Redwood Appreciation Weekend: Big Basin Redwoods

In honor of my on self-proclaimed Redwood Appreciation Weekend, a couple friends and I returned to Big Basin Redwoods on Sunday. Saw some amazing sights, I didn't take too many photos of mushrooms, but I definitely took some more photos of the beautiful redwood forest.
 

Something interesting I learned over the weekend: I noticed there were a lot of trees that appeared healthy on the outside, but hollowed out at the base as if they were set on fire and burnt out from the inside. I found out that the trees actually have tannic acid in their bark, which acts as an insect repellant and flame retardant. Some of the burnt out trees are still standing tall, and a park ranger informed me that during fires (which occurred hundreds of years ago) the outside won't burn, but the insides often burn due to the intense heat from the flames.

Annnnnnd of course, my adventures are never complete if I didn't spot some mushrooms...

 Strap coral fungi

More coral fungi

A lone mushroom on top of a fallen redwood

 Here's the funny thing about mushrooms...initially they are hard to spot (especially if you don't know what you're looking for) but once you do, it's almost as if you can't unsee them from that point on. Since I first spotted these earth tongues, I see them all the time (and still squeal with delight when I do--shhhhh!).

 In addition to the redwood groves, we also walked along Timm's creek, which was teeming with banana slugs (very active, too!) and lots of fallen trees to play on. While I enjoy overlooking the redwood forests, I have to say that my favorite spots are shaded forest floors where mosses, fungi, and critters thrive.

 Timm's Creek is full of fallen trees and lots of moss

 This moss-covered rock reminds me of Marimo balls, which I actually might purchase in the next month.

That concludes my Redwood Appreciation Weekend. I'm actually going on a hike later this month to Armstrong Redwood state park. This is California--redwoods are everywhere and I'm so excited to explore a new place!