Forest Home

California Redwoods and Waterfalls:
Big Basin Berry Creek Falls
May

May 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.]

May gives us huge numbers of wildflowers and banana slugs:
Flower are our stars 2008 (counter-clockwise) by J. Zimmerman and Charles Baughman.
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: No 2003 report [but flowers are annotated in alphabetic checklist of flowers].
Flower are our stars 2002 by Scott Peden.

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).
Flower are our stars Alphabetic checklist of flowers seen in May.
Birds are our stars Birds heard in May in Big Basin S.P. by nature photographer Don Maier. 		Globe Lily by Scott Peden
White globe lily (Calochortus albus).
© 2005 by Scott Peden.
Blossoms May-July.

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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. [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.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008 - counter-clockwise.

Report by J. Zimmerman and Charles Baughman.

153 banana slugs.
48 different wildflower species in bloom.
1 aquatic amphibian; 1 terrestrial amphibian; 1 reptile (possibly San Francisco Alligator Lizard).
Birds seen include chickadee and winter wren.
Met 27 people.

3-layer chilly at start (with two light showers in first hour); warming to 2 layers.
Overcast most of day; sunshine in afternoon.
Three observers (8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)

Waterfalls in luminous flow.
Downed trees cleared from the trail.
Thanks to * our heroes, the Big Basin volunteer trail-clearing crews.
Slug and flower graphs (in new window).
(Access Scott's Flower Photos in his on-line portfolio.)
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Flowers (alphabetically): [IN PROGRESS!]

  1. Alum root (a.k.a. crevice heuchera or small-flowered heuchera) (Heuchera micrantha). The petals of this flower curl back.
  2. Bedstraw a.k.a. Cleavers (Galium aparine). Tiny white flowers.
  3. Blue Dicks (Brodiaea pulchella).
  4. Bush Poppy (Dendromecon rigida). Yellow.
  5. California (or Pacific) blackberry (Rubus ursinus). White.
  6. California broom, a.k.a. deerweed (Lotus Scoparius). Yellow and red.
  7. California strawberry (Fragaria californica).
  8. California wild lilac (a.k.a. California Blue Brush) (Ceanothus thyrsiflorus).
  9. Coltsfoot (Petasites frigidus).
  10. Dannie's Skullcap (Scutellaria tuberosa).
  11. ["unique"] Forget-me-not (ALIEN).
  12. Hairy star tulip (Calochortus Tolmiei) (white).
  13. Hooker's fairy bell (Disporum hookeri).
  14. Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum).
  15. Inside-out flower (Vancouveria planipetala).
  16. Iris: Fernald's or Coastal Iris (Iris fernaldii). [Pale creamy yellow flowers. Low ovary. Narrow leaves; slightly dusty.]
  17. Lily: Star lily or Fremont's star lily ( Zygadenus fremontii). Star-shaped flowers on a 2-foot stem.
  18. Madrone (Arbutus menziesii).
  19. Manzanita: small-leaved (sensitive) manzanita .
  20. Miner's Lettuce (Montia perfoliata).
  21. Orange sticky monkey flower (orange).
  22. Pacific star flower (Trientalis latifolia).
  23. Poisoned oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum). Greenish white.
  24. Popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys nothofulvus). White.
  25. Red clintonia (Clintonia andrewsiana).
  26. Redwood sorrel (Oxalis oregana). Pink; sometimes white, mauve, or bluish.
  27. Redwood violet (Viola sempervirens).
  28. Salal (Gaultheria shallon).
  29. Solomon's seal: Branched or Fat Solomon's seal (Smilacina racemosa).
  30. Solomon's seal: Star or Slim Solomon's seal (Smilacina stellata).
  31. ["unique"] Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus). White.
  32. Toothwort (Dentaria californica).
  33. Two-eyed violet (Viola ocellata).
  34. Warty-leaved ceanothus. Light Blue.
  35. Western azalea (Rhododendron occidentale) (cream).
  36. Western wake robin (Trillium ovatum).
  37. Western wood anemone (a.k.a. Wind flower or Oregon anemone) (Anemone oregana). White.
  38. ["early"] White-flowered hawkweed (Hieracium albiflorum). White.
  39. ["unique"] Wild ginger (Asarum caudatum). Maroon.
  40. Wood rose (Rosa gymnocarpa). Short, straight, delicate spines.
  41. Wood sweet cicely (a.k.a. Mountain sweet cicely) (Osmorhiza chilensis).
  42. Yellow sanicle (a.k.a. snakeroot) Sanicula arctopoides.
  43. Yerba Buena (Good Herb) (Satureja douglasii (light blue).
  44. Yerba de selva (a.k.a. Weed of the Woods) (Whipplea modesta). Tiny white flower with soft opposite leaves.
  45. Yerba Santa (Holy Herb) (a.k.a. California mountain balm) (Eriodictyon californicum).
  46. CB checking: o Pink (?cranes bill type?) in bud with opposite leaves: seen on Sunset between Middle Ridge Fire Road and Connector to Sky-Sea trail.
  47. CB checking: o Oak like tree with 3" yellow pendants. Interior Live Oak leaves are narrow and pointed.
  48. CB checking: o Lupine with pin stripes.
  49. CB checking: o White 4(?)-petal small, on Sky-Sea meadow (where we didn't see blue witch). Small 5-lobed opposite leaves.

