2024-04-05: Lake Sylvia State Park

I hoped to take a late lunch break and observe pollinators when the sun came out, but instead of the previously forecast gap in the clouds, 4PM brought rain... as did 5PM. Around 6-6:30 it finally cleared up - too late for pollinators, but time enough for an evening walk in the woods. Since I hadn't been to Lake Sylvia in a couple weeks, I thought it a good idea to go document the status of the bloom. I also wanted to see if there were still newts everywhere in the lake - I saw several on my last visit, but I didn't bring a camera capable of getting good photographs of them out in the water.

Arrived at the lake about 7PM, temperature a little below 50F and the sun low. Paddlers on the water were in sunlight, but both shores were in shadow at the day-use area. Decided to cross the bridge by the dam to see if there were any newts (there weren't). Light in the forest was beautiful, though - late sun barely filtering through the trees.

The redwood sorrel is starting to come into bloom, and many trillium and violets are also flowering. The salmonberries by the lake are still flowering and those in the forest are just starting. Devil's Club is starting to leaf out. No sign of flowers on the red huckleberry.

A lovely evening walk and a few plant phenology data points. I even saw a bumblebee, but I didn't even try to take its picture given how dark it was towards sunset under the trees.

Posted on April 6, 2024 08:57 AM by wildnettle