This hike was very special for me. There was no one on the trail and I spent my time appreciating the utter magnificence of nature. It is beautiful beyond any words I could string together. I feel such joy and love that is incomparable when wandering through a forest and experiencing the purest resplendence.
I sobbed, not from sadness, but from deep gratefulness to be able to be in the presence of this grandeur. It was gift and one that I will never forget. One of the greatest lessons I have learned from nature is that there is no limit to love and wonder, nature proves that.
Normally I hike with my AirPods in, but I took them out and listened to the birds. Now that I know their calls, I can call back to some, specifically the Spotted Towhees which seemed to follow me the entire trail. The butterflies were drifting throughout the forest and drank from the river while I watched their gentle and inquisitive ways. The swallowtails kept me company and followed me to the end.
Nature is so precious. Nature is love. Please do everything in your power to protect our magnificent planet. I hope you can go outside and sit in its presence and connect with the love that surrounds you.
Antirrhinum nuttallianum or Nuttall’s Snapdragon
Drymocallis glandular or Sticky Cinquefoil
Collinsia heterophylla or Purple Chinese Houses
Collinsia heterophylla or Purple Chinese Houses
Scrophularia californica or California Bee Plant
Lathyrus vestiges or Pacific Pea
Eriophyllum confertiflorum or Yellow Yarrow
Lupinous polyphyllus or Large-leaved Lupine
Delphinium or Larkspur
Limulus brevipes or Wide Throated Yellow Monkeyflower
Calochortus splendens or Splendid Mariposa Lily
Marah macrocarpa or Wild Cucumber
Madia sativa or Coast Tarweed
Displaces aurantiacus or Orange Monkeyflower
Phacelia minor or California Bluebell
Keckiella antirrhionoides or Chaparral Beardtongue
Solanum elaegnifolium orSilverleaf Nightshade
Hesperoyucca whipplei or Chaparral Yucca
Trifolium wildenovii or Tomcat Clover
Pholistoma auritum or Fiesta Flower
Unable to identify
Venegasia carpesioides or Canyon Sunflower
Lonicera subspicata or Southern Honeysuckle
Cirsium occidentale or Cobweb Thistle
Unable to identify
Rhus ovata or Sugar Sumac
Phacelia or Scorpionweed
Silene laciniata or Cardinal Catchfly
Eriodictyon crassifolium or Thickleaf Yerba Santa
Erythranthe guttate or Seep Monkeyflower
If you do go on a hike, please leave no trace. Please do not leave trash. Please do not pick the flowers or trample them. Please keep an eye out for creatures on the ground so as not to harm or startle them. Please keep your dog off the trail.