Wednesday, May 2, 2007 - counter-clockwise.

Report by J. Zimmerman.

122 banana slugs.
38 different wildflower species in bloom.
29 (all terrestrial) newts.
Two yellow-spotted millipedes.
We list the wildflowers below in the order that we encountered them
for the first time on this COUNTER-CLOCKWISE hike.

4-layer cold at start, warming to 2 layers. Raining, lightening to showers, and finally overcast with erratic sun.
8:10 a.m. - 3:50 p.m. Two observers. Met over 70 hikers, primarily in two school groups.
Thanks to * our heroes, the Big Basin volunteer trail-clearing crews.

Slug and flower graphs (in new window).
(Access Scott's Flower Photos in his on-line portfolio.)
Support us - buy what you want at Amazon


At the Ranger Station HQ:
  1. Bedstraw a.k.a. Cleavers (Galium aparine). Tiny white flowers.
  2. Western bittercress (Cardamine oligosperma). A.k.a. Few-seeded bittercress [JH Thomas] or Popweed [David Auerbach]. Tiny white flowers; tiny opposite leaves.
  3. California strawberry (Fragaria californica).
  4. ["unique"] Forget-me-not (ALIEN).
  5. Miner's Lettuce (Montia perfoliata).
  6. Yellow sanicle (a.k.a. snakeroot) Sanicula arctopoides.

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

    By Middle Ridge Fire Road (on Sunset Trail): 2 new slugs; 2 total.

  7. Yerba de selva (a.k.a. Weed of the Woods) (Whipplea modesta).
  8. Redwood violet (yellow) (Viola sempervirens).
  9. Two-eyed violet (Viola ocellata).
  10. Iris: Mountain iris (Iris douglasiana).

    By Sky-Line-to-the-Sea Trail Connector (on Sunset Trail): 1 new slug; 3 total.

  11. Redwood sorrel (Oxalis oregana). Pink.
  12. Hairy star tulip (Calochortus Tolmiei) (white).
  13. ["unique"] White globe lily (Calochortus albus).
  14. Hooker's fairy bell (Disporum hookeri).
  15. Woodland madia (a.k.a. tarweed) (Madia madioides).
  16. Fat (or False) Solomon's seal.
  17. Pacific star flower (Trientalis latifolia).
  18. Madrone.
  19. ["unique"] Vetch.
  20. Red clintonia (Clintonia andrewsiana).

    By West Waddell Creek Bridge (on Sunset Trail): 12 new slugs; 15 total. First 14 newts (terrestrial).

    By Timms Creek Trail (on Sunset Trail): 3 new slugs; 18 total. 4 terrestrial newts: 18 total newts.

  21. Wood rose (Rosa gymnocarpa). Short, straight, delicate spines.

    By East Berry Creek Bridge (on Sunset Trail): 19 new slugs; 37 total. 3 terrestrial newts: 21 total newts.

  22. ["unique"] Salal (Gaultheria shallon).
  23. Little yellow composite.
  24. Huckleberry (white).
  25. Small-leaved Manzanita (Sensitive Manzanita) in bloom (white).
  26. ["unique"] California broom, a.k.a. deerweed, Lotus Scoparius (yellow and red).
  27. ["unique"] Yerba Santa (Holy Herb) (a.k.a. California mountain balm) (Eriodictyon californicum).
  28. Yellow bush poppy.
  29. California wild lilac (a.k.a. California Blue Brush) (Ceanothus thyrsiflorus).
  30. Orange sticky monkey flower (orange).

    By Sunset Camp Connector Trail: 2 new slugs; 39 total.

  31. Wild ginger (Asarum caudatum). Maroon.
  32. ["unique"] Toothwort. Pink.
  33. Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus). White.

    By Silver Falls: 0 new slugs or newts.

  34. Western wake robin (Trillium Ovatum).
  35. California (or Pacific) blackberry (Rubus ursinus).
  36. Inside-out flower (Vancouveria planipetala).

    By Berry Creek Falls Bench: 10 new slugs; 47 total. 1 terrestrial newt: 22 total newts.

