Wildflowers are wonderful, but this spring, I want to propose a toast to trees. Unlike ephemeral, unpredictable-if-beautiful spring blooms, trees are reliable marvels of nature. They spread shade in summer, offer sanctuaries to birds and critters of all kinds and anchor our sandy soil. Yet we tend to take them for granted, piling praise on the sensational rather than the substantive – a common human tendency.
Recently, hiking in Peters Canyon, I took note of its arboreal richness. In March 1992, Irvine Company dedicated 340 acres to the county to establish the regional park, helping to preserve rare riparian habitat in our part of the world. Consequently, this wonderful wilderness provides an ideal home for black willows and cottonwoods, among the thirstiest and least common of native trees in semi-desert Southern California.
One of my favorite trails, Creek Trail, is easily accessible from the parking area by way of the North Loop trail, which hugs the 55-acre reservoir. It’s along these two trails that you’ll find most of the willows and cottonwoods.
Spring scenes…