. Redwood violet (a.k.a. Evergreen violet) (Viola sempervirens).
  18. Alum root (a.k.a. crevice heuchera or small-flowered heuchera) (Heuchera micrantha). The petals of this flower curl back.
  19. California milkwort (Polygala californica). Rose/blue/purplish flowers.
  20. Hawkweed (white; leaves alternate; otherwise similar growth pattern to madia).

    By Middle Ridge Fire Road: 9 new slugs, 9 total.

  21. Orange Sticky Monkey Flower (Diplacus aurantiacus).
  22. Hairy Honeysuckle (Lonicera hispidula) (pink)
  23. Two-eyed violet (Viola ocellata).
  24. Toothwort (Dentaria californica, var. integrifolia). White, sometimes with lavender tinge.

    By Sunset Connector Trail junction: 15 new slugs, 24 total.

    Dark blue brodia seen here but not counted as different from paler brodia at HQ.

  25. California strawberry (Fragaria californica).
  26. ["unique"] Douglas' Nightshade (Solanum douglasii). White.
  27. ["unique"] Ocean spray (white).
  28. California Harebell, Asyneuma prenanthoides (blue).
  29. Wintergreen (Pyrola picta var. aphylla) (red).

    By Kelly Creek Bridge: 13 new slugs, 37 total.

  30. Elk's Clover a.k.a. Spikenard (white flowers, huge leaves, always near water).

    By East End (upper) of the side trail: 9 new slug, 46 total.

  31. Yerba de selva (a.k.a. Weed of the Woods) (Whipplea modesta).
  32. Trail Plant (white)

    By West End (lower) of the side trail: 11 new slugs, 57 total.

  33. Sugar scoop (saxifrage, sometimes called False Mitrewort), Tiatella unifoliata (white).

    By Timms Creek Trail: 8 new slugs, 65 total.

  34. Coast Boykinia (Boykinia Elata) (white). Aka Brook Foam. (5 open white petals).
  35. Leopard lily (a.k.a. Panther lily or tiger lily) (Lilium pardalinum) Orange.
  36. Small-leaved montia (Montia parvifolia) (white, 5 petals, small alternate leaves and basal rosette; delicate).
  37. ["unique"] Burning Bush near stream (brownish red flowers hide under the outermost leaves)

    By West Waddell Creek Bridge: 15 new slugs, 80 total.

    By Berry Creek Falls first view (at Seat): 0 new slugs, 80 total.

    By Berry Creek Falls viewing platform and bench: 0 new slugs, 80 total.

    By Silver Falls: 4 new slugs, 84 total.

    By Sunset Camp Connector Trail junction with Sunset Trail: 0 new slugs, 84 total.

  38. Trefoil: Small-flowered Trefoil (Lotus Micranthus).
  39. Bush Poppy. Yellow.
  40. Chamise (Adenostoma fasiculatum).
  41. Pearly Everlasting.
  42. SYCs: Small Yellow composites.
  43. Salal (Gaultheria shallon).

    By East Berry Creek Bridge: 0 new slugs, 84 total.

  44. ["unique"] Pearl orchid (Piperia Candida).

    By Timms Creek Trail junction with Sunset Trail: 1 new slugs, 85 total.

    By West Waddell Creek Bridge: 1 new slugs, 86 total.

    By Sky-Line-to-the-Sea Trail Connector junction with Sunset Trail: 5 new slugs, 91 total.

  45. ["unique"] Wood rose (Rosa gymnocarpa).

    By Middle Ridge Fire Road: 2 new slugs, 92 total.

    By Dool Trail: No additions.

    By HQ: No additions.

Thursday, July 1st, 2004.

Report by J. Zimmerman and Scott Peden.

121 Banana Slugs. (We enjoyed mist, condensation, and low temperatures for July.)
54 different flower species in bloom.
(Access Scott's Flower Photos in his on-line portfolio.)
(Look at slug and flower count graph in a new window.)
Also, 20 Newts; 1 yellow and black dragonfly (3 inches).