  37. Coltsfoot (Petasites frigidus).

    By Berry Creek Falls view from Seat: 0 new slugs; 47 total. 0 more newts: 22 total newts.

    By Waddell Creek Bridge: 1 new slug; 48 total.

    By Timms Creek Trail: 7 new slugs; 55 total. 4 more newts: 26 total newts.

    By West (lower) End of the connector trail: 13 new slugs; 68 total. 1 more newt: 27 total newts.

    By East (upper) End of the connector trail: 5 new slugs; 73 total. 0 more newts: 27 total newts.

    By Kelly Creek Bridge: 4 new slugs; 77 total. 0 more newts: 27 total newts.

  38. ["unique"] Douglas' Nightshade (Solanum douglasii). White.

    By Sunset connector: 21 new slugs; 98 total. 0 more newts: 27 total newts.

    By Middle Ridge Fire Road: 19 new slugs; 117 total.

  39. Lily: Star lily or Fremont's star lily ( Zygadenus fremontii). Star-shaped flowers on a 2-foot stem.

    Arriving back at HQ via Sky-Line-to-the-Sea Trail: 5 new slug; 122 total. 2 more newts: 29 total newts.

Wednesday, May 3, 2006.

Report by J. Zimmerman.

Thanks to Hooray for crews our heroes, the trail-clearing crews, for their great clearing of the downed trees reported earlier this year. We saw three CCC teams hard at work today, and delightfully cheerful and informative. We appreciate the huge amount of work they do to make this part of the park accessible to us.

Humid and damp.
2-layer cool; 2 team members. (9:15 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.)
Gorgeous waterfalls.
* Current RECORD of 363 Banana Slugs.
29 different wildflower species in bloom.
No newts.
A completely remarkable (first time seen) plump and lively black shrew.
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 -- and the first banana slug:
  1. ["unique"] Bedstraw a.k.a. Cleavers (Galium aparine). Tiny white flowers.
  2. ["unique"] Bur chervil (Anthriscus caucalis) (ALIEN). 5 small white wedge-shaped petals with straight wide ends.
  3. California strawberry (Fragaria californica).
  4. ["unique"] Forget-me-not (ALIEN).
  5. Huckleberry (white).
  6. ["unique"] Miner's Lettuce (Montia perfoliata).
  7. Redwood sorrel (Oxalis oregana). White; sometimes mauve, pinkish, or bluish.
  8. ["unique"] Star lily or Fremont's star lily (Zygadenus fremontii).
  9. ["unique"] Yellow sanicle (a.k.a. snakeroot) Sanicula arctopoides.

    Take Sky-Line-to-the-Sea Trail toward Middle Ridge Fire Road.

  10. Redwood violet (a.k.a. Evergreen violet) (Viola sempervirens).
  11. Western wake robin (Trillium Ovatum).
  12. Fat (or False) Solomon's seal.
  13. Two-eyed violet (Viola ocellata).
  14. Toothwort (Dentaria californica, var. integrifolia). White, sometimes with lavender tinge.

    By Middle Ridge Fire Road: slug count so far is 9.

    By Sunset Connector Trail junction: 38 new slugs, 47 total.

  15. ["unique"] Wood sweet cicely (a.k.a. Mountain sweet cicely) (Osmorhiza chilensis). Greenish flowers; long, smooth, sharp-pointed seeds.
  16. Yerba de selva (a.k.a. Weed of the Woods) (Whipplea modesta).
  17. ["unique"] Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus). White.

    By Kelly Creek Bridge: 34 new slugs, 81 total. An one energetic black shrew.

    By East End (upper) of the side trail: 15 new slug, 96 total.

  18. Western wood anemone (a.k.a. Wind flower or Oregon anemone) (Anemone oregana). White.
  19. Hooker's fairy bell (Disporum hookeri). Flowers are hidden in pairs under the ends of the twin leaves at the end of the stalks.

    By West End (lower) of the side trail: 30 new slugs, 126 total.

    By Timms Creek Trail: 29 new slugs, 155 total.

    By West Waddell Creek Bridge: 36 new slugs, 191 total.

  20. ["unique"] Pacific star flower (Trientalis latifolia).

    By Berry Creek Falls first view (at Seat): 5 new slugs, 196 total.

    By Berry Creek Falls viewing platform and bench: 6 new slugs, 202 total.

    By Silver Falls. 25 new slugs, 227 total.

    By Sunset Camp Connector Trail junction with Sunset Trail: 6 new slug, 233 total.

