“A rainy day is the perfect time for a walk in the woods. I always thought so myself; the Maine woods never seem so fresh and alive as in wet weather. Then all the needles on the evergreens wear a sheath of silver; ferns seem to have grown to almost tropical lushness and every leaf has its edging of crystal drops. Strangely colored fungi — mustard-yellow and apricot and scarlet — are pushing out of the leaf mold and all the lichens and the mosses have come alive with green and silver freshness,” wrote Rachel Carson in “The Sense of Wonder.”
Instead of looking out our windows at the downpour, let’s put on our rain gear and head out. Below are some great opportunities:
Mushrooming
Learn about the hundreds of species of local fungi at The Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz’s 37th annual Fungus Fair, from Friday, Jan. 7, through Sunday, Jan. 9, at the Louden Nelson Community Center, 301 Center St., in Santa Cruz.
Admission for Friday is $5 for all, and on Saturday and Sunday, the cost is $7 for adults and $5 for children and seniors. Admission for children younger than 12 will be free. For more information, visit www.scfungusfair.org or call 684-2275.
Later in the month, you can join the FFSC again for a “Fungus Foray” at Quail Hollow Ranch. This free mushroom hunt takes place from 1 to 3 p.m. Jan. 23, rain or shine. Space is limited, so call the park Friday through Sunday at 335-9348 to reserve a spot. See you there.
Herps
Herps are amphibians and reptiles. Turn over a rotten log during our rainy season and you might just see one of these enigmatic and beautiful animals. But there are few important things to know before you go.
Use a tool or a strong stick to turn over the log, and always turn the front of the log away from you, in case of poisonous snakes. Respecting the animals means never handling or chasing a herp, which causes stress. Always place the log or stone back where it was.
For more information, read “A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians” (Peterson Field Guide) by Robert C. Stebbins and Roger Tory Peterson, and join “In Search of Herps: Reptiles and Amphibians at Quail Hollow Ranch” from 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 6, with herpetologist Paul Haskins.
Cloud stalking
First, find a big sky. Being a cloud connoisseur, my favorite place is Lighthouse Point on West Cliff Drive. Last Sunday, my dog Bucky and I watched a tentative sun make a sudden appearance at sunset, the first time in many days. The sky had a patch of robin’s egg blue, as a promise of sun tomorrow, but most of the sky was lavender blue and rose. In the mountains of Soquel and Mount Madonna, it was raining, but the reflection of the sun lavished the sky with the tallest rainbow I have ever seen.
The sun soon puddled into a small ledge of clouds along the Pacific Ocean, and the rain moved into the cliffs where we walked. As it grew dark, the valiant youths at the lighthouse continued to hula hoop, and one danced with a fiery baton in the rain.
To learn more about clouds, I am looking forward to buying “The Cloud Collector’s Handbook” by Gavin Pretor-Pinney when it is released Feb. 16.
Birds
Birds have to eat all the time, even when it is raining, so do not forget them. UCSC Professor Emeritus Todd Newberry told me once that birds live in a state of hunger, just on the edge or starvation. In addition to bird seed, add suet in a wire cage in winter to give them a quick source of heat and energy that they usually get from insects. Enjoy their beauty and song all winter long.
Carol Carson, a nature writer and educator, has a master’s in education and has been a docent at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. She has also taught courses at UCSC Extension on Big Basin State Park. Contact her at ca****@ca*********.com.
