Page Revised: 3/25/05

 

Available Sites

Circle X Ranch
Charmlee Wilderness Park
Nicholas Flat
Leo Carrillo State Beach

Cold Creek Area
Zuma/Trancas Canyons
Peter Strauss Ranch
Point Mugu State Park
Rocky Oaks
Rancho Sierra Vista
Paramount Ranch
Cold Creek Preserve
Malibu Creek State Park
Arroyo Sequit

Date of Review

3/23/05 3/21/05 & 3/15/05 & 2/15/05 & 2/12/05
3/17/05
3/17/05
3/17/05
3/14/05
3/12/05 & 3/10/05 & 2/13/05
3/11/05
3/10/05
3/7/05
3/6/05 & 1/25/05
3/5/05
3/3/05
3/1/05
2/3/05

See the photo gallery of What’s Blooming at: http://www.nps.gov/samo/bloom/bloom.htm

The recent heavy rains have damaged some of the Rec Area’s trails. If you are not up to mud, stream crossings, and climbing into and out of washouts you might want to call the park office to check on trail conditions.

 

Circle X Ranch

Backbone Trail below Triunfo Peak

 Date: 3/23/05

 

 

        This trail is one of the newest sections of the Backbone Trail has been crafted with much care (when the trail was new someone did a good chunk of it in a wheelchair). As the trail has aged grass is taking over in places and displacing the pioneering wildflowers. The recent heavy rains have exposed rocks and caused several slides including one place were it is necessary to leave the trail to get around several massive boulders.  The gentle slope of the trail encourages water to pool on the trail making mud a frequent acquaintance after a rain.  The trail itself runs about six miles from the Mishe Mokwa trailhead to Yerba Buena Road at about mile 9.10.  I decided to come back on Yerba Buena and make a loop of it, adding another two miles (and about ten flowers to the count).  Be careful if you choose to do this since Yerba Buena has very little shoulder in some places.  On the weekends the heavier, often fast traffic might make this not a good idea.  Including the road, 96 different flowers were seen blooming.  However, much of the trail is not heavily flowered so I have only given this trail a “good” rating.

        Highlights include many Hollyleaf Cherry, the deep blue Hairy-leaved Ceanothus, several different species of Lupines, Prickly Phlox, Wild Morning Glory, masses of Blue Dicks, many Star Lilies, Chia, frequent encounters with Parry's Phacelia, a beautiful Fuchsia-flowered Gooseberry, several areas with Twining Snapdragon, Catalina Mariposa Lily (along the road), some Blue Larkspur, Chocolate Lily, Chinese Houses, Bush Monkey Flower, and a small creek surrounded by Red-skinned Onion.

        Also seen blooming were Annual Cat's Ear, Popcorn Flower, California Buckwheat, Wild Cucumber Golden Yarrow, Red-stem Filaree, White-stem Filaree, Annual Bedstraw, Narrow-leaved Bedstraw, California Filago, Eucrypta, Mountain Mahogany, Hollyleaf Redberry, Miner's Lettuce, Black Sage, Black Mustard (and three other unidentified mustards), Elderberry, Scrub Oak, Coast Live Oak, Purple Nightshade, Sow Thistle, Prickly Sow Thistle, Common Groundsel, Chamise, Greenbark Ceanothus, Bigpod Ceanothus, Hedge Nettle, Fiesta Flower, Two-tone Everlasting, California Everlasting, Canyon Sunflower, Bush Sunflower, Pacific Sanicle, Southern Tauschia, Yellow Monkey Flower, Creek Monkey Flower, Narrow-leaved Fringe-Pod, Pigmy Weed, Deerweed, Strigose Lotus, Coastal Lotus, Coulter's Lupine, Stinging Lupine, Bush Lupine, Collar Lupine, Henbit, Windmill Pink, Silver Puffs, Rock rose, Mustard Evening Primrose, Small Evening Primrose, Woolly Blue-curls, Bleeding Heart, Wishbone Bush, Horehound, Spanish Broom, Bigberry Manzanita, Bur Clover, Virgin's Bower, Skullcap, Rattlesnake Weed (Daucus pusillus), Owl Clover, Shooting Stars, Yellow Pincushion, Coast Goldfields, Poison Oak, Pineapple Weed, California Plantain, Woolly Lomatium, Field Clover, California Poppy, Chaparral Current, Turkey pea, Wild Radish, Cheeseweed, White Sweet Clover, Yellow Sweet Clover, and Blow Wives.  (TV)

