Trillium Flowers

Trilliums are plentiful this year!
These are some of the first flowers of spring and one of my favorites.
One thing that is really neat about these flowers is that as they age their color changes from pure white to a dark burgundy.
Get out and enjoy the Forest!
Chris

Pygmy Tea

In Pygmy Forest areas high acidity turns water a red color, locals call this Pygmy Tea.
A hard pan keeps rain from soaking into soil and flat land keeps water from running off. This slows plant growth because roots are smothered. Some trees are around 200 years old and only ten or twelve feet tall, thus the name Pygmy Forest.
Exploring the Forest during and after heavy rains can be exciting. Get out and enjoy!

Hare Creek Timber Harvest Plan

This plan is mostly north/west of forest Rd 450, from Rd 510 to west of old slide on Rd 450, and is bordered by private property on the west. This part of Rd 450 is used for recreation as a connector east to west from Simpson Ln to Rd 400 and from north to south from State Hwy 20 to Rd 500. Alternative routs that could be used during logging are east-west on Rd 500 and north-south on County Rd 408 both open to motor traffic. Cyclists use an old road in the plan as a connector trail between Rd 510 and Rd 450 that is to be used, in part, as a haul rd in the plan.

An access road exists from the end of Simpson Ln to Rd 510 through this plan. I have been told this is a private rd and the owner dose not allow recreational access. If an agreement could be made with the property owner this would improve access to the Forest.

In my opinion recreational access will be very similar to what we have now after this timber harvest plan is completed and possibly will improve.

Chris

Wildlife

Red-Headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)

The woods are full of wildlife. Some animals are hard to find and even harder to photograph.
Grazers like deer and rabbits are found mostly in coastal and mountain meadows out side JDSF.
Bear, mountain lions, and bobcats are in the woods and their tracks can be found throughout the forest. Usually they hear you coming and run off before you see them.
At night raccoons, skunks, and owls are active.
Birds, amphibians, and insects are the easiest animals to find and view in the woods.
Looking for wildlife is a great way to explore the forest.
Get out and enjoy!

Rhodies

Native Rhodies (Rhododendron macrophyllum) are spectacular again this year. This is three good years in a row! They will need to take a brake from flowering one year soon so don't miss every opportunity to get out and enjoy them!