Native tule show pale brownish flowers. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY – Join park docent Glenn Smith on Oct. 2 for an 8:30 a.m. walk in Clear Lake State Park, 5300 Soda Bay Road, Kelseyville.

Walkers should meet at the visitor center ramp. There is no entrance fee to the park for participating in walks. All ages are welcome.

Smith, who has enjoyed the area for many years, will share his enthusiasm with you as he shows you the park is never static.

The redbud bushes, rich with flowers in spring, now exhibit mature burgundy seedpods that will remain until next year. Tawny grasses wave seeded stems in the breeze.

Because of higher water in Kelsey Slough this year, many tules thrive on its shoreline. Although this sedge has been very important to Clear Lake for centuries as an erosion controller, an enabler for other plants and nursery for fish, over 80 percent of the tules have been removed from the lake shoreline.

Native Americans also found many uses including tying bundles of tules together to make boats as well as eating the edible rhizomes. Clear Lake State Park is a good place to view this tall green-stemmed plant with grasslike leaves and pale brownish flowers.

The park is home to both “native” and “non-native” plants. Some of the non-native Himalayan blackberry was recently removed to open space for native plants.

As Smith would attest, volunteering with Clear Lake State Park presents many opportunities for individuals to use and expand their interests in the natural world and join in the learning experience provided by park leaders. It opens doors to being a walk leader, visitor center tour guide, gift shop assistant, and preparing and presenting programs for children and adults.

Writing, artistic and computer skills are helpful as well. It is also a chance to host people from all over the world and tell them about wonderful Lake County.

To learn about joining the next group of volunteers in training, please leave your name and contact information for Val Nixon at 707-279-2267.

Visit www.clearlakestatepark.org for great photos, activity schedule and park information provided by Clear Lake State Park Interpretive Association.