Nature Notes From Crater Lake
Volume 2, No. 3, September 1929
In Castle Crest Garden
By Earl U. Homuth
The Castle Crest Wild Flower Garden, which has been developed with a
path displaying to best advantage the various habitats in which the
variety of wild flowers grow in particular profusion has been visited
daily by a large number of tourists. When this new feature becomes more
generally known it will undoubtedly attract considerable attention.
Other than being a wild flower garden it has proved to be among the
best places in which to observe Park animals.
Where the trail passed under talus lying at the foot of Castle Crest,
the visitor is invariably greeted by whistles of conies from the rocks
above.
Marmots are particularly numerous. It is related by one visitor that
he saw an older marmot hurriedly covering several younger ones with
earth at his approach.
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The grass and flowers upon a moist slope were
crushed as by the weight of some heavy object passing down the
slope. A workman clearing the trail reports that he observed the
bears descending this hill, sliding through grasses into the
meadow below. |
| Of the birds, many species not common on the
Rim are to be found. The Gray Jay, Stellar's Jay, and Clarke's
Crow are common, the Warblers of many species are numerous, the
Creepers, Nuthatches, and Robins are seen or heard daily. As a
place in which the bird student could spend time to advantage it
is not excelled in the Park. The flowers attract great numbers
of butterflies, and the hum of smaller insects is distinctly
audible during the warmer part of the day. |
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Several rustic benches have been constructed
beside the stream, which is formed by dozens of springs flowing
from the cliffs, or in the shade of huge pines and firs,
overlooking meadows which terminate in the colored mass of
Castle Crest above. |