Meadows of Buttercup
Red-Osier Dogwood
Favorite Visitor Comments
" Beautiful ecological retreat. Thanks :) "
"The creator did super work. "
" Very calming and educational ! "
"Bunny rabbits made us smile ! "
"Great Island of Wilderness "
" Really, really, really enjoyed it ! "
"Thanks to the Marckx family "
If you haven't visited Hylebos park lately, I hope you can this weekend during Federal Way's "Buds and Blooms" Festival. The park is show ready and all decked out for Spring.
Yes, we've had some great weather in-between those rain downpours. On one of my recent park visits, the Apple blossoms on the old orchard trees were spectacular. The wind was blowing a light snow shower of petals into the air.
The Alder trees have dropped their catkins and now the Big Leaf and Vine Maple trees are flowering. Look for long cylindrical clusters of Greenish-yellow flowers on the Big Leaf Maples near the start of the boardwalk. Vine Maple can be found in many locations along the trail. Look for very tiny clusters of red flowers near the bright green fan shaped leaves that are just beginning to emerge. Perhaps these are not the most showy blossoms, but they attract the insects needed to pollinate the flowers.
Look for the showy white clusters of the Red Elderberry.
In timing with the spring flowers resident and migratory birds feast on the insects they attract. On my recent walk, Robins could be found everywhere in the park. The Barred Owl was calling his "Who Cooks for You" and Orange crowned and Wilson's Warblers have returned. 21 species of birds were seen or heard during my visit. Red-legged frogs were seen in several places along the trail, a salmon fry( 3" ) was spotted in Brooklake, Pacific Chorus Frogs croaked and the Douglas Squirrel posed for a photo.
A morning walk at West Hylebos Park, gave me a much needed infusion of nature and quiet contemplation. Springs arrival is very evident, as plants are breaking out of winter dormancy with bulging buds and lacy green leaves, bursting from every barren twig. The forest floor is once again green with a beautiful carpet of "False Lily of the Valley" Maianthemum dilatatum.
The Skunk Cabbage - Lysichiton americanum, flowers shine like neon yellow lanterns, dotting the forest floor. In contrast to last April, the Salmonberry- Rubus spectabilis, is coming into bloom earlier than last spring, showing off a profusion of hot pink flowers. There will be a bumper crop of berries for the birds this year. The amount of standing water in the wetland is amazing. As you walk through the park you can easily see why the raised boardwalk is needed in this park. It is a joy to observe the seasonal changes at the Hylebos.
Migratory birds are returning to our area, after wintering in Mexico, Central and South America. A Orange-crowned Warbler greeted me with song from the willows along the trail. Other birds seen or heard,during my walk were; Song Sparrow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, House Finch, Purple Finch, Bewick's Wren, American Robin, Northern Flicker, Steller's Jay, Crow, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Spotted Towhee, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker and a pair of Bufflehead on Brooklake.
Favorite Comments from the Visitor Log:
"This place is absolutely gorgeous!"
"Good job to those who have helped this place become so beautiful! "
" We love it here"
"Miss the screen on the boardwalk"
"Saw and owl, sitting on a branch/ Cool! "
"Thank-you , well tended, wonderful signage"
West Hylebos visitor Lou Paulsen sent me this photo of a barred owl he sighted while on a walk through the bog yesterday. Lou points out that the barred owl is not native to this area and its spread into the Northwest has been implicated in the declines of the Northern spotted owl.
Apologies for the pun, but I received this email from a park visitor today:
The river otters are one of my favorite, and certainly one of the most exciting Hylebos mammals one might encounter at the West Hylebos.
A dusting of snow in Federal Way prompted me to visit Hylebos Park this morning. Hoping to get some interesting photos and look for signs of spring. I've been hearing from friends that Rufous Hummingbirds are returning, feeding on Red-flowering Current and Salmonberry blossom.
At the park I saw only a faint hint of spring blossoms. The willows just down the trail from the historical cabins were in full flower, glowing in the mornig sun.
The Indian Plum and Salmonberry are still tight-in-bud and won't be in flower for a few more weeks.
Today was my first visit to West Hylebos Park in 2009. It was beautiful and the trail is now clear of snow and fallen limbs. Since my last visit some new additions have sprouted in the park. The long anticipated new interpretive signs are now in place! OH HAPPY DAY! They truely are magnificent and beautifully done. FW Parks has done a great job at keeping the Hylebos looking grand.
Along with the new signs, FW parks has relandscaped the old parking area. It looks like the area will become a new picnic area.
Mosses and Lichens along the trail are plumb and lovely. The patterns they create are fascinating.
I've got a posting about PSE's new grant for the West Hylebos over at the HyleBlog.
The city is getting busy with the new kiosk this week. I was told it would be in by today, but haven't had a chance to get out to see. If anyone does go out there, let me know if you see the new kiosk yet.
Interpretive signs are coming at the end of the month!