  21. Iris: Mountain iris (Iris douglasiana). Narrow creamy petals with purple veins. Narrow leaves.
  22. Bush Poppy. Yellow.
  23. SYCs: Small Yellow composites.
  24. Brittle-leaved Manzanita.
  25. Heart-leaved or Santa Cruz Mountains Manzanita.
  26. Lupine: blue and white.
  27. Small-leaved Manzanita (Sensitive Manzanita).
  28. ["unique"] California wild lilac (a.k.a. California Blue Brush) (Ceanothus thyrsiflorus).

    By East Berry Creek Bridge: 4 new slugs, 237 total.

  29. ["unique"] Hairy star tulip (Calochortus Tolmiei).

    By Timms Creek Trail junction with Sunset Trail: 36 new slugs, 273 total.

    By Middle Ridge Fire Road: 88 new slugs, 361 total.

    By Dool Trail: 2 new slugs, 363 total.

    By HQ: No additions.

Wednesday, May 4, 2005.

Report by J. Zimmerman.

Humid and damp. Drizzle in last half of hike; solid rain in last quarter.
3-layer cool; solo hike. (9:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.)
Gorgeous waterfalls.
190 Banana Slugs.
50 different wildflower species in bloom.
No newts.
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. ["unique"] Bur chervil (Anthriscus caucalis) (ALIEN). 5 small white wedge-shaped petals with straight wide ends.
  3. California strawberry (Fragaria californica).
  4. Wood sweet cicely (a.k.a. Mountain sweet cicely) (Osmorhiza chilensis). Greenish flowers; long, smooth, sharp-pointed seeds.
  5. ["unique"] Forget-me-not (ALIEN).
  6. Huckleberry (white).
  7. Miner's Lettuce (Montia perfoliata).
  8. Redwood sorrel (Oxalis oregana). White; sometimes mauve, pinkish, or bluish.
  9. ["unique"] Scarlet pimpernel (ALIEN).
  10. Lily: Star lily or Fremont's star lily ( Zygadenus fremontii).
  11. Rushes: at least two types in flower.
  12. Western azalea (Rhododendron occidentale) (cream).
  13. ["unique"] Yellow sanicle (a.k.a. snakeroot) Sanicula arctopoides.

    Take Sky-Line-to-the-Sea Trail toward Middle Ridge Fire Road.

  14. Yerba de selva (a.k.a. Weed of the Woods) (Whipplea modesta).
  15. California wild lilac (a.k.a. California Blue Brush) (Ceanothus thyrsiflorus).
  16. Redwood violet (a.k.a. Evergreen violet) (Viola sempervirens).
  17. Pacific star flower (Trientalis latifolia).
  18. Iris: Mountain iris (Iris douglasiana). Creamy petals with purple veins.
  19. Wood rose (Rosa gymnocarpa). Short, straight, delicate spines.

    By Middle Ridge Fire Road: slug count so far is 8.

  20. Dannie's Skullcap (Scutellaria tuberosa. 5-petaled, 2-lipped tubular flower (mint family).
  21. Hill star (Lithophragma heterophylla [leaf loving]). White. 5 petals. Flower base truncate or rounded ("U-shaped").
  22. Toothwort (Dentaria californica, var. integrifolia). White, sometimes with lavender tinge.
  23. Two-eyed violet (Viola ocellata).
  24. California hedge nettle (Stachys bulleta). Not a true nettle, so you may touch it painlessly.

    By Sunset Connector Trail junction: 17 new slugs, 25 total.

  25. California (or Pacific) blackberry (Rubus ursinus).
  26. ["unique"] Douglas' Nightshade (Solanum douglasii). White.
  27. Coastal onion (Wild onion) (Allium Dichlamydeum).
  28. Woodland madia (a.k.a. tarweed) (Madia madioides).

    By Kelly Creek Bridge: 27 new slugs, 52 total.

    By East End (upper) of the side trail: 11 new slug, 63 total.

  29. Western wake robin (Trillium Ovatum).

    By West End (lower) of the side trail: 29 new slugs, 92 total.

  30. Hooker's fairy bell (Disporum hookeri). Flowers are hidden in pairs under the ends of the twin leaves at the end of the stalks.
  31. Western wood anemone (a.k.a. Wind flower or Oregon anemone) (Anemone oregana). White.

    By Timms Creek Trail: 18 new slugs, 110 total.

  32. Alum root (a.k.a. crevice heuchera or small-flowered heuchera) (Heuchera micrantha). The petals of this flower curl back.
  33. Inside-out flower (Vancouveria planipetala).
  34. Fat (or False) Solomon's seal.

    By West Waddell Creek Bridge: 18 new slugs, 128 total.

    By Berry Creek Falls first view (at Seat): 2 new slugs, 130 total.

    By Berry Creek Falls viewing platform and bench: 5 new slugs, 135 total.

