“I like this place and could willingly waste my time in it.” – William Shakespeare
“The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – I had the good fortune to hike the Cache Creek Nature Trail at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park recently.
The hike was led by Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association's (AMIA) docent and certified naturalist, Billy Gear, who did an excellent job of leading the group on the walk. He was well-informed of the nuances of Anderson Marsh.
As I state in my Anderson Marsh book, “Anderson Marsh is comprised of over 1,000 acres of wetlands, oak woodlands. And grasslands. It is located in Lake County, California, on Clear Lake. There are at least 30 Native American archaeological sites located here, some of which are over 10,000 year old. Along with its prehistoric past, Anderson Marsh has a rich history of European settlement – the Grigsbys in the 1850s and the Andersons in the 1880s.”
Nature walks are led by AMIA trained docent volunteers on the second Saturday of each month, with the exceptions of September, December and January.
Once you enter Anderson Marsh State Historic Park a world of wonder opens up to you.
You are bombarded with sensory perceptions that are seemingly swirling about. The vistas that have been enjoyed for millennia, the Ranch House that has sat in this spot since before the Civil War, the abundant flora and fauna all conspire to take you on multi-faceted tours set right here, right now.
For example, the cool, green colors that paint Cache Creek's edges with willow, tule reeds, berries, cottonwoods and oak draw you in for further inspection.
You sense the live creek and wetlands before you even peer into this other world of moisture. Now you find turtles, ducks, and herons all “making a living” day in and day out, every day.
While walking the Cache Creek Nature Trail be sure to look up, so that you don't miss the kettle of turkey vultures that someone once called “black butterflies” (was it Mary Oliver's phrase?).
Then, gaze out, over the grasslands to the oak woodlands and imagine what tasks those Pomo Indians were achieving back in the day – chipping obsidian arrowheads, gathering acorns for food, playing games or fishing nearby.
Looking closely at the flora along the creek you see Himalayan blackberries. These are not native to California, and were introduced by a botanist to the U.S. in 1870s.
The creek is rife with hawks, warblers, mourning doves, hummingbirds, egrets and more.
Come to Anderson Marsh to walk any of its trails, and find out why native people, history-lovers and bird-watchers all treasure what Anderson Marsh has to offer.
AMIA, according to its Web site at http://www.andersonmarsh.org/index.html , “has been in existence for many years with a primary objective of preserving and enhancing the use of Anderson Marsh State Historic Park. Joining as a member will help insure those who wish to protect and conserve this great educational, cultural and environmental resource have the means to do so.”
Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is a retired educator, potter, writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She also writes for NASA and JPL as one of their “Solar System Ambassadors.” She was selected “Lake County Teacher of the Year, 1998-99” by the Lake County Office of Education, and chosen as one of 10 state finalists the same year by the California Department of Education.