REPORT ON CENTRAL VALLEY NATURALISTS WALK:
Fishtrap Creek / Ellwood Park, July 5, 2006

'Twas a cool breezy evening, midweek in July:
Nine naturalists met for a "natural high."
Counterclockwise we rambled around Fishtrap Creek,
Observing and listening, to hear nature speak.
The blackbird, red-winged, piped its shrill one-note call
While perched at the peak of an evergreen tall.
Swainson's thrush chirped its sweet upward-spiraling song;
Great blue heron stood distant with legs straight and long.
(A heron green
was also seen.)
In the lake hungry beavers were blazing wet trails,
Munching through water-lilies and slapping their tails.
Soft and fuzzy, the pink-flowered hardhack did bloom;
Needles crushed of grand fir yielded citrus perfume.
We saw filberts, and fireweed, and swooping tree swallows,
Furry cat-tails, cascara, and waterside willows.
(Those were Pacific,
to be specific.)
There was western red cedar wherever we'd go,
And berries like black-, salmon-, elder- and snow-,
Mountain ash (some said "rowan") and dark bittersweet,
And an Oregon grape growing up past ten feet.
Maples (big-leaf and vine) shadowed ferns (sword and deer);
Devil's club warned us off; ocean spray gave us cheer.
Now ninebark, now fringe cups, now mighty horsechestnut,
Indian plum, youth-on-age, and that thug, policeman's helmet!
(And some Circaea alpina,
Than which nothing could be finer.)
'Tis a boon and a blessing, this lake with its wood,
To walk there together has done our souls good.

"How many are your works, O Lord!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures." (Psalm 104:24)

Respectfully submitted by Richard Peachey