February 17

It’s late morning on another beautiful day as Caroline and I begin our weekly nature hike in Willow Wetland Preserve. This 14-acre natural habitat is located in Gardena, California, 14 miles south of Los Angeles. The last remnant of a 400-acre watershed, this protected land is completely surrounded by residential housing and retail establishments. Following an earthen trail east around the perimeter, I spot a patch of Bermuda Buttercups that, upon closer look, reveals a Honey Bee feeding on one of the blossoms. Further ahead, Caroline directs my attention to a perching Monarch Butterfly gathering nectar from a Coyote Brush blossom. Stepping off the trail to closely examine the water’s edge, I am pleased to discover a perching Spot-winged Glider dragonfly and an Umber Skipper butterfly, well camouflaged among the dead leaves. High up in a leafless tree nearby, I watch patiently as a Nuttall’s Woodpecker hops from branch to branch and then, amid the noise surrounding this preserve, we proceed beside a vernal marsh surrounded by a dense stand of willows. Speaking of noise, I pause by some lush ground cover to listen to a Pacific Tree frog (stock photo) before venturing onto a wooden overlook where I notice some California Cardinal flowers and a Castor Bean plant with its huge, star-shaped leaves. Continuing east, I spot a Live Oak tree displaying some flowers while last year’s fallen leaves litter the ground at my feet. After walking south along a busy street, we turn west where I glance up in a Black Willow tree to observe a House Finch feeding on some of its seeds. Continuing west, I watch a Western Gray Squirrel scamper up another willow tree. While crossing a footbridge near the end of our hike, I can easily see an orange object in the distance. A closer examination reveals it’s a Flittery Butterfly resting on dead vegetation. After exiting this oasis of natural green space, we reflect on its importance for both humans and wildlife as we drive through several miles of densely populated, concrete-covered suburbs in dense traffic to our densely populated neighborhood.

February hike

Seems like May

Wetland wonders

Winter display

Placid pond

Drake and hen

Dragonflies

Frequent the fen

Amid the bustle

Humans give

Wildlife a home

A place to live

D. DeGraaf