Hood Mountain: re-visiting post 2017 wildfires
June 13, 2023
Hood Mountain Regional Park, Santa Rosa
The weather was perfect: fog, about 57 degrees at the start. About 65 and blue skies by mid-way. My two hiking buddies were perfect. The lingering wildflowers were amazing, especially the Orange-bush Monkeyflower!
Route from Pythian Road Day-use: Lower Johnson Ridge--Pond to Merganser Pond--Valley View--Pond to Blue Heron Pond for lunch--Orchard Meadow--back down Lower Johnson Ridge. Great conditioning hike. You can't beat going out to parks on weekdays! We are so fortunate we can. I haven't been up Valley View and Orchard Meadow since about 2013, way before the 2017 Nun's Fire. Another park I know so very well from many many hours on these trails.
Saw lots of butterflies but didn't take the time to try to get photos. Also saw and heard more birds than ever before the fires. At Blue Heron Pond, watched multiple Western Tanager feeding in the conifers.
Sarah Reid
California Naturalist & SCRP Trail Patrol
Observations
Photos / Sounds
What
California Black Oak (Quercus kelloggii)Observer
wildmare64Description
Survived 2017 Nun's AND 2020 Glass Fires!
Photos / Sounds
What
California Swamp Thistle (Cirsium douglasii)Observer
wildmare64Description
This large thistle may be a native per previous observation by CNPS noted by Volunteer Coordinator. Or, it might be bull thistle ?? Very large encroaching patches in the historic Orchard Meadow, growing gangbusters since the 2017 Nun's Fire and 2020 Glass Fire. There is a nearby perennial spring which encourages this meadow area.
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