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Volume II No. 3 - September 1, 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.
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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.
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