|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
It’s wildflower season again! Before hitting the trail with your smartphone and selfie stick, here’s what you should know to be a responsible visitor.
We’re lucky to live in a global biodiversity hotspot. California is home to more species of plants and animals than any other state in the U.S., and the Bay Area’s incredibly diverse topography, geology, and microclimates make it a hotspot within a hotspot. Many of the wildflowers in bloom right now thrive on serpentine grassland, a rare habitat notable for being harsh and nutrient-poor. Though you might think very little would grow on soil that’s so lacking in the nutrients plants need to survive, in fact, a whole suite of plants has evolved to thrive in these harsh conditions. Free from competition from less hardy species, this unique ecosystem includes plants that grow nowhere else and insects (like the Bay checkerspot butterfly) that rely on those plants.
Because this ecosystem is both rare and fragile, it’s our responsibility to learn how to visit these places without causing harm to the wildflowers we love. Here are the rules you should follow when visiting local natural areas:
Don’t pick the flowers. Native wildflowers are not only beautiful to look at, they are food sources for local insects like native bees and butterflies. When you pick a wildflower, you’re not just depriving others of the chance to see it; you may be impacting the local ecosystem. In any case, most wildflowers wilt and fade very soon after being picked, so please leave them where they are so that others can enjoy them.
Stay on the trail. Significant harm can result from walking around off-trail in sensitive habitat areas, including the introduction of disease-causing pathogens that may have hitched a ride on the soles of your hiking shoes. If that doesn’t deter you, remember that you’re more likely to pick up a tick if you leave the trail than if you stay on it.
Don’t litter. Trash of any kind can be harmful to the animals and plants that live in our local parks and nature preserves.
Follow the park rules. Some parks allow visitors to bring dogs; others don’t. Some parks allow bicyclists; others only allow hiking. Parks have rules for very good reasons, which often have to do with people’s safety and well-being. The rules are there to protect the park habitat and the people who visit it, not to ruin your fun, so don’t be a scofflaw.
See you on the trail!