  35. Red clintonia (Clintonia andrewsiana).

    By Silver Falls. 12 new slugs, 147 total.

    By Sunset Camp Connector Trail junction with Sunset Trail: 1 new slug, 148 total.

  36. Bush Poppy. Yellow.
  37. Trefoil: Small-flowered Trefoil (Lotus Micranthus).
  38. SYCs: Small Yellow composites.
  39. BYCs: Big Yellow composites.
  40. Yerba Santa (Holy Herb) (a.k.a. California mountain balm) (Eriodictyon californicum). Blue.
  41. Lupine: blue with red at front of banner petal.
  42. California milkwort (Polygala californica). Rose/blue/purplish flowers.
  43. Salal (Gaultheria shallon).
  44. Small-leaved Manzanita (Sensitive Manzanita).

    By East Berry Creek Bridge: 2 new slugs, 150 total.

  45. Hairy star tulip (Calochortus Tolmiei).

    By Timms Creek Trail junction with Sunset Trail: 5 new slugs, 155 total.

    By West Waddell Creek Bridge: 2 new slugs, 157 total.

  46. Madrone.
  47. Blue Dicks (Brodiaea pulchella).
  48. Orange Sticky Monkey Flower (Diplacus aurantiacus).
  49. * White globe lily (Calochortus albus).
    Tinged slightly peach.
    This 3-petaled globe-like flower hangs like a delicate lantern from a slender stem; it is one of the most beautiful flowers in this area.
  50. Vetch.

    By Sky-Line-to-the-Sea Trail Connector junction with Sunset Trail: 27 new slugs, 184 total.

    By Middle Ridge Fire Road: 5 new slugs, 189 total.

    By Dool Trail: 1 new slug, 190 total.

    By HQ: No additions.

Thursday May 6th, 2004.

Report by J. Zimmerman.
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The B-cubed-S-cubed team (SP, DA, JZ) was victorious!
231 Banana Slugs - just beating the previous world record in 2003.
61 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.)

3 newts (aquatic with tails and gills) in water at Berry Creek East (Sunset trail) and one (terrestial) on the trail itself.
1 legless lizard (Salamander subspecies)
Lots of caterpillars.

Note: We list the flowers below in the order that we encountered them on the trail.


Starting with the flowers at Ranger Station HQ:
  1. California wild lilac (Ceanothus Thyrsiflorus) (blue). (Also known as California Blue Bush)
  2. Forget-me-not (blue).
  3. Tarweed (yellow).
  4. Western azalea (Rhododendron occidentale) (cream).
  5. Wood strawberry (white).
  6. Yellow sanicle (snakeroot) (yellow).
  7. Yerba Buena (Good Herb) (Satureja douglasii (light blue).

    Taking Sky-Line-to-the-Sea Trail toward Berry Creek Falls:

  8. Yerba de selva (white).
  9. Redwood violet (yellow).
  10. Pacific starflower (pink star).
  11. Fat (False) Solomon's seal (white).
  12. Pacific mountain iris (creamy yellow to dark blue).
  13. Two-eyed violet (white with purple eye spots and purple back to top two petals).
  14. Alum root (white). [Aka small flowered Heuchera, small flowered Alumroot.]
  15. Globe lily (white, tinted slightly peach). [This is JZ's favorite of all our wonderful flowers.]
  16. Star lily (white). (Zygadenus fremontii). Star-shaped flowers on a 2-foot stem.

    By Middle Ridge Fire Road: Nanner count so far is 4.

  17. Dannie's Skullcap (Scutellaria tuberosa.
  18. Woodland star (white).
  19. Orange sticky monkey flower (orange).
  20. Toothwort (white to lavender).
  21. Redwood sorrel (pink to white).
  22. California hedge nettle (pink).
  23. Red Clintonia.
  24. Milkwort (rose-purple pea-like flowers on an herbaceous plant).

    By Sunset connector: 21 new nanners, 25 total.

  25. Diffuse Cinquefoil (yellow). (Potentilla millegrana)
  26. California blackberry (white).
  27. Blue witch (blue with gold center).
  28. Douglas nightshade (white with gold center).
  29. Coastal onion (Wild onion) (Allium Dichlamydeum).
  30. Wood rose (Rosa gymnocarpa). Short, straight, delicate spines. [Possibly another rose is in bloom also.]
  31. Honeysuckle (pink). (Lonicera hispidula)
  32. Prostrate honeysuckle (cream). [This lies on the ground, instead of being upright. It had green scaly flowers coming from the leaf axis.]

    By Kelly Creek Bridge: 39 New Nanners, 64 total.

  33. Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus). White.
  34. Greater vetch (mauve). Aka Giant Vetch. (Vicia gigantea).
  35. Western wake robin (Trillium) (white, pink).

