Nature in Yosemite

The Colorful Dogwoods of Yosemite West

Nature abounds in Yosemite West, a secluded neighborhood within Yosemite national park. Located between Wawona and the Yosemite Valley, Yosemite West is home to a diverse group of plant life. With no traffic and where the silence is broken only by the sound warbling birds, one of nature’s most colorful specimens, the Dogwoods , (Cornus sp) flourishes. In the shade of huge Douglas firs, the dogwoods are in full bloom with large white four petal blossoms and pale green leaves that looked almost anemic from lack of sunlight. To quote John Muir, “When California was wild, it was the floweriest part of the continent.”

Of all rarities in the park is a remarkably showy flowering plant, the brilliant, rare, snow-plant. Unique to Yosemite and Sequoia alone, the snow plant (sarcodes sanguinea) is a conundrum amongst plants, and its dazzling red color has exercised a strange and almost weird fascination upon the many visitors. So luring is the red pillar which the snow-plant lifts a foot or more above the shady mould which occurs around fallen trees , that many want to take it home. But beware!! To keep it from extinction, the Yosemite rangers will levy heavy fines on visitors for every flower picked.

In such a unique way nature in Yosemite is truly beautiful!

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