laurablatt's Journal

3/2/2017
I arrived at 10 am at Sugarloaf in sunny, mild weather. Along Sonoma creek, the trails were muddy, the soil saturated. Walkways and embankments had washed away in parts, especially on the Nature trail. Several CCC, state crews, and volunteer groups were busy adjusting sandbags, putting down gravel and repairing trail damage.

Trees have not yet leafed out, but Arctostaphylos and Baccharis pilularis are in bloom. I climbed to the top of the small hill at marker 11 to view a large Quercus kelloggii.. The understory contained Umbellaria californica, Pteridium aquilinum, and fallen leaves of Q. kelloggi.

I keyed out ferns near the bridge at marker 13--Polypodium californica and Dryopteris (likely Dryopteris arguta) predominate. I will leave a walk on Brushy Creek trail for another day.

3/19/2017
I arrived at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park at 10 am on a partly cloudy day. Beginning at the amphitheater, portions of Creekside and Hillside trails are closed due to recent rains. Trail repair could take over a month, according to staff at the Visitor Center. Therefore, I have rerouted and expanded the area that I will study. Instead of walking beyond the Neptune trail marker, I will add Lower Bald Mountain trail.

Today, I followed Lower Bald, Meadow and Hillside trails and returned through the campground. Plant communities are Grassland, Oak Woodland , Mixed Evergreen and Riparian (Hillside, Creekside trails).

In grassland along Lower Bald trail, wildflowers are blooming, including Nemophila menziesii var atomaria, Ranunculus, and Primula hendersonii. As I hiked uphill, I noticed signs of serpentine soil. Trees and shrubs included Quercus durata, Quercus agrifolia, Arctostaphylos, Ceanothus, and Umbellaria californica. Toxicodendron diversilobum (Poison Oak) was quite healthy and abundant, sporting an attractive red sheen for spring.

Dichelostemma capitatum and Nemophila menziesii var manziesii grew in semi-shade to sunny, open places near Quercus agricola. Along the shadier moist Hillside and Creekside trails, I found Claytonia, Delphinium, and Cynoglossum grande.

I took herbarium samples as well as photos for iNaturalist.

3/23/2017
I arrived at 10 am in sunny weather and parked near the white barn. I hiked the planet walk (Meadow trail) and returned via Hillside/Creekside and meadow. Wildflowers in bloom included Ranunculus species, Nemophila menziesii, and Dichelostemma capitatum. Acer macrophyllum continued to leaf out along Meadow trail. At the Heritage tree picnic area, several Alnus rhombifolia showed off new leaves and Woodwardia fimbriata, once yellowed, is now a nice shade of green.