 

Naturalist's rating: Good

 

Circle X Ranch

Mishe Mokwa and Sandstone Peak Trails

 Date: 3/21/05

 

 

        This six mile loop is quite popular, and while it often lags the nearby Canyon View trail in flower diversity, it more than makes up in grandeur of views. If you don't want to do the whole six mile loop and are mostly interested in flowers then the section from the trailhead to split rock usually shows three-quarters of the flowers of the whole loop. The trail is still muddy in places because of persistent springs along the trail, but most of the mud is shallow or avoidable.

        On 3/21/05 we hiked the Mishe Mokwa Trail primarily to view the chocolate lilies before they were done for the season. We were not disappointed, perhaps a dozen were blooming in the usual section along the trail. I noticed that quite a few of the plants exhibited the cut stems where a lily should have been. The trail was muddy is places, but readily traversed. Including the grasses some 69 species were found in bloom almost all in good quantities. A rating of good is assigned for this display.

        White and yellow flowers made up two thirds of the blooms. The whites included chamise, Calif. buckwheat, Catalina Mariposa lily, big pod ceanothus and lots of popcorn flower. A single cliff aster but a fair amount of wooly lomatium and miner's lettuce was seen. The usual morning glory, holly leaf red berry, eucrypta, wild cucumber, and two-tone everlasting were also present. A very unusual white bloom was found among a stand of Parry's phacelia, exhibiting the same leaves and large exserted white anthers of the typical deep purple Parry's phacelia. Perhaps this was Parry's ghost. Lace pod, holly leaf cherry, virgin's bower, poison oak, Calif. saxifrage, Calif. everlasting, and sandbar willow made up the rest of the white shaded blooms.

        The yellow/golden colors were represented by bur clover, deerweed, golden yarrow, sow thistle, strigose lotus, silver puff and a small evening primrose tentatively identified as yellow sun cup. Also in this group were common groundsel, yellow monkey flower, slender bedstraw, southern tauschia, snakeroot, Calif. collarless poppy and bush monkey flower. Rounding off this list were both mustard and miniature evening primrose, canyon sunflower, coast goldfield, and American winter cress. The red tinged colors were represented only by wild sweet pea, owl's clover and chaparral current.

        The violet/blue/purple color group contributed red stem filaree, black sage, blue dick, wooly blue curl and chia. Also seen were stinging lupine, purple night shade, chocolate lily, Parry's phacelia, and both dove and collar lupines. A violet snapdragon, some globe gilia, hairy leaf ceanothus and blue larkspur were also contributors. A strange green gall was found in several locations on a hoary leaf ceanothus. Also an unusual sight was the mass of what is believed to be spore cells rising above the thick moss with their little round green capsule supported on a 1/4 to 1/2 inch stalk.

         Grasses are plentiful and they included slender oats, Madrid brome, foxtail barley, golden top, red brome, blue grass, soft brome, and broom sedge grass. Some less frequently seen bird's foot fern was also seen.  (RWM)

 

Naturalist's rating: Good

 

Charmlee Wilderness Park

Fire Trail

 Date: 3/17/05

 

 

         Good wildflowers are blooming here, but you’ll need to find your own way around the park. There are no maps available and signage is very poor. As you cross from the bathrooms into the picnic area, take the trail to the left. This trail takes you into the area where the burn was two years ago. While flowers are fair at first, once you get into the burn area, you’ll find patches ranging from good to very good. We counted more than 50 species in bloom. There are lots of variety and good coverage. Highlights are fields of long beaked storks bill (non native, but very nice), along with fire followers like violet (twining) snapdragon, branching, caterpillar and Parry’s phacelias. We went to the cistern, then retraced our steps.  (SB)

 

Naturalist's rating: Good to very good

 

Nicholas Flat

Decker School Rd Trail to Pond

 Date: 3/17/05

 