Found a Raven's Feather and another from a Western Screech Owl.
(Identified by our companion Jerry Granger, the wild-life photographer.)

We list the flowers below in the order that we encountered them for the first time on the hike.
We encountered every Orchid that Scott knows of, all at bloom at one time in the Park:
3 Corallorhiza's, 2 Piperia's (Candida and Transversa),
the Epipactis Helleborine (Broad Leaved Helleborine, the introduced species),
and an Epipactis Gigantea (Native Stream Orchid)!

Designation of "unique": In this report, the designation of "unique" is given to those species that were seen in a single location.


Starting with the flowers at Ranger Station HQ:
  1. ["unique"] Triplet Lily. (a.k.a. Common Triteleia, Grass Nut, or Ithuriel's Spear), Brodiaea laxa (yellow).
  2. ["unique" and alien] Broad Leaved Helleborine, Epipactis helleborine.
  3. Madia, Madia exigua (yellow flower; leaves are alternate).
  4. One-Leaved Onion, Allium unifolium (mauve).
  5. Rush.
  6. ["unique"] Stinging nettle (pale green). [*OUCH* do not *TOUCH*]
  7. Western azalea (cream).
  8. Woodland madia or tarweed, Madia madioides (yellow flower; leaves are opposite).
  9. ["unique"] Yerba buena (light blue).

    Taking Sky-Line-to-the-Sea Trail, by Middle Ridge Fire Road: Nanner count so far is 4.

  10. Purple Nutsedge (brown flowers).
  11. Redwood violet (yellow).
  12. Alum root (white). [Aka small-flowered Heuchera.]

    By Sunset connector: 7 new nanners, 11 total.

  13. Hawkweed (white; similar growth pattern to madia).
  14. Orange sticky monkey flower (orange).
  15. California Hedge nettle (pink).
  16. California Harebell, Asyneuma prenanthoides (blue).
  17. ["unique"] Blue witch (blue with gold center).

    By Kelly Creek Bridge: 22 New Nanners, 33 total.

  18. ["unique"] Douglas nightshade (white with gold center).
  19. ["unique"] Ocean spray (white).
  20. Wild Strawberry (white).
  21. Yerba de Selva (white).
  22. Wintergreen, Pyrola picta var. aphylla (red).

    By East (upper) End of the connector trail: 17 New Nanners, 50 total.

  23. Elks Clover a.k.a. Spikenard (white flowers, huge leaves, always near water).
  24. Coast Boykinia, Boykinia Elata (white). Aka Brook Foam. (5 open white petals).

    By West (lower) End of the connector trail: 9 New Nanners, 59 total; 1 new terrestrial newt.

  25. ["unique"] Hairy Honeysuckle, Lonicera hispidula (pink).
  26. Tan oak (male and female flowers on the trees).
  27. Trail Plant (Adenocaulon bicolor). Cluster of very tiny 5-petaled flowers. Bring your magnifying glass!!

    By Timms Creek Trail: 12 New Nanners, 71 total.

  28. Milkwort (rose-purple pea-like flowers on an herbaceous plant).
  29. Sugar scoop (saxifrage, sometimes called False Mitrewort), Tiatella unifoliata (white).
  30. Small-leaved montia, Montia parvifolia (white, 5 petals, small alternate leaves and basal rosette).
  31. ["unique"] Hazelnut (male catkins and small female flowers).
  32. ["unique"] Stream orchid, Epipactis gigantea (yellow-green flower with orange lower lip striped with red; broad leaves with strong parallel veins that clasp the stem).
  33. ["unique"] Burning Bush near stream (brownish red flowers hide under the outermost leaves).

    By BC Falls first view at Seat: 17 New Nanners, 88 total.
    Also Jerry spotted a belted kingfisher.

  34. ["unique"] Leopard lily (a.k.a. Tiger lily or Panther lily), Lilium pardalinum. Orange.
  35. California blackberry (white).
  36. Salal, Gaultheria shallon (white flowers; big shiny leaves).

