The two connecting loop trails that are very easily accessed via Cloverdale Trailhead, Clear Creek Greenway, are always a great place to get a preview of spring blooms right about now. On this Sunday’s hike, we counted 22 species already in bloom and three ready to go, in bud. Most of these species are not blooming en masse this early in the year, but they can be found, making for a fun treasure hunt! Tiny crucifers such as bittercress, peppergrass, and fringepod are going to town, but they are easy to miss for their diminutive stature. Indian warriors, however, are fairly abundant currently, in at least two populations along these trails.
Our coolest find, though, was not a bloom but a fern: silverback fern. This very pale little fern, with its almost-white underside, grows on granitic substrates throughout the Sierra Nevada, but is not often seen in Shasta County. Don was very excited to run across it.
These trails are quite popular with bikers and dog walkers; we passed at least a dozen other trail users on our hike. About those dogs: Don was bit by a German shepherd that was off leash. No damage was done, but the owners were aghast at their dog’s behavior, as they almost always are. We have been bitten countless times by off-leash dogs that “don’t bite” or “have never done that before.” The fact is, dogs do indeed bite. If you are hiking a dog-friendly trail with your four-legged friend and there are other people on the trail, please be courteous and keep your pet on leash. That way, you won’t have any unpleasant surprises!
For details about these very nice local, easy-access trails, please see our last year’s write-up: Cloverdale Trails, February 14, 2021. Go see how many blooming species you can find! Enjoy! ~Laurie & Don Burk
