Hello everyone!

Spring has sprung, and between allergic sneezes, there's plenty of time to
marvel at the colors that have emerged. Bright green grasses, yellow mustard,
and pink, red, and white tree blossoms abound in our neighborhood. The lily on
our kitchen table has opened to reveal velvety orange pollen on purple anthers.
In the coming week, that pollen will do its little reproductive dance as it
rides the breeze for a millimeter or a mile, to find the sticky female parts of
a flower. Already we have noticed that love is in the air for animals, too.
When we ventured to Ed Levin Park last Thursday for our Toddler Trek, we
marvelled at several pairings of ducks - one male with one female every time -
who curiously followed Max as he hiked the Nature Path with a baggie of crackers
in his hand. Max never realized the ducks were probably begging (they never got
a cracker snack from him), but those ducks looked plump, healthy, and ready to
start their families. There will probably be baby ducks within the next month.

I encourage you to explore the reproductive side to nature this season - touch a
flower to see powdery pollen, blow some dandelion seeds to float away with their
feathery fruits, or plant a seed in your garden and see it sprout. If you're
watching for birds, it's usually easy to assign gender to them; males are
generally pretty, while females are more drab, because in general, females pick
their mates! If you see many same-gender birds together, watch carefully - some
species are altruistic, several female or male birds may nest together to help
take care of offspring, just as extended family and friends care for our own
children. Join Jennifer this Thursday morning for more bird identification
features at Baylands Park in Sunnyvale.

Here are this week's events:

Monday, March 16th at 10 am we'll meet at John W Christian Greenbelt. Amy L. and
little Adelina will lead a walk along the lovely wide, paved greenbelt in
Sunnyvale and Santa Clara. Dogs allowed. We'll take a break around the halfway
point for the trip, to play at the large playground for toddlers, along the
greenbelt. Meet at the pedestrian bridge on Ahwanee Avenue and San Junipero
Drive (the bridge is just NW of San Junipero Dr.). Here is a Mapquest Map of the
Starting Location:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/Ahwanee+Ave+and+San+Junipero+Dr+Sunnyvale+CA/. For
more information about the trail, see the John W Christian Greenbelt Webpage
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/GreenbeltSunnyvale/GreenbeltSunnyvale.html).
If you're running late, call Amy at 650-207-6556.

Tuesday, March 17th at 9 am Loren and little Angelo will lead a mellow stroller
jog around Almaden Lake and down Los Alamitos Trail. Meet at the water dragon by
the big playground near the bathrooms and swimming beach in the main parking lot
near the intersection of Coleman Avenue and Almaden Expressway. No dogs allowed!
Jogging strollers are best, but this is an entirely paved trail, so
smaller-wheeled strollers are also OK. Walkers always welcome! For more
information about the area or directions, see The Los Alamitos Creek Trail
Webpage (http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/LosAlamitos/LosAlamitos.html). If
you're running late, call Loren at 831-227-6737.

Tuesday, March 17th at 1:30 pm Amy B. and her wee ones will lead a hike at
Sunnyvale Baylands Park. This trail is entirely paved, so any stroller will
work! Meet next to the recycled water test garden (take a left after entering
the park). For more information or directions, see the Baylands Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/BaylandsPark/BaylandsPark.html). Parking is
free this time of year. If you're running late, call Amy at 408-368-7161.

Wednesday, March 18th at 9:30 am we'll hike at Rancho San Antonio in
Cupertino/Los Altos Hills. We'll do an almost entirely paved, flat path going to
the farm, and possibly go past it. The road is perfect for trikes or bikes, if
toddlers or young children want to ride. Any baby transport will work. Meet at
the main lower parking lot at the water fountain in front of the bathrooms(just
past the entrance, turn right, then follow the road until it ends). For more
information or directions, see the Rancho San Antonio Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/RanchoSanAntonio/ranchoSanAntonio.html).
Sorry, dogs not allowed. This hike is at least half shaded. Lisa and little
Samuel will lead this hike. If you're running late, call Lisa at 650-892-8678.

Thursday, March 19th at 10 am come out to Sunnyvale Baylands for some Wetland
Ecology Education and Bird Watching. Stroll with Jennifer and Kayla to explore
the different flora and fauna of this area, and try to spot several bay birds.
The trails are paved or smooth packed sand, so any stroller will work! Meet next
to the recycled water test garden (take a left after entering the park). For
more information or directions, see the Baylands Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/BaylandsPark/BaylandsPark.html). Parking is
free this time of year. If you're running late, call Jennifer at 408-470-0463.

Thursday, March 19th at 4:30 pm come out for a Toddler Trek along Coyote Creek
Trail from Hellyer Park in San Jose. Bring a tricycle or bike and let's have fun
riding along this wide, paved trail alongside the lake and creek. We'll have
some fun talking about bike races and the race track here (velodrome). Meet in
the Hellyer Park Parking Lot. To get there, exit Hellyer Avenue from Highway
101, then follow signs to the park entrance. If you're running late, call Debbie
at 650-776-1082. This is a Santa Clara County Healthy Trails outing
(http://www.parkhere.org/portal/site/parks/).

Friday, March 20th at 10:30 am join Becky and her wee one for a brisk hike at
the Stanford Dish in Stanford/Palo Alto. Meet just inside the gate at the
Stanford Avenue/Junipero Serra Intersection. All baby transport works. For more
information about the trail or directions, see The Stanford Dish Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/StanfordDish/StanfordDish.html). If you're
running late, call Becky at 408-693-1842.

Enjoy the colors of spring!
-Debbie and little Max