Vernal Pools on Manton Road at Easter Time

Here we are, already experiencing days longer than nights with the vernal equinox just celebrated March 20th. I always feel better knowing that the days are growing longer and warmer. There's still plenty of snow in the high country, but the earth is waking from its winter sleep. In the valley we have been enjoying weeks of yellow mustard and the various shades of pink seen in flowers of almonds, quince, peach and redbud. Now the white blossums of buckbrush, pear and prune are getting going. Driving east from Red Bluff towards Mineral on Highway 36 we see the oaks sporting their first new leaves of the year, a pale lime green color, as opposed to the much darker green of the tall lush grass just beneath them. Last year for the first time I noticed that the shades of green will soon be reversed: the grass will become a lighter shade of green as the warmer winds of Spring blow, while the oak tree leaves will darken with age. The grass and the trees just switch! Another thing of note... the roadside ponds are full, and though the whistling swans (also called tundra swans) that grace Hog Lake (with the fabulous view of Mt. Shasta in the distant north) have flown back towards the cooler climes of Alaska, there is a special treat for those who turn at Dale's onto Manton Road: ten miles of vernal pools which can best be described as one giant Easter egg. The lower pastures are brilliant yellow with butter & eggs (that's the flower's name), buttercups and yellow tidy tips, while the slightly raised portions have purple flowers, the names of which escape me. There are several places to pull off the road and walk out into this fantasyland of flowers. Manton locals look forward to this treat every year on their weekly grocery trips to Red Bluff. Also included, free of charge: panoramic views of two snow-covered volcanos, Shasta and Lassen. In fact, there is snow on all the mountains this time of year: Burney Mountain, the Siskiyous, the Trinity Alps and the Yolla Bollies. You could easily believe you are in Montana or Wyoming as you cruise along through this fabulous panorama without a car in sight, but no, it's just Manton Road and one of California's best kept secrets! Enjoy it while it lasts, because it will all be gone by May Day.