Small groves of oaks bordered the road in many places.
Nature Hike, Rancho San Vicente 15 October 2011 |
||||
|
| Following "a road less traveled" into the park. |
|
Small groves of oaks bordered the road in many places. |
|
| Hike participants passing through a shaded avenue. |
|
| This large Deadman's Foot fungus has punched its way through a thick layer of asphalt to reach the light. |
|
| Nearby, and far less noticeable, a pair of dried out Earth Star fungus. |
|
| Hillside Tarweed, a summer-to-fall blooming wildflower. |
|
| Wing pattern of the Common Buckeye resembles the face (eyes/nostrils) of some fantastic creature. |
|
| Pink scallop markings on lower wings identifies this as an Acmon Blue butterfly. |
|
| Following the road as it winds through open grassland. |
|
| Lots of color along the way; trailside wild blackberries. |
|
| A cluster of Blue Oak leaves. |
|
| Crimson leaves, pale seed pods identify this as poison oak. |
|
| The Bay Laurel produces a seed high in protein, a valuable food source for birds and other wildlife. |
|
| In contrast, the large seed pod of a Buckeye Tree is almost too bitter to eat. (Note the poison oak!) |
|
| A pair of oak galls on a Blue Oak branch. |
|
| An Acorn Woodpecker forages for acorns amid the branches of a Coast Live Oak. |
|
| Acorn Woodpeckers collect and store acorns to have a reliable food supply. |
|
| Reach for the sky! Poison oak often climbs up through the branches of trees to gain more light. |
|
| Yellow Star Thistle -- an invasive plant species, yet a rich nectar source for insects. |
|
| Splashes of crimson; poison oak changes color with the season. |
|
| So bright, its almost fluorescent, lichen embellishes an outcrop of serpentine. |
|
| A favorite view, a stand of Bay Laurels against the skyline. |
|
| Everywhere, the landscape was like a tapestry of color and texture. |
|
| A large, Banded Argiope Trifasciata or Garden Spider. (Underside view) |
|
| The endangered Santa Clara Valley Dudleya is often found growing on serpentine outcrops this this one. |
|
| During the hike, we saw 3 or 4 Red Jumping Spiders. (Size? 3-5mm) |
|
| A stacked line of serpentine rocks resembling a crumbling stone wall. |
|
| A lichen fan spreads across one edge of a small rock. |
|
| Serpentine is volcanic in origin. These boulders were once molten rock. |
|
| View of a distant section of Almaden Quicksilver County Park with Mt Ummunum on the skyline. |
|
| View of Calero Reservoir, Calero County Park in the distance. |
|
| Red color shows where serpentine dependent wildflowers will bloom next spring. |
|
| View of Almaden Valley and distant Bay Area communities shrouded in haze. |
|
| Common Buckeye balances delicately atop a Star Thistle bloom. |
|
| Close up view of an Acmon Blue showing its distinctive markings. |
|
| Serpentine habitat, look for wildflowers here next spring! |
|
| Towering Bay Laurels - in spring a carpet of wildflowers surrounds them. |
|
| Beautiful day, perfect weather for a fall hike. |
|
| One of scores of impressive oaks seen along the way. |
|
| Beautiful cloud-scape overhead! |
|
| Beautiful scenery whichever way you looked! |
|
| This oaks leaves have changed color and will soon fall to the ground, decompose and nourish the soil. |
|
| A pair of towering Coast Live Oaks seen near the end of the hike. |
|
| Go to ParkHere.org for information on future hikes into Rancho San Vicente. |
| Return to Top. |