Lucky Oxalis LbNA #45691 (ARCHIVED)

Oxalis, a common plant, is variously known the world round as wood-sorrel, shamrock, false shamrock, sourgrass, to name a few. There are at least 800 species, are tasty and harmless in small portions and lethal eaten in quantity. Much like most people. In the redwood forests oxalis line the forest floor in abundance, especially noticeable in the damper months and shady spots.

To find the Lucky Oxalis Letterbox drive from Crescent City east nine miles on Hwy. 199 to Jedidiah Smith Redwood State Park. The California State Parks website speaks of the Smith River which runs through the park as “the last major free flowing river in California.” And it is a breath taking river, especially in its purity and color. Well, you will see . . .

And Jedidiah Smith was an intrepid explorer. Once more from the Park’s website: “the first white man to explore the interior of northern California. His journey through the coast redwood belt was part of a remarkable two-year trapping expedition which began in 1826. Smith pioneered a trail southwest from the Great Salt Lake across the Mojave Desert through the San Bernadino Mountains into California.”

Anyway, $6 day use fee unless you’re aged like The Olde Oak and only have to pay $5. Drive down to the Visitor’s Center, park and locate the restrooms. Behind the restrooms take the River Beach Trail to the right. Watch for oxalis which are common here. Keep walking until you hit the bench with the lovely deck. After you’ve sat and admired the river sufficiently, from the bench continue walking down the trail 12 steps. There to your right will be two redwoods which in time have joined at their bases. As you stand facing them reach out at about a height of two or three feet up from the trail and buried under a rock and redwood needles will the Lucky Oxalis Letterbox.

Please rehide carefully and close everything up tightly to guard against the constant moisture. Thanks for coming!