January: Echeveria “Imbricata” (Hen and chicks)
With it's fleshy leaves and low growth pattern this attractive succulent is ideal for fire-wise landscaping. Blue-green rosettes spread freely, forming dense clumps from two to four feet wide. In the spring pink flowers lined in yellow bloom grace 8-inch stems. Drought-tolerant; frost hardy to 20 degrees this succulent prefers light, well-drained soils, and partial shade in our area.
February: Our Portion of the Pacific Flyway
The route that migrating waterfowl and raptors take as they move between their seasonal homes is four thousand miles long, stretching from Patagonia to Alaska. Butte County’s own small portion of the Pacific Flyway attracts millions of birds. This is because we have a lot to offer them: a portion of the tiny percentage of remaining wetlands in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys is here; our flooded rice fields are attractive to birds, and our waterways (both natural and those built to carry water for irrigation) also provide food and resting spots for these travelers.
Two easily accessible places for viewing migrating birds are the Llano Seco Viewing Platform on 7-Mile Lane west of Dayton, and the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area west of Gridley. The show started in November but continues through February. Don’t miss this opportunity to see these amazing creatures as they go about feeding and gathering energy for their next big push southwards.
Photo of Gray lodge by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
March: North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve
It’s wildflower time! One of the best local places for wildflower viewing is the North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve on Cherokee Road out of Oroville. The Reserve is managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), which requires a day pass for hiking access (just under $6 and is available online at CDFW Lands Pass. According to the CDFW website, the 3,300 acre Reserve is an “elevated basalt mesa created by ancient lava flows, with beautiful vistas of spring wildflowers, waterfalls, lava outcrops, and a rare type of vernal pool, called Northern Basalt Flow Vernal Pools. Despite the impacts of non-native invasive plant species, range management practices, such as cattle grazing, have contributed to maintaining spectacular wildflower blooms that draw visitors from far and near.” In addition, the 360-degree views of the surrounding countryside are phenomenal.
Be sure to wear sturdy walking shoes, as basalt formations can be uneven and slippery when wet. Enjoy traipsing through this stunning natural area.
April: Colorful Mosaics About Nature
You must go see the mosaics along Table Mountain Boulevard in Oroville. This masterful art installation consists of 60 distinctly different murals totaling 600 feet, making it one of the largest mosaic projects in the United States. The organization behind the stunning array is the Rainforest Art Project, a San Diego-based non-profit dedicated to “engaging children throughout the United States in projects that bring lasting beauty to their communities, while giving participants a deep sense of pride and ownership.”
Over 1,000 of our local schoolchildren were involved in placing pre-cut glass tiles in professionally-designed templates to create the mosaics, which depict local flora, fauna, and landmarks.
Plan to spend some time taking in the many facets of each mosaic as you stroll up and then back down the fairly steep boulevard (park in the western lot of the Feather River Fish Hatchery). I promise that you too will want to share the news about this heart-warming and important piece of public art. My money says the beauty and artistry of these mosaics will draw people from far and wide.