    By Silver Falls. 20 New Nanners, 108 total; 19 new newts (mostly aquatic by Silver Falls) so total is 20 newts.

  37. ["unique"] Wild Ginger (maroon).
  38. ["unique"] Golden yarrow, Eriophyllum confertiflorum (yellow, 5 petals, 2 lines down length of petal).
  39. ["unique"] Bush poppy (yellow).
  40. ["unique"] Chamise (white).
  41. ["unique"] Toyon (green-white).
  42. ["unique"] California broom (yellow).
  43. ["unique"] Lupine (blue).
  44. ["unique"] Yerba santa (blue).
  45. ["unique"] Wood rose (red).
  46. ["unique"] Two-eyed violet (white with purple eye spots and purple back to top two petals).

    By Sunset Camp connector trail: 3 New Nanners, 111 total.
    Also Jerry spotted a band-tailed pigeon.(largest pigeon; broad grey tip to fan tail; yellow beak; white neck band).

    By East Berry Creek Bridge: 0 New Nanners, 111 total.

  47. ["unique"] Pearl orchid, Piperia candida (white flower and white-greenish stem).
  48. ["unique"] Spotted coral root Orchid (red flower, red spots on the white lower lip).
  49. ["unique"] Spotted coral root without spots on the white lip (red flower).
  50. ["unique"] Spotted coral root orchid (yellow, no spots on white lower lip).

    By Sunset trail at Timms Creek Trail: 2 New Nanners, 113 total.

    By Sunset trail at West Waddell Creek Bridge: 1 New Nanner, total 114.

  51. ["unique"] Green Wintergreen (pale green flowers and stem).
  52. ["unique"] Coffee berry (5-pointed small white star).
  53. ["unique"] White Rein or royal orchid, Piperia transversa.

    By Sky-Line-to-the-Sea Trail Connector/on Sunset Trail: 6 New Nanners, 120 total.

    By Middle Ridge Fire Road: 1 New Nanner, 121 total.

    By Dool Trail: 0 New Nanners, 121 total.

Monday, July 29, 2003.

Notes by J. Zimmerman. 

 
20 banana slugs and 15 flower species blooming.
(Look at slug and flower count graph in a new window.)
 

Species seen in blossom (alphabetically):
    Alum Root                            (white)
    Bush Poppy                           (yellow)
    California False Lupine              (yellow)
    California Harebell                  (blue)
    California Hedge Nettle              (pink)
    Coyote Brush                         (cream)
    White Hawkweed                       (white)
    One Leaved Onion                     (blue)
    Redwood Violet                       (yellow)
    Sugar Scoop                          (white)
    Tarweed                              (yellow)
    Leopard Lily                         (magnificent orange)
    Trail Plant                          (white)
    Western azalea                       (cream)
    Wintergreen (Pyrola picta)           (pink)

Tuesday, July 2nd, 2002. A Sad Note on Trash.

Report by Scott Peden.

* Thank You, the un-thanked, who help us keep this trail clean. *

We collected 3 garbage bags full of trash on the walk, and all were exhausted by the time we got back.
Since this isn't flat terrain, you guessed it, the trash was always down hill.

PLEASE carry out your litter - bottles, tissues, towels, shorts, gloves,
hats, silver foil torn off snack food and candies, and (horrors!) cigarette butts.

There isn't a Park Maintenance person who is paid to pick up trash outside of the HQ and Campgrounds areas.
Such cleanup is almost exclusively by volunteers, some of them, of course being
those of you who had hoped to be out there for a relaxing time in the mountainous forest.

Meanwhile, when we weren't picking up trash ...

Tuesday, July 2nd, 2002. This Glorious Day held THESE HIGHLIGHTS.