 

         In a rainy year, this short, shady trail reminds you more of central and northern California with its dense greenery and profusion of miner’s lettuce, canyon sunflower, bedstraw, hummingbird sage, and snakeroot. But most was yet to bloom—give it a few more weeks. Once the trail opened out into hillside meadows, blue-eyed grass was hiding in the tall annual grass, and a few chocolate lilies and shooting stars lingered. Other notables among the 25 flowering species included clumps of coast paintbrush, fiddlenecks, golden yarrow, greenbark ceanothus, cucumber, and windmill pinks. With the pond brimming, two pairs of sharp ring-necked ducks dabbled among the water plants, soon to be heading north. (JG)

 

Naturalist's rating:  Fair

 

Leo Carrillo State Beach

Loop Trail to Ocean Overlook

 Date: 3/17/05

 

 

     This 2-mile trail is always a surprise especially if you hit it at peak season—which is starting right now. 60 species were counted with many profuse, yet often  seen in just small pockets over a short distance. Since the trail provides good elevation gain and slopes face many sun angles, micro-habitats are provided for plants with special needs. Of particular note was the high percentage of native bunch grasses along the whole trail, mostly nassella pulchra (needlegrass). Also continuous were bush sunflowers, morning glory, deerweed, mustard evening primrose, popcorn, sticky monkey flower, black sage, narrow-leaved bedstraw, wishbone bush, Parry’s phacelia, blue dicks, coast paintbrush, and locoweed. Those seen in pockets included mariposa lilies (along the first half-mile), scarlet buglers (middle-mile), 5 lupines—bush, bajada, collar, foothill, and stinging (in pockets), chia sage, bladder pod, prostrate spurge, coast lotus, Indian pinks, and CA plantain. A GREAT mix—get on out there. It should be good through early April. (JG)

 

Naturalist's rating: Very Good-Excellent

 

Circle X Ranch

Grotto Trail

 Date: 3/15/05

 

 

        This popular trail is dry except for a few muddy patches that are easy to avoid. Getting to the grotto itself is a little different than in the past because the heavy rains have shifted the stream bed a bit and several sections are still deeply flooded. It is not wise to climb in the greenery near the creek or travel some of the new social trails because of the poison oak.

        Highlights include Blue Dicks, Nightshades, Hollyleaf Cherry, Chinese Houses, Fiesta Flower, Blue Larkspur, California Saxifrage, Star Lily, Bush Monkey Flower, Catalina Mariposa Lily, Parry's Phacelia, Crimson Pitcher Sage, Hedge Nettle, Blue-eyed Grass, and Wishbone Bush.

        Also seen were Red-stem Filaree, White-stem Filaree, Yellow Sweet Clover, Black Sage, Black Mustard, Wild Cucumber, California Everlasting, Two-tone Everlasting, Golden Yarrow, California Buckwheat, Deerweed, Wild Morning Glory, Mule Fat, Bur Clover, Annual Cat's Ear, Bush Sunflower, Canyon Sunflower, Small-flowered Evening Primrose, Mustard Evening Primrose, Pineapple Weed, Dove Lupine, Strigose Lotus, Windmill Pink, Telegraph Weed, Common Fiddleneck, White Nightshade, Purple Nightshade, Climbing Bedstraw, Annual Bedstraw, Narrow-leaved bedstraw, Curly Dock, Pacific Sanicle, Poison Oak, Common Groundsel, Eucrypta, Sow Thistle, Thread Stem, California Filago, Black Walnut, Sow Thistle, Hollyleaf Redberry, Miner's Lettuce, Fringe pod, Common Chickweed, Winter Vetch, Spring Vetch, Slender Pectocarya, Chamise, Mountain Mahogany, Southern Tauschia, Greenbark Ceanothus, Popcorn Flower, Wild Sweet Pea, Sugar Bush, and Scarlet Pimpernel. All told about 70 species in bloom. (TV)

 

Naturalist's rating: Good

 

Cold Creek Area

Upper Stunt High Trail

 Date: 3/14/05

 

 

