Willow Creek

April 22, 2006

Matt Benotsch, guru of The Nature Conservancy’s Willow Creek Preserve, showed twelve of us around the lower southern part of the Preserve, pointing out landscapes, restorations, experimental plots, and projects. We saw some Kincaid’s lupine, the host plant for Fender’s blue butterfly, but it’s too early to see the butterflies. As well, we saw candy flower, trilliums, buttercups, and the plants of an endangered species, Lomatium bradshawii, not yet blooming. We heard and saw warblers, sparrows, herons, a kestrel, and western meadowlarks. A red-tailed hawk seemed to be training a juvenile overhead as we reached an open area.

The weather was dry, windy, and sunny, and in some places wet underfoot. We avoided poison oak here and there.

What The Nature Conservancy has done with the land and continues to do is impressive, and we all enjoyed learning about its work. Volunteers are welcome to meet on 18th just past Bertelsen at 9 on the second Saturday of every month.

Members: Joan Abel, Rick Ahrens, Dan Bates, Shirley Cameron, Margot Fetz, Maggie Gontrum, Joanne Ledet, Anne McLucas, Margaret Prentice and Sam Tracer. Nonmembers: Lyn Dahlstrom and Ronald Edwards.

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