AMERICAN CANYON WETLANDS
GUIDED
TRAIL
November 15,
2007
Trail Description:
Our native Native Plant Society was lucky to be able to get a personal guide
to
areas not open to the general public for another year or two. This
section just north and west of the current park area will eventually connect
with Napa and become part of the Bay Trail. Our first stop was at two
fairly small ponds with quite a few birds, most of which headed for the
opposite side once our noisy group came along. From here we headed for the
dykes overlooking the old Leslie Salt flats, which have been deeded to the
park. Then we turned south past a small dry pond for a view of the Napa
River just as it widens and heads for Vallejo. We had to look hard for
flowers at this time of year, but the birds were plentiful.
Trail Location: The above trail is not available
yet, but just south of the parking lot is a mile long trail bordering an
estuary with nice marsh and bird views. A good place for a walk.
Blooming Plants Not Photographed:
NN=Non Native
Chicory (Cichorium intybus) NN
Coyote Bush (Baccharis pilularis)
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) NN
Gumplant (Grindelia stricta)
Narrow Leaf Cattail (Typha angustifolia)
Pepper Grass (Lepidium latifolium) NN
Spearscale (Atriplex triangularis)
Summer Mustard (Hirschfeldia incana) NN
White Hayfield Tarweed (Hemizonia congesta ssp. luzulifolia)
Wild Radish (Raphanus sativus) NN
Yellow Star Thistle (Centaurea solstitialis) NN
.jpg "Century Plant (Agave americana): Non Native. Leaves were used in Jamaica as a soap substitute.")
.jpg "Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana): Escaped landscape plant. Can be invasive.")
.jpg "Bristly Ox Tongue (Picris echioides): Non native. Is said to be tasty when plants are very young")
.jpg "Bindweed (Convolvulus arvense): Non native. Can be white or pink.")
.jpg "Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare): Non Native. In mediaeval times fennel was thought to prevent witchcraft. 1/8\" flowers.")
.jpg "Bull Mallow (Malva nicaeensis): Non native. A relative to hollyhocks.")
.jpg "Iceplant (Carpobrotus edulis): Non native. Fresh flowers are pink or yellow.")
.jpg "New Zealand Spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides): Non native. Eatable as a vegetable.")
.jpg "Purple Sandspurry (Spergularia rubra): 1/4 inch flower likes mud flats.")
.jpg "Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens): Cone. Not native.")
.jpg "Hikers passing a Century Plant for size.")
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.jpg "Century Plant (Agave americana): Non Native. Leaves were used in Jamaica as a soap substitute.")
Century Plant (Agave americana): Non Native. Leaves were used in Jamaica as a soap substitute.