2025 Feb 19

 Stough Canyon Nature Center Meetup

This California Sycamore Tree showcased in my Nature Journal page tells many stories. It lost it's remaining fall leaves in the Jan 7 2025 windstorm, that was the night of the Eaton Canyon Fire--the nearly leafless tree reminds me of so many homes lost and lives altered. However the promise of new leaves is a reminder that life will begin anew. The decaying leaves create a mulch that helps keep moisture in the soil and returns nutrients to the soil. The tree also hosted several bird species visitors that I gratefully observed and listen to--a special show just for me that day. Other birds, like the California Towhee and Spotted Towhee found insects in fallen leaves on the ground. A bevy of quail also foraged thru the fallen leaf debris. It can be easy to walk past a leaf bare tree and not notice the full cycles of life right there to quietly observe.