         Watch for the trailhead for this obscure trail on Stunt Road at the equestrian crossing road sign. Views of surrounding rocks are excellent as you descend the one mile trail. Although the manzanitas blooms are just about finished, there are still some in bloom plus about a dozen other species such as chamise and wooly blue curls which make the walk worthwhile. As you finish, cross Stunt Road and continue down the road a short distance to the Stunt Ranch area to continue your walk onto the Stunt High Trail.  (SB)

 

Naturalist's rating:  Good

 

Cold Creek Area

Stunt High Trail

 Date: 3/14/05

 

 

         Parking for this trailhead is on Stunt Road about 1 mile in from Mulholland Highway. Across the street is the entrance to the Calabasas Fire Road. We parked here and drove another car up Stunt Road where this trailhead starts at the telephone pole at the upper end of Stunt Ranch, UCLA Reserve parking. The two mile trail descends through the Stunt Ranch property to the creek where we turned right to continue along the creek back to the lower parking lot. Lots of flowers are in bloom here. We counted 35 species spaced along the trail with a good variety, blue dicks, eucrypta, wild cucumber, nightshade and mariposa lilies.   By far the highlights of this walk were the masses of red maids, fiddleneck and owl’s clover blooming in the meadow in the center of the walk and the baby blue eyes blooming along the bottom portion of the trail along the creek.    (SB)

 

Naturalist's rating:  Good

 

Circle X Ranch
Trancas Canyon
Upper Zuma Canyon

The Backbone Trail

 Date: 3/12/05

 

 

        This hike was the fourth of the NPS 2004-2005 Backbone Trail Series. We will be hiking the entire Backbone Trail, one part each month and reporting on the flowers seen. This hike was from the Mulholland Trailhead near Circle X Ranch East to Kanan Road: a distance of 6.8 miles. The segments hiked included the newest section of the trail running from Mulholland Highway to Encinal Canyon Road, Trancas Canyon Trail, Edison Road to Yellow Gate on Encinal Canyon Road, Encinal Canyon Road to Zuma Fire Road, and Zuma Fire Road to Upper Zuma Section to Kanan Road. The weather started out with a low overcast, clearing off to sunny just as we got to the greatest climb of the day.

        We recorded seeing 75 species in bloom, with a couple additional ones in question.  You probably have read in the newspaper that many seldom seen flowers are appearing as a result of the extensive rains. That was our experience, seeing Indian Warrior along the Upper Zuma section and a Violet Snapdragon along the new section just below Mulholland Highway.

        The flowers are more numerous this year and generally larger in size. The normally shy Twining Snapdragon was plentiful on the newest section of trail. The recently disturbed soil encourages many of the fire follower species such as the Parry’s Phacelia. At least four varieties of Lupine were blooming: Succulent, Bush, Stinging and Dove.  This new section of trail was constructed through some old chaparral and the lichens are spectacular, but that is another story. Eucrypta is plentiful in the damp, shaded area. Descending into Trancas Canyon we saw many Milkmaids and Pacific Sanicle, and as we climbed back up Mustard Evening Primrose and Small Flower Evening Primrose were plentiful. California Poppies are spectacular along the Zuma Fire Road.  Prickly Phlox added to the scene as we viewed the surprising volume of water at the Upper Zuma Waterfall. About the midpoint of the Upper Zuma Canyon section we saw a number of Indian Warrior. Nearing Kanan we saw a Western Redberry and an awesome display of Bush Lupine. Almost at the end of the hike was a grouping of delicate Lace Pod.

        Rating is very good. We have to leave some rating room for even better displays in the next month or so.  (BE and TV)

 

Naturalist's rating: Very Good

 

Peter Strauss Ranch

Peter Strauss Trail

 Date: 3/11/05

 

 

        This small unit, with its short Peter Strauss Trail, is perfect for a picnic and an afternoon stroll. It is also more developed than many of the other units so there are more non-natives and fewer examples of dramatic wildflower displays. There are, however, planted gardens near the house and lawn which contain interesting examples of cultivated flowers.

        Wildflower highlights include Milkmaids, Wild Sweet Pea, Purple Nightshade, Crimson Pitcher Sage, Buck-brush, and Angel's Gilia.

