Pacific Union College Demonstration and Experimental Forest

As implied by the name, Coast Redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) naturally occur near the coast in a band about 20 miles wide stretching from Monterey to Oregon. Redwoods lose a lot of water out of their needles, and thus they need ample water in the air to survive. Our Redwoods in the PUC Forest rely on the morning fog that creeps up the Napa Valley into Angwin on many summer mornings to survive at an astonishing ~38 miles from the coast, forming the interior most significant population of Redwoods in California.

Two symbols of PUC are our forest and the Diogenes Lantern (Calochortus amabilis). Here, we see a lantern growing along the ridgeline in the back 40.

The PUC Forest still remains open to the community for outdoor recreation, but we ask you please follow these guidelines below provided by California State Parks.

During these stressful times, a great way to relax is spending time in nature. Under the recent order from the governor of California, one of the official essential activities that permits travel out of the home is outdoor recreational activity. The PUC Forest currently remains open to serve our community, though we ask that our guests practice the recommended measures to protect the health of yourself and others.

A big thanks to PUC professor of Emergency Services Matthew Russell and his student Alex Nelson for helping to restore the view at Inspiration Point this week. A small madrone a few scrub oaks have been growing up from the cliff face and impeding the scenic outlook, so Matthew roped up, grabbed a chainsaw, and took care of business.

Native to California and the coasts of Oregon, the California Bay Laurel (Umbellularia californica) is a large flowering hardwood tree found primarily in the eastern half of the PUC Forest where Howell Mountain descends towards Chiles Valley. They are common in redwood forests, oak woodlands, and stands of mixed conifers & hardwoods. The tree’s leaves have a strong aroma, and are often used in cooking stews and other hearty foods. Here, we see the tree’s bright yellow flowers blooming out as winter turns the page to spring.

Two major components of PUC’s land are our forest and agricultural fields, and these different parts of the land work together to support local wildlife. The meeting of forest and open spaces is considered edge habitat, which is important to many species of animals, as edges are often characterized by more diverse and abundant wildlife communities than the interior of the forest. The fields provide areas for herbivorous wildlife to browse and forage for food, while the forest provides important shelter and cover for these animals. In turn, carnivorous wildlife pick up on these behaviors, and they use the edge habitat as an important hunting grounds where prey animals tend to be more abundant. Here, we see Mill Valley at dusk, as the herbivores retire to their dens and burrows for the night, and the carnivores begin their evening hunt.

When hiking in the forest over the next few days, please keep your eyes open for work happening along Ridge Road.

One of the many was that our forest supports the mission of Pacific Union College is through the academic program. Here, students in one of Professor Aimee Wyrick’s biology classes work with PUC forest manager Peter Lecourt to extract seeds from cones of Douglas Firs collected in the forest, which the students will grow into seedling trees, culminating in a student tree planting experience! The students also worked with cut Redwood sprouts to grow them into trees that will be the next generation of the forest.

One of the stranger living things in the forest, witches’ butter (Tremella mesenterica) is a common jelly fungus that is frequently found sprouting from dead and decaying trees and branches. Like a typical mushroom, it is the fruiting body of a larger underground organism, helping to spread spores above ground. It occurs in temperate and tropical regions in deciduous and mixed conifer forests ranging from the Americas to Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe.

A big thanks to all our volunteers from the St. Helena High Mountain Bike Team (The Thunderbirds) and the Redwood Empire Mountain Bike Alliance for helping out at this morning's trail maintenance event. Such a great spirit of collaboration and partnership that goes to support all of our organizations. And a big thanks to the forest itself for fostering such a sense of community from all who cherish it.

A great weekend read! Check out this new article in Bay Nature magazine about our very own PUC Forest https://baynature.org/a/a-surprising-new-forest-to-explore/

Happy Thanksgiving from the PUC Forest. The trees are thankful for the long awaited rain that finally arrived this week.