    By East (upper) End of the "Joe Metty reroute" (connector trail): 20 New Nanners, 84 total.

  36. Hooker's fairy bell (Disporum hookeri) (white).
  37. Bedstraw a.k.a. Cleavers (Galium aparine) (white).

    By West (lower) End of the "Joe Metty reroute" (connector trail): 18 New Nanners, 102 total.

    By Timms Creek Trail: 29 New Nanners, 131 total.

  38. Inside-out flower (white).
  39. Coast Boykinia (white). Aka Brook Foam. (Boykinia Elata).
  40. Sugar scoop (saxifrage) (white). (Tiatella unifoliata).

    By BC Falls Bench: 17 New Nanners, 148 total.

  41. Torry's or redwood Pea. [Peas have rounder leaves compared with the vetch's pointier leaves.]
  42. Wintergreen (red). Pyrola Picta var. aphylla.

    By Silver Falls. 23 Nanners, 171 total

  43. Hairy star tulip (Calochortus Tolmiei) (white).
  44. Wild Ginger (maroon).
  45. Huckleberry (white).

    By Sunset camp connector trail: 4 New Nanners, 174 total.

  46. California Butter Weed (yellow). Senecio aronicoides
  47. Bush poppy (yellow).
  48. California broom (yellow).
  49. Chamise (white).
  50. Woodland groundsel (yellow).
  51. Hairy cats ear (yellow). Aka Spotted cats ear. [You might think 'Cats Ear' is a 'tall dandelion'. However, it is not a dandelion but, like the dandelion, is in the 'Chicory Tribe'.]
  52. Yerba santa (white).
  53. Lupine (blue).
  54. Sensitive manzanita (white).
  55. Salal (white).

    By Sunset camp connector trail: 3 New Nanners, 177 total.
    By East Berry Creek Bridge, 3 Newts - Aquatic with tails and gills.

  56. Douglas iris (Iris douglasiana) (white; also blue).
  57. Sedge (green).
  58. Spotted coral root (red).

    By Sunset trail at Timms Creek Trail: 9 New Nanners, 186 total.

    By Sunset trail at West Waddell Creek Bridge: 6 more Nanners total 192.
    Also 1 more Newt (terrestial), total 4.

  59. Blue dicks (blue).
  60. Small-flowered Trefoil. (Blooms white and flower turns red with age.) The specimen we saw had a red and a white flower. (Lotus Micranthus).
  61. Varied leaved Collomia. (lacy leaved small plant with a small purple flower) (Collomia heterophylla).

    By Sky-Line-to-the-Sea Trail Connector/on Sunset Trail: 35 New Nanners, 227 total.
    1 legless lizard (Salamander subspecies)

    By Middle Ridge Fire Road: 3 New Nanners, 230 total.

    By Dool Trail: 1 New Nanners, 231 total.

Monday May 10th, 2002.

Report by Scott Peden, Photographer and Docent at Big Basin State Park.

123 Banana Slugs - almost 3 times the previous high on this trail!
41 Different flowers in Bloom - a new record since the beginning of the year,
and a "high for one day" in the 6 years that I have been doing flower walks at Big Basin.
(See how to access Scott's Flower Photos in his on-line portfolio.)
(Look at slug and flower count graph in a new window.)

Note: I list the flowers below in the order that I encountered them on the trail.

From the Ranger Station/HQ, taking Sky-Line-to-the-Sea Trail toward Berry Creek Falls:
1.	Western azaleas (Rhododendron occidentale), to your left as you head for the Campfire center.
2.	Redwood Violets, not just alone, but in patches too!
3.	Yerba de Selva, alone at first, then bunches.
4.	Pacific Starflower. Note how the flower seems to float above the leaves?
5.	Hooker's fairy bell (Disporum hookeri); you have to look under the 2 outside leaves to find the flowers; some are making seeds now.
6.	Two Eyed Violets! Do note that they have two eyes on the back of the flower too! On different petals no less!
7.	Pacific Mountain Iris (narrow leaves, flowers pale yellow, brown, blue highlights at times too).
8.	Star (Fremont) Lily, just as you get to Middle Ridge fire road.
 
From Middle Ridge fire road:
>	Golden Backed Ferns! 
>	Globe Lilies about to open. Look for the wide 'single blade of grass (leaf), with a stem above it'. 
9.	Woodland Star.
>	Flowers (seen again - see numbers above) 7,6,5.
>	Banana Slugs! Counted 7.
10.	Toothwort. Note that these have 2 different leaves: Molar-like leaves at ground level, 
    and "eye teeth" leaves going up the flower stalk.
11.	Redwood Sorrel.
12.	California Hedge Nettle. This is a fuzzy plant, with 'rounded points' on the leaves. 
    [By contrast, if you see a plant whose leaves are fuzzy with sharp points, like a usable saw, 
	you have a STINGING NETTLE - ouch! Big difference!]
13.	Vetch. There are several varieties in the park; only this variety is in bloom at this point.
14.	Fat (False) Solomon's Seal. This doesn't branch like the Hooker's fairy bell (Disporum hookeri), and the flowers 
    come out from the end of the last 2 leaves, instead of under them.
 