        Also seen blooming were Chickweed, Pacific Sanicle, Annual Bedstraw, Celery, Miners Lettuce, Wild Cucumber, Knotted Hedge Parsley, Hollyleaf Redberry, Bur Clover, both Red and White-stem Filaree, Fuchsia-flowered Gooseberry, Mountain Mahogany, Henbit, Spring Vetch, and Weedy Oxalis. (TV)

 

Naturalist's rating: Fair

 

Point Mugu State Park

La Jolla Canyon Trail

 Date: 3/10/05

 

 

        On 10 March, 2005 we hiked the La Jolla Canyon Trail from PCH to the pond and trail campsite in the valley. The promise noted about two months ago is being fulfilled along this trail. We identified 79 species, including the grasses, that were in bloom with good quantities of most of them. I would rate this a very good and hope that it gets even better. Immediately onto the trail we spotted bush monkey flower, cliff aster, giant coreopsis, bush sunflower and bladder pod. Amongst the many grasses noted were ripgut brome, Madrid brome, golden top, red brome, slender oats, fountain grass, and Dallas grass. Proceeding along the trail we encountered red-stem filaree, morning glory, S. Calif. locoweed, sour clover, golden yarrow, sow thistle, and even poison oak displaying their flowers. Bush mallow was seen as well as an unusual lavender datura. Tree tobacco, mule fat, deerweed and bur clover were also present. Yucca was seen on the hillsides and both two-tone and velvet leaf everlasting were blooming. Coast paint brush provided the only red color, but several lupines were present including hillside, dove, stinging and Coulter. Blue dicks were plentiful and a few Calif. buckwheat. The fern-leaf phacelia, mustard evening primrose, sweet fennel and pop corn flower added to the trail side bouquets. Only a couple of Parry's phacelia were out, but the wishbone bush was plentiful as was the hedge mustard and wild sweet pea. We also saw Calif sagebrush, chaparral current, green bark ceanothus and wild cucumber. A number of the Calif. walnut were displaying their catkins and both annual and slender bedstraw were blooming. A lot of the rigid hedge nettle were in flower as well as the southern tauschia. Common groundsel, eucrypta, purple nightshade, western wallflower, fiesta flower and canyon sun flower were also present. The first Calif figwort was seen as was snake root, miner's lettuce, fuchsia flowered gooseberry, big pod ceanothus, sticky phacelia and lemonade berry bush. A couple of white nightshade plants were blooming and western ragweed, scarlet pimpernel, chamise, and wooly aster were also found. A single star lily and several Catalina Mariposa lilies  and a faded group of shooting stars were found near the pond at the turnaround point of the hike. On the return trip horehound and ashy leafed buckwheat were spotted that we had missed on the way up. Also seen on the return leg were cheese weed, dandelion and London rocket.  (RWM)

 

Naturalist's rating: Very Good

 

Zuma/Trancas Canyons

Backbone Trail between Latigo and Kanan

 Date: 3/10/05

 

 

         This short section of the Backbone trail is only 2.3 miles and consequently is easily done as a there-and-back hike. As the number of blooming flowers increases it become more difficult to select highlights, but they would have to include Bush Poppy, Purple Nightshade, Milkmaids, Indian Paintbrush, Bush Lupine, Wild Sweet Pea, Blue Dicks, Globe Gilia, Crimson Pitcher Sage, Blue-eyed Grass, and both Parry's and Sticky Phacelia. 

        Also seen were at least four additional species of Lupines including Dove, Collar, Succulent and Coulter's Lupine, California Filago, Popcorn Flower, Black Mustard, Caterpillar Phacelia, Chamise, both Bush and Canyon Sunflower, Golden Yarrow, both Greenbark and Bigpod Ceanothus, Eucrypta, Miners Lettuce, Pacific Sanicle, Wild Morning Glory, Wild Cucumber, Bush Monkey Flower, California Peony, California Buckwheat, Elderberry, Greenbark Ceanothus, both Red and White-stem Filaree, Shiny Lomatium, Scrub Oak, Annual and Climbing Bedstraw, Hollyleaf Redberry, Poison Oak, Black Walnut, Bur-clover, Common Fiddleneck, Common Groundsel, Deerweed, and Two-tone Everlasting. All told about 50 species in bloom.  (TV)

