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.