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Page Revised: 2/29/08 |
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Available Site Reviews Upper Zuma/Trancas Cyns Circle X Ranch Rocky Oaks Leo Carrillo State Park Topanga State Park |
Date of Review 2-23-08 2-18-08, 2-10-08, 2-8-08. 2-14-08. 2-2-08. 1-23-08. |
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What's Blooming photo gallery: http://www.researchlearningcenter.com/bloom/bloom.htm |
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Now that the
winter rains have brought green plants to the trails we are getting more
questions about flowers. We have been getting informal reports that flowers
are beginning to appear at many locations. One report of interest was that a
spectacular field of shooting stars has appeared in their usual location on
the Mishe Mokwa trail at Circle X Ranch. That may well be for two weeks ago I
saw literally thousands of plants growing near that trail. Looking up at
the hills here at Circle X Ranch I see fewer bigpod ceanothus blooming now
than a week ago. It may well be that last year’s drought has caused the
ceanothus bloom to fizzle this year. Other gifts of
the recent rains are fresh clear air and the area's creeks and waterfalls
full of lively waters. On the other hand you might run into a bit of rock,
mud or even water on the trails so choose your footwear accordingly. Always
feel free to call the park office if you have questions about trail
conditions or closures. |
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Upper Zuma/Trancas Cyns |
Backbone Trail Encinal to Kanan |
Date: 2/23/08 |
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Today, 2/23, the [NPS sponsored] BBT
hike took us between Encinal and Kanan (Tunnel #1), through the upper
watersheds of Trancas and Zuma canyons.
We saw the following in bloom: purple night shade, green bark ceanothus,
chaparral currant, big pod ceanothus, deer weed, California everlasting ,
cucumber, wish bone, California buckwheat, morning glory, fuchsia flowering
gooseberry, telegraph weed, wooly aster, peony, willow, milk maids, mountain
mahogany, hummingbird sage, black sage, indian warrior. Enjoy. (RW) |
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Naturalist's rating: NR |
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Circle X Ranch |
Mishe Mokwa, Grotto, and Canyon View
trails |
Date: 2/18/08 |
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Still few flowers to be seen but a
few more of Spring’s early bloomers are appearing. Of note is the appearance
of blue larkspur on the Grotto trail and blue dicks on the Canyon view.
Shooting stars are beginning to appear in better numbers on the Mishe Mokwa
trail, although the spectacular crop of plants on that trail have hardly even
begun to bloom yet. Others that we have been seeing for some time include the
chaparral current, wishbone bush, wild cucumber, purple nightshade, prickly
phlox, and bigpod ceanothus. (lists
submitted by DS) |
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Naturalist's rating: NR |
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Rocky Oaks |
Miscellaneous Trails |
Date: 2/14/08 |
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A quick survey of several of the
trails turned up very little. In fact, overall, fewer flowers than we might
expect to see in the heat of the summer. The good news is that we saw many
small plants sprouting, in places quite thickly. Hopefully Spring is merely
late this year and a good bloom is still on the way. (TV) |
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Naturalist's rating: Poor, but hopeful |
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Circle X Ranch |
Mishe Mokwa and Grotto Trails |
Date: 2/10/08 |
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A quick hike of both the Mishe Mokwa
and Grotto trails was a big disappointment, especially given what these
trails can display this time of year. Very, very few spring flowers yet. In
fact, overall, fewer flowers than we might expect to see in the heat of the
summer. Spring seems to be slow to get going this year. We did see some nice
chaparral current, a few wild cucumbers and a scattering of shooting stars on
the Mishe Mokwa. The good news is that we saw many small plants sprouting, in
places quite thickly. For example, I saw literally thousands of the small
rosettes of the shooting star. Hopefully Spring is merely late this year and
a good bloom is still on the way.
(TV) |
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Naturalist's rating: Poor, but hopeful |
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Circle X Ranch and West |
Backbone Trail |
Date: 2/8/08 |
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Saturday, 2/8, the BBT hike walked
the new sections between Encinal, Mulholland and Etz Meloy Motorway. We saw the following blooms: Purple night
shade, Green bark ceanothus, chaparral currant, big pod ceanothus, deer weed,
mule fat, two-tone everlasting , cucumber, wish bone, California buckwheat,
morning glory, cliff aster, California fuchsia, slender sunflower, telegraph
weed, toyon. (RW) |
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Naturalist's rating: NR |
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Leo Carrillo State Park |
Nicholas Flat Trail |
Date: 2/2/08 |
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On Saturday (February 2) the Santa Monica
Mountains Trail Council and Sierra Club Trail Crew were doing a joint project
at Leo Carrillo State Park. Most
people worked the Willow Creek Trail.
A few of us went up the Nichols Flat trail from the campground up to
the upper ridge and I noted the following blooming plants: wild rose, bladder
pod, mule fat, sugar bush, wild cucumber, deer weed, cud-weed aster, morning
glory, white nightshade, chaparral currant, black sage, chamise, wishbone
bush, and possibly a big-gum plant.
All in all, spring is right around the corner and it looks to be a
promising wildflower year. (GS) |
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Naturalist's rating: NR |
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Topanga Canyon State
Park |
Musch Trail |
Date: 1/23/08 |
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From the Trippet Ranch parking lot. Walk
up the paved road. The pond that had
been completely dry for 18 months has been brimming with water for the past
two weeks. Several dozen mallards are
making use of it. Turn onto the signed
dirt trail at the top of the hill. The
rains have started to wake up the plants.
While there are no extravagant floral displays the flowers are
starting to come out. On this hike I
saw chaparral current, wild cucumber, fuchsia flowering gooseberry,
California everlasting, California buckwheat, golden yarrow, sticky monkey
flower, telegraph weed, purple and white nightshade, California fuchsia,
black sage, big pod ceanothus, cudweed aster, and prickly phlox. Not bad for January. (DS) |
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Naturalist's rating: NR |
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Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area 401 West
Hillcrest Drive 805-370-2301 |
Thank
you for your
contributions: Bob Sweet |
If you
would like to contribute to the wildflower report: e-mail: or phone
Tony at 310-457-6408 |
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