UC Botanical Garden

At this site, another tributary of the South Fork of Strawberry Creek flows under the trail. It originates from the broad canyon under Grizzly Peak (the second highest point on the Berkeley ridgeline), and it tends to have water year-round. In the UC Botanical Garden, this tributary is associated with the famous Japanese pool, a pond that serves as one of the last major breeding sites for newts (Taricha spp.) on the west side of the Berkeley Hills. Look at the largest trees that dominate the forest at this spot and along the trail, the majority are either coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) or California bay laurel (Umbellularia californica). These are the two most common native species in Berkeley forests. Find one of the dark green, lanceolate leaves of a bay laurel, crunch it up, and give it a light whiff. How do you describe the sensation?