Somehow, I have a nagging suspicion that many folks in other parts of the country, are going to get a chuckle out of these pictures! Why, you ask? Because Californians are known to be a little exhuberant about our vernal pools, and protective of Fairy Shrimp, and other endangered species we understand dwell in these seasonal pools.
In Sacramento County, we have a couple parks that host a several acres of vernal pools. One area coming quickly to mind is at Mather Regional Park, and the other is at Phoenix Park in the community of Fair Oaks. There are other pools as well - but these are two I have visited.
Yesterday afternoon, I took two of my grand-kids over to Phoenix Park, so they could check the pools out. We arrived a few days early. Had we arrived in another week or so, the yellow, pink and purple flowers, which generally flood the area, would be in bloom. However, there are plenty of tadpoles, and things of interest for kids to see. I looked really hard, trying to see a Fairy Shrimp. I've yet to see one, although I'm told they are there!
By the way - do you know how to tell the size of a frog when you can't see him??? If it's a small frog, it says, "reedeep." A mid-sized frog says, "rivet," BUT big bullfrogs go, "romp-romp.". . .That's just a bit of frog trivia as provided by my 8 year old grand-daughter:-)
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