From Sunset Connector
>	Flowers (seen again - see numbers above) 11,6,7,3,2,4,5
>	Banana Slugs! Counted 17 on this stretch alone! Total now 24!
>	Several flowers at the Hillside meadow!
15.	Blue Witch. On your left, just after the miniature seasonal crick, it is climbing on Honey Suckle.
16.	Miners Lettuce
17.	Dannie's Skullcap. Small blue flowers. Ground creeper, leaves similar to Yerba Buena, but this doesn't have 
    the minty smell to it. On the right side of the trail, at your feet and up the hillside.
18.	Coastal Onion (Wild Onion) Allium Dichlamydeum.
19.	Yellow Marsh Flower (actual name unknown).
20.	California Blackberries in bloom. This is a fairly unusual sight.
21.	Wood (wild) Rose, large bunches of it down the hillside to your left.
22.	Flowering Currant, is a bush, up the hillside, just as you are leaving the 'hillside meadow'
>	Spikenard (Elks Clover) beautiful large leaves, but no flowers yet. Near Kelly Creek.
 
From Kelly Creek Bridge
>	Flowers # 3,4,2,11,10
>	Banana Slugs! Counted 19! Total now 43! This is as many as I have seen on the whole trail last month, 
    which was a record count for us!
23.	Red Clintonia, named after Mr. Clinton, no not President Clinton! DeWitt Clinton, naturalist and governor 
    of New York in the early 19th Century (per National Audubon). Large showy leathery leaves, the flower stalk 
	is in the middle of the rosette, and looks like a bunch of white berries, maturing to reddish flowers, 
	then bluish berries.
24.	California Wild Lilac (Ceanothus Thyrsiflorus). There are several right at the bridge.
25.	Thimble Berry, also right at the Bridge.
 
The East End (uphill side) of the Alternate Loop Trail
>	Spikenard/Elksclover. Note the Huge leaves!
>	Flowers 10,14,5,4,3,2.
>	Nanner Slugs: 12 more for a total of 55.
26.	Western Wake Robin (Trillium) 3 leaves, 3 petals to the leaf, they open white and turn Pink. The ones that are 
    left are now all pink.
27.	Windflowers (now only their Burr like seeds are showy, and their leaves are getting huge!). We will see it 
    blooming later.
 
West End of the alternate Loop Trail
>	Banannannanna Slugs 13 more for a total of 68! It is confirmed. They are invading.
>	Flowers 11,3,26,10,14
28.	Inside-out Flower
 
Timms Creek Trail/Sky-Line-to-the-Sea Trail side.
>	Banana Slugs, 18 more, total 86.
>	Flowers 14,23,2,10,4,24,26,28.
>	I am noticing the whorls of leaves from some type of Lily that will bloom soon.
29.	Saxifrage (sugar Scoop) little white flowers on branches from long stems coming up from the forest floor.
30.	Tarweed/Madia (fuzzy long narrow leaves, flower is yellow composite, and looks as if someone pulled a few of 
    the petals off in one or more places; this makes it easy to identify.)
 
From Berry Creek Falls Bench
>	This is the first sight of the falls, breath taking, and a place to sit, like a civilized person.
>	Flowers from here, 2,3,11,10,4,7,14,23,26,28.
>	No New flowers to add to the list, this is the first time in 5+ miles that there hasn't been a 'new discovery'.
>	Banana Slugs, 10 to the west Berry Creek Bridge, and then another 11 to Silver Falls, for 21 in this leg, 
    total stands at 107!!!
>	New Fronds of the Lady Ferns coming up. These are the most divided Ferns in our mountains; they are double pinnate, 
    and a wonderful shiny light green.
>	I found a skeleton, head missing, of a carnivore, the lower jaws were 2 1/4+ inches long, and most of it 
    was still there.
 
From Silver Falls
>	Five Fingered Ferns. As you climb the stairs up the side of the falls, there are several places that you are walking 
    next to and under 'wall hangings' of delicate Five Fingered Ferns
>	Wild Ginger. Not flowering yet, but the leaves are new and beautiful. This is just before you have the rock wall 
    on your right shoulder
>	No new flowers to add to the list, the 'Old friends' are 3,4,5,14,21, and they are easy to miss if you are being 
    impressed by all of the waterfalls, which haven't lost their beauty yet.
>	No banana Slugs, must be hiding under the bushes thumbing their noses at me, while I am looking at the falls 
    and flowers.
 
