Coexistence Competition HABITAT HISTORY HIKE A self-guided nature walk exploring Previous residents of this park planted non-native At trail junction 16, take a sharp right turn onto Loop Trail. how logging, tree replacement, and restoration ornamentals, fruit trees, and grapes. In many cases, In the late 1800’s, eucalyptus trees were planted here to created habitat change at Wunderlich Park like the olive trees, these plants still remain without replace the redwood trees for building materials and appearing to crowd out native plants. For example, windbreak. Later it was discovered that eucalyptus is not a when you reach the 5th informational sign across from good building material. Over time, the redwoods, oaks, bay the bench, you will notice a mixture of native and non- laurels, and other native plants had to compete with the non- native plants sharing the same habitat. They include native newcomers for water, space and nutrients.The result natives such as tan oaks, madrone, and bay laurel. The of this competition is that the eucalyptus grows so fast and cypress, which is a non-native in this location, is living tall that redwoods and other native plants became crowded peacefully alongside the native trees and shrubs. out and their resources are diminished. Not only do eucalyptus The black oak is one of the native trees disrupt the natural deciduous trees in the park. Its leaves can ecology, their bark is highly grow up to 10 inches long, having 5-7 flammable. The resin in their lobes with bristle tips on the ends. During bark increases the intensity winter it is bare, but the rest of the year it and spread of wildfires. is full of leaves and acorns. The acorns are These trees shed their bark, low in tannins, making them a favorite of which hangs off their deer, squirrels, and jays. branches, creating a fire ladder. This allows fires to The aromatic leaves of the bay spread quickly throughout laurel tree are similar to the bay the forest. County Parks are leaves found in grocery stores. working hard to remove Native Americans used them for these eucalyptus trees. insect repellant and medicinal purposes. We use bay leaves as a Alambique to Loop to Bear Gulch Trail In 2019, up to 16 acres of seasoning in spaghetti sauce, 1.75 Miles non-native trees will be which is how it got the removed and acorns of nickname spaghetti tree. native oak trees will be planted in an effort to Nearby you will notice the invasive broom restore the natural habitat. growing here. It was originally planted for its pretty Many volunteers will be yellow flowers. Certain animals, like deer, forage needed to reach this goal. for food in the forest, but broom is toxic for them. It is also harmful to native plants because it grows In 1872 Simon Jones hired BE A NATURE DETECTIVE and notice the so fast that native plant Chinese workers to build the changing plant communities seedlings do not have enough limestone retaining wall seen as LOOK FOR CLUES of changes to the sun to sprout and survive; you reach the end of the hike. It environment made by past inhabitants of the park however, broom seedlings will was built without mortar. In the WONDER which animals live here grow easily in the shade. wet season, moss covers the wall, NOTICE that redwoods and eucalyptus are Before you know it, native collecting water that creates a competing for space plants will be competing with perfect habitat for ferns and other BE CURIOUS AND CONNECT WITH NATURE broom for space, sunlight, and plants to grow. This illustrates water. Who would you like to how history has changed the Wunderlich Park win the competition? habitat of Wunderlich Park. San Mateo County Trail Route Inhabitants Past & Present Redwood Habitat

Previously this property was home to Native Americans Soon you will be entering a cool, dark habitat of tall trees. (Ohlones), ranchers, farmers, and businessmen until it These are California coast redwoods, our state tree. A became Wunderlich Park for public recreation. Each redwood can live up to 2000 years and reach heights of 350 inhabitant made changes to the environment, and their feet. What is their secret? Thick bark and tannins protect changes are part of the history, beauty, and challenges of them against fires, mold, and insects. During the Gold Rush Wunderlich Park. many people moved to San Francisco, creating a need for homes. Old growth redwoods (more than 1,000 years old) LET’S START: Alambique Nature Trail has 5 were logged and used for building material. Most of the informational signs providing history of the area and remaining trees seen here today are second and third descriptions of some of the plants and animals in generation redwoods. Many sprouted from the roots of the Wunderlich Park. logged mother tree.

You will start your hike walking through a mixture of Further up the trail on your right coast live oaks and California buckeye trees. The non- will be a stump of an old growth native olive trees were planted when the land was used as redwood. Notice the circle of a farm. This California oak woodland habitat provides redwoods growing around the food and shelter for animals like woodpeckers, gray stump; they are clones of the squirrels, western fence lizards, deer, and butterflies. mother tree. Imagine what a forest of the giant trees looked The California buckeye tree like to the loggers. They saw produces the largest seed of any these giant trees as a way to California native plant. All parts make a living. Pretty soon more of this tree are extremely toxic, than 95 percent of the old giants but not to squirrels or native bees. were cut down. The Native Americans made a pulp out of the seed to stun fish, Follow a trail of slime to discover one making them easy to catch. Do of the forest’s clean up crew. Banana

Map artwork by Rebecca Fenn you think they used buckeyes to slugs feed on anything they find on Start here. Go straight on Alambique fish in nearby Alambique Creek? Trail Junction 6 the forest floor, living or decaying. In Trail. the process, their deposits create The coast live oak is a common nutrient rich soil.Their slime helps Trail Junction 16 Take a sharp right onto Loop Trail. tree in the oak woodland. It them move, protects them, and keeps produces acorns in the fall, which them from drying out. They thrive in feed many forest animals, such as foggy, damp forests. Turn right on to Bear Gulch Trail Trail Junction 8 squirrels, deer, and scrub jays. downhill. Continue to the parking lot. Acorns were highly valued by the Do you wonder why there are Native Americans as a food very few plants growing under Horses have the right of way. Whether source. the redwoods? Their redwood you are in a large or small group, move duff is very acidic and only a to the edge of the trail to let the horses Acorn woodpeckers are very few plants, like redwood sorrel pass. social and live in family groups. can grow in their dark and acidic They collect acorns in the fall and habitat. store them in holes that they have LEAVES OF THREE, LET IT BE drilled with their beaks in old or Poison oak can produce an itchy rash if Friends of Huddart & Wunderlich Parks touched. Birds feed on their berries and dead trees.These are called https://www.huddartwunderlichfriends.org spread the plant throughout the forest. granaries, which may contain up to ©2019 by Kathy Boone & Cathy Fenn 50,000 acorns.