The Living Landscape: The rebirth of Middletown Trailside Park
- Kathleen Scavone
- Posted On
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Middletown Trailside Park was a forested haven of massive and ancient valley oaks, replete with a bounty of avian species and fully mature native plants before the devastating Valley fire of 2015, which consumed more than 76,000 acres, mostly in Lake County.
Today the 107-acre Middletown Trailside Park is definitely making a return.
The Lake County Department of Public Services has done a fantastic job preparing the park and trails for the public.
The hike is a 1.5-mile loop with benches and picnic tables interspersed throughout the walk.
The park is greening up considerably now, with some beautiful old oaks that survived the fires standing as sentinels, and many young and varied oak species which have attained heights ranging from 5 to around 15 feet.
I noted two thriving, buzzing bee colonies set up high in the old oaks. Two, smaller bee species were busy at work around the chicory plants. Chicory is an introduced species, albeit beautiful with its cheery blue blossoms.
There are now hundreds of young native manzanita, and madrone trees all across the park, making a strong comeback. Other prolific plants which are now thriving include native elderberry trees. Blackberries are growing in profusion interspersed amongst the grasslands.
Speaking of grasses, there are many kinds of grasses seeding the park, most of which are introduced.
The Douglas fir trees which were replanted after the fires are thriving, and I spied some native grey pines growing up nicely, too. Off-trail I found poison oak.
Along with several species of bees, many bird species have returned. I noted acorn woodpeckers, doves, a turkey vulture, crows and a small hawk I could not identify.
I viewed three kinds of butterflies flitting amongst the chicory and tarweed. Starthistle is in bloom – a boon to bees, but definitely not people-friendly.
Critters are making a comeback, as evidenced by some scat, possibly coyote, and a probable deer trail through the grasses. A baby Western fence lizard or blue belly scrambled out of my way along the trail, another good sign of a California native species making its return to the land.
Once you arrive in the generous parking area, head off to your right to take in the creative new EcoArts Sculpture Walk exhibit which is called "Locus: A Sense of Place.” This is their 14th annual exhibit, and will be on view until Oct. 15.
The reopening of the sculpture walk is, as the EcoArts interpretive brochure explains, " a milestone in our community's recovery. ‘Locus’ was made possible with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the generosity of individuals, volunteers, and our local partners and sponsors."
Middletown Trailside Park is open from dawn to dusk daily. For more information visit the county of Lake's Parks Improvements Web site.
For more information about Eco Arts, and a downloadable brochure, visit http://www.middletownartcenter.org/ecoarts.html.
Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is a retired educator, potter, freelance 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.”