Big Basin State Park - Berry Creek Falls 3/3/2002

Big Basin State Park - Berry Creek Falls (March 3, 2002 Sunday)

Return hike (from Berry Creek Falls to park visitor center)

Western Trillium (Trillium ovatum); Lily family. 12". Single 3" white flower opens flat, ages to pink; 3 petals alternate with 3 green sepals. Leaves ovate, in flat whorl of 3. Blooms from Feb to Apr. Habitat: moist redwood forests or mixed evergreen slopes. Range: coast ranges, south to Monterey. (Information from National Audubon Society Field Guide to California, 2000)

Redwood Violet (Viola sempervirens); Violet family. 6". Mat-forming, creeping. Flowers 1/2", yellow, 5-petaled, lower 3 petals lightly purple-veined. Leaves leathery, usually purple-spotted, round to heart-shaped, long-stalked. Blooms from Feb to Jun. Habitat: shaded forets and woods. Range: Coast south to central CA. (Information from National Audubon Society Field Guide to California, 2000)

Not too sure what this one is.. will do more research and report.

Redwood Sorrel (Oxalis oregana); Wood Sorrel family. 5". Patch-forming. Flowers 1 1/2", 5-petaled, white to pinkish, finely redveined. Leaves hairy-stalked, divided into 3 heart-shaped leaflets; fold up in bright sun or rain. Resembles Shamrock, its Irish relative. Blooms from Feb to Aug. Habitat: moist coniferous forests. Range: coast south to Monterey Co., below 4,000' (Information from National Audubon Society Field Guide to California, 2000)

A snack break!

One of many varieties of mushrooms in the park.

Redwood Sorrel (Oxalis oregana). See full info above.

Redwood Violet (Viola sempervirens). See full info above.

Left: spider web on the immensely thick redwood bark. Right: a family of redwoods towers into the sky.

Trail map plaques and sign posts directing the way. Almost back to the headquarters from here.

What a neat looking mushroom. Wouldn't eat it though :)