60 Banana Slugs; our second highest count by July 2002 (Slug photos)
43 different flowers in bloom.
(See how to access Scott's Flower Photos in his on-line portfolio.)
(Look at slug and flower count graph in a new window.)
This is the 3rd highest count of plants-in-bloom so far, for this walk, after making adjustments to the Saxifrage category (as done in June 2002).
I use the common names that are listed in Plants of the Coastal Redwood Region by Lyons and Cuneo-Lazaneo, with occasional additional notes.
Please note: I mention the flowers in the order that I see them, on each section of the trail.

Joan and I have 2 guests with us today, another docent from Big Basin Redwoods State park, and one from Auno Nuevo State park.
Our walk turned out to be a 10-hour exploration. 

 
From the Ranger Station/HQ, across the road ...  
  
Meadow by the Parking Kiosk
    1. Golden Brodiaea
 
Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail to Middle Ridge Fire Road
    2. Redwood Violet
    3. Pacific Starflower
    4. Wintergreen, Pyrolia Picta
    5. Tarweed
    6. Hawkweed
 
Middle Ridge Fire road to the Sunset Trail Connector
       Tarweed
       Pyrolia Picta
       Hawkweed
    7. Two Eyed Violet
    8. California Hedge Nettle
    9. Redwood Sorrel
     * Huge 8" diameter Mushroom, looks like cracked glazing on its top.
Banana Slugs 5
 
Sunset Trail Connector to Kelly Creek bridge
   10. Milkwort
     * Yellow Spotted Millipede
   (hillside meadow)
       Tarweed
       Ca Hedge Nettle
     * Banana Slug in a Maidenhair Fern; I'm dubbing this one, 'Lady Godiva'.
    11. Blue Witch (one lone flower again!)
    12. Ocean Spray
    13. Blackberry
    14. Dannie's Skullcap (Scutellaria tuberosa 
        Two Eyed Violet
    (end of meadow)
        Redwood Sorrel
      * opening seed pods of Western Wake Robin, Trillium Ovatum, 
    15. Alum Root, or Crevis Heuchera
      * seed pods on spotted? Coral Root Orchid
      * interesting seed heads on the Yerba de Selva
      * reddish bronze seeds on the end of the Fat (False) Solomon's Seal
Banana Slugs 10, total 15
 
Kelly Creek Bridge to east end of Loop Trail
    16. Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus).
        Redwood Violet
        Hawkweed
    17. Yerba De Selva
    18. Yerba Buena
        Milkwort
        Ca Hedge Nettle
        Redwood Sorrel
        Alum Root
Banana Slugs 5, 20 total
 
East end of Loop Trail to west end of Loop Trail
        Ca hedge Nettle
        Alum Root
      * Aquatic Garter Snake (single yellow stripe on his back, probably 2 to 2-1/2 feet long)
    19. Toothwort, with one decaying flower
        Yerba de Selva
Banana Slugs 8, total 28
 
West end of Loop Trail to Timms Creek Trail
    20. Trail Plant (Adenocaulon bicolor)
        Redwood Sorrel
    21. Brook Foam, or Coast Boykinia, Boykinia Elata
        Yerba de Selva
Banana Slugs 11, total 39
 
Timms Creek Trail to Berry Creek Falls viewing bench
    (Timms Creek Trail was named after a Mr. Timms, the trail follows the West Branch 
	of the Waddell Creek up to Sunset Trail)
        Brook Foam
    22. Elks Clover/Spikenard
        Redwood Sorrel
        Ca Hedge Nettle
        Trail Plant (Adenocaulon bicolor)
        Redwood Violet
        Alum Root
        Burning Bush
    23. Western azalea
        Hawkweed
Banana Slugs, 13, total 52, They are taking over, and I haven't seen one with a note book
and pen yet!
 
