Happy Easter

We spent Easter with friends in El Dorado Hills today. They live in a fantastic area footsteps away from an amazing trail with an incredible view. Can you tell I love it?

© 2014 Claire Toney

Ithuriel's Spear

Blue-eyed Grass

Wild Hyacinth

Clover

A Haven in the middle of a Suburban Jungle

I heard of a pond in the middle of Folsom, right across from an elementary school. The fact that such a thing existed didn't really surprise me; what did surprise me is how isolated it felt, despite where it was located.

I stepped onto the trail and walked along a picturesque pond, surrounded by marshes. The view was dotted with houses (lucky families!), pine trees

and a pair of Canadian Geese. 

I continued onto the path and followed it to the woods - the woods! What else would you call this sight? It was wonderful to see undeveloped nature in the middle of suburbia. 

Here too, I saw wildflowers 

On the way out, I saw more happy poppies 

and this guy - could he be one of the birds singing while I enjoyed my time in his woods?

Trails trails and more trails

There is a trail that I keep driving past whenever I drive my kids to school. I always think to myself - tomorrow, I am going to bring my camera and hike that trail! Well, I finally did it. I dropped off my son at Spring Break Camp and took a detour. Lovely California Poppies greeted me...

It was a fairly well-paved trail...

with Winter Vetch still present, along with little yellow flowers whose name I am not familiar with yet (some day I will though!). In case you are wondering, Winter Vetch has darker colored flowers than Spring Vetch. In my very humble opinion, this deeper color is prettier =)

The best part is that there were some trails that led off to who-knows-where - a great place for exploring!

I followed one of the side trails and it didn't lead to anything really interesting. However, looking around the open field, I did notice some of the small wildflowers that grow abundantly in this area this time of year.

Goldfields?

I also heard from a friend that the trails eventually lead to the river. I am happy to know this; I will probably take the kids here soon. In the meantime, here are some other photos of the flowers and plants that I saw:

Common Pineapple Weed

 Filaree, with Fairy Scissors!

Blue Dicks?

Hare Barley

Woolly Mullien

Thistle

Ripgut Brome

Ithuriel's Spear 

 Shepherd's Purse?

Miner's Lettuce

 

Yarrow

Spring Break 2014

Spring Break started this year on April 12. I found myself in Gold Country with my 2 kids so we decided to stop by the Gold Bug Mine. My son wanted to "mine for gems and gold" so I paid a whopping $6 for all three of us to pan for riches.

On Sunday, our family went on the Wildflower Walk at the Effie Yeaw Nature Center. I enjoyed the soft sun on my skin and the soothing breeze on my skin as our guide, Rachael, took us around the park and introduced us to many of the plants that were finally making their appearance. 

Lupine

Douglas Irises, near the front of the museum

Miner's lettuce

One of the many trees that call the EYNC home

Wild Turkeys showing off

Filaree

and this little guy enjoying the shade. 

Today, I took the kids to the Hinkle Creek Nature Trail. Once we stepped onto the trail, the sounds of chirps, bird calls, and the gobbles of wild turkeys filled the air, and the sounds of civilization floated away. It was an easy, well shaded hike with just enough hilly terrain to keep things fun and interesting for the kids. 

I can't tell you how many times they ran up and down this part of the trail. My son declared, "I LOVE trails like this, mom!"

TONS of yellow and purple wildflowers carpeted the fields:

My husband said that this looks like something out of "Little House on the Prairie"

and although we didn't see a lot of wildlife, we did spot these:

Wild Turkeys - must be turkey season!

and a black lizard that my kids spotted. Can you see him on the log?