From Golden Cascade
>	Nutmeg in the trail, Bright shiny flat needles. This is the only other "tree" that has the needles arranged flat, 
    besides the Redwood, and these are much longer and brighter green, and very pointy to! Dried they were used as 
	sewing needles!
>	Redwood Sorrel again.
>	No new flowers or Banana Slugs.
 
From Sunset Camp/Sunset Trail intersection
>	The old favorites are 7,3,6,4,14,11,24,30.
31.	Chamise, just getting ready to bloom.
32.	Bush Poppy, lots of them 4 leafed Yellow flowers.
33.	Huckleberry (white), with flowers! Upside down hurricane lanterns, like the Manzanita, but the leaves are different.
>	Banana Slug, just one, after I could hear the sound of running water down hill from me. Total 108
34.	Yellow flowers, like Sow Thistle, but with geranium type of leaves.
35.	California Broom, this is a native, and is small ( a few inches high to about 1 foot high) very small yellow flowers 
    with red in the center, this comes back strong after a fire like the one in this area about 1999.
36.	Manzanita, the one with the really small leaves (there are 3+ varieties of Manzanita here)
37.	Salal, more hurricane lamp flowers, leaves are dark green and leathery, and are not paired
 
From East Berry Creek Bridge/Sunset Trail
>	The old favorites are 14,3,11,4,7,13,6,21
>	3 Banana Slugs, making a come back in numbers! total now stands at 111!!!
38.	Iris Douglousia, wide lighter green leaves than the Pacific coast/mountain variety, and a Blue Pattern! Gorgeous!
 
From Timms Creek Trail/Sunset Trail
>	A new batch of old friends, 3,14,11,4,13
>	More Lady Ferns, as you cross a muddy area.
>	Now we see the flowers of #27, windflowers in bloom.
>	No Banana Slugs.
 
From West Waddell Creek Bridge/Sunset Trail
>	The flower friends, 11,14,3,4,6,2,7,13,9,5,23
>	Banana Slugs, Wow, 7 more, total 118
39.	Orange Sticky Monkey Flower. Guess what color it is, and what the leaves feel like?
40.	Strawberries, in bloom, and the berries themselves too!
41.	Blue Dicks (Closely related to the Forktooth and Roundtooth Ookow , Lily Family)
 
From the Sky-Line-to-the-Sea Trail Connector/on Sunset Trail
>	No new flowers to greet me, just my old friends 14,7,6,2
>	Banana Slugs, the last of them, 5 more! the last itty Bitty one  (1 and 1/4 inches long) was on a pile of feathers, 
    from maybe a Thrush or Jay, one tough little banana slug to have not only taken the bird, but devoured it all too! 
	Total 123 Nanner slugs today!
 
From Middle Ridge Road/Sunset Trail
>	Only a redwood violet to greet me, but appreciated just the same.
>	No Banana slugs.
 
From Dool Trail/Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail
>	No new flowers back to Park Headquarters

Home Again! What a day!

I took over 500 digital photographs again this month, to record the trail, and I saw almost 3 time as many Banana slugs as I have ever seen on the trail.

41 Different flowers in bloom is a new record since the beginning of the year, and a high for one day in the 6 years that I have been doing flower walks at Big Basin.

Also, thanks to the trail crews. They have made great repairs, most recently to the steep trail above Silver Falls.
Thanks so much for such a great job!

Alphabetic list of flowers seen in May (years spotted in parentheses).

Alphabetic list of Birds heard in May in Big Basin S.P.

Nature photographer Don Maier reported hearing these birds on a 6-mile hike in Big Basin:

He also reports seeing raven and sparrow.

Our continued 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.
They do a huge amount of unseen work to make this part of the park accessible to us.

Respect the Berry Creek Falls Trail, a loop in Big Basin State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Boulder Creek.
Respect the trail restrictions, in courtesy for the Forest and other users.
Hikers only. No dogs. No horses. No mountain bikes.

See also these pages

Buy the Redwood Region Flower Finder Redwood Region Flower Finder : A Guide to Identifying Wildflowers
of The Coastal Fog Belt of California
by Phoebe Watts, Sarah Ellen Watts (Illustrator).
Support us - buy what you want at Amazon Support us in bringing redwood reports to you - buy what you want at Amazon!
Some more hiking suggestions from George Wuerthner. Coast Redwood : A Natural and Cultural History.
Editors Michael G. Barbour, John Evarts, Marjorie Popper.

Forest and Tree Articles - Our Index,
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.
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