Berry Creek Falls viewing bench to Silver falls
        Redwood Violet
    24. Leopard lily (a.k.a. Tiger lily or Panther lily), Lilium pardalinum. Orange.
    25. Sugar Scoop/False Mitrewort
        Ca Hedge Nettle
      * Clintonia with seed heads, I counted 50 individual pods.
        Brook Foam (Boykinia Elata)
    26. Mountain Boykinia? Boykinia major
        Pacific Starflower
      * Lady Ferns by the stream are so spectacular
        Wintergreen, Pyrolia Picta
 Banana Slugs none, total stands at 52
 
Silver Falls to the Sunset Trail Camp marker
      * water flow is noticeable less in West Berry Creek from last month
        Milkwort
        Hawkweed
No Banana Slugs
 
Sunset Trail Camp marker to east Berry Creek bridge
(This is a chaparral area, till noted again)
    27. California False Lupine, Thermopsis macrophylla
        Tarweed
        Hawkweed
    28. Bush Lupine
    29. Chamise
    30. Toyon
      * Green cones on the young Knobcone Pines, that have grown up since the fire about 4 years ago.
    31. Yerba Santa
(End of chaparral area)
        Ca Hedge Nettle
    32. Wintergreen, Pyrola Bracteata
No Banana Slugs still, since crossing the West Waddell, and going up to the viewing bench
 
East Berry Creek bridge to Timms Creek Trail
        Sugar-Scoop/False Mitrewort
    33. The last of the Globe Lilies. This one also has the three-sided seeds on it.
        Hawkweed
        Milkwort
        Wintergreen, Pyrola Picta
        Redwood Sorrel
        Alum Root
        Pyrola Picta and Pyrola Bracteata together
        Two Eyed Violet
        Tarweed
    34. White Milkwort
    35. Spotted Coral Root Orchid "unspotted, yellow variety"
Banana Slugs, 2, total now 54
 
Timms Creek Trail to West Waddell Creek bridge
        Spotted Coral Root Orchid "unspotted yellow variety"
      * several 4" to 8" diameter Mushrooms, with the 'Cracked Glazing' on top
        Spotted Coral Root Orchid, 'unspotted red variety'
Banana Slugs 1, 55 total
 
West Waddell Creek bridge to Skyline to the Sea Trail connector
        Sugar-scoop/False Mitrewort
        Milkwort
        Spotted Coral Root Orchid "unspotted yellow variety"
        Redwood violet
        Wintergreen, Pyrolia Picta
    36. Harebell
      * A Raven on the ground, and he is letting me point my silver-cased camera at him! (most animals
        seem to hate my silver-cased camera, my black one doesn't seem to bother most, even when it
        flashes.)
        Two Eyed Violet
    37. Helleborine (European equivalent of the Stream Orchid)
    38. Pearly Everlasting
    39. Hairy Honeysuckle
    (another hillside meadow)
        Tarweed
    40. Wild Strawberry
    41. Orange Sticky monkey Flower
    42. Coyote Mint
    (end of meadow)
      * bulging seed pods of spotted Coral Root Orchid
        Ca Hedge Nettle
        Wintergreen, Pyrola Bracteata
        Two Eyed Violet
    43. One Leaved Onion
Banana Slugs 5 more, total 60!
 
Sunset/Skyline to the Sea Connector Trail to Middle Ridge Fire Road
        One Leaved Onion
    
 Ridge Fire Road to Park HQ
        No more flowers on the trail down back into the Park basin
      * Acorn Woodpecker near the parking Kiosk, is gathering small grains of gravel, and letting me
        take pictures, though he is a bit unsure of me at even 25 feet.

As always, my thanks to the Trail crews of the State Park System, and the several volunteer trail crews,
some of whom have been at this for 30 years.
There is a huge amount of unseen work that they do to make this part of the park accessible to us. The crews are usually unseen in the background, keeping these trails open for us.
I know personally, that there is a lot of maintenance that happens on these trail, that most of us wouldn't even notice.
Take these hikes in the winter and spring months, after the storms have knocked down dozens of trees across each trail, and see what a difference it is!

See also these pages

Forest and Tree Home,
Glossary pages: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z.
Copyright © 2002-2012 by J. Zimmerman and Scott Peden.

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