 

Naturalist's rating: Good

 

Rocky Oaks

Loop Trail to Grotto

 Date: 3/7/05

 

 

         We just had a quick go-round on the southern-most trail to grotto area, but viewed some of the most robust CA poppies and chocolate lilies ever. The lilies were tucked under some chaparral in a soggy section, with 2-foot flower stalks and multiple wide blooms. Some of the other dozen species included a less common lupine (bajada?), canyon sunflower, milkmaids, popcorn and star lily. (JG)

 

Naturalist's rating: Good

 

Rancho Sierra Vista

Satwiwa loop

 Date: 3/6/05

 

 

         The meadow areas of loop are overgrown with mature, non-native grasses and grains and the usual mix of mustard, radish and purple vetch flowers. However, the hillsides and upper part of loop had a good selection of native blooms including the first-in-area windmill and Indian pinks, chamise, blue-eyed grass, black sage and toyon. Other notables included bevies of blue dicks, shooting stars, hedge nettle, fiddlenecks and a patch of johnny-jump-ups (violets). All told, about 30 species with more popping all the time. (JG)

 

Naturalist's rating: Good

 

Paramount Ranch

Various Trails

 Date: 3/5/2005

 

 

        Coyote Trail (fair) - Creek alongside trail is currently flowing, adding sound and beauty to the first section of this short trail. Owls clover, fiddleneck, and blue dicks are common at the beginning and a few wooly blue curls, California poppies, and big pod ceanothus are blooming towards the connection with the Hacienda Trail. Trail has ruts due to rain flowing down the center of the trail.

        Lower Hacienda Trail (good) - Trail is muddy with standing water in the center of the trail but is passable. Small patches of Johnny Jump-ups, California poppies and vetch are common. A couple varieties of lupine are just starting to bloom. This trail gives an opportunity to see rolling hills of green grass, dotted with patches of yellow and orange.

        Backdrop Trail (fair) - Several variety of blue bloomers can be found, chia, prickly lupine, blue dicks, greenbark ceanothus, Parry's phacelia, and blue larkspur. Other species that can be discovered are windmill pink, prickly phlox, and bigpod ceanothus. Trail has muddy sections. Note: This trail connects to the Bwana Trail which has standing water on the trail and is very muddy at this time. Flowers along the Bwana trail are poor.  (KL)

 

Naturalist's rating: Fair to Good

 

Cold Creek Preserve Area

Various Trails

 Date: 3/3/05

 

 

        On March 3, 2005 we hiked along a couple of adjacent trails off Stunt Road. In the Cold Creek Preserve. The 1 1\4 mile round trip trail along upper Cold Creek was first explored and then the Calabasas Motorway to Calabasas Peak was traveled for about 3 miles round trip. Including the grasses, 55 species were found to be blooming rating a good. The trail along Cold Creek was muddy in a few places, but readily traversable. The babbling of the brook was approaching a roar as the volume of water flowing is still considerable. Seen along this trail was red stem filaree, greenbark ceanothus, hedge mustard and several types and sizes of toadstools and lots of lush moss. Golden yarrow, wild cucumber, blue dicks, pineapple weed and bur clover were plentiful. Purple nightshade, a few canyon sunflowers, and wild sweet peas were also in bloom. Numerous milkmaids were present and a lot of snakeroot, but only a few in full bloom. Miner's lettuce was plentiful and lush and a few baby blue eyes were spotted. Hairy leaved ceanothus was displaying its blue flowers as was black sage. Some Venus hair fern was seen as was a fair amount of two-tone everlasting. The usual morning glory was in bloom as was the less commonly seen mustard evening primrose. The strigose lotus, windmill pink and London rocket were also discovered. Some of the grasses displaying their new inflorescences were slender oats, ripgut brome, wild oats, red brome and Madrid brome.

        On the trail up to Calabasas Peak several lupines were present: Coulter's, collared, dove, hillside and in profuse quantity the beautiful red/purple stinging lupine. In several large stands along the trail were popcorn flower and a few fiddlenecks. Amongst the phacelias seen were the sticky phacelia, fern-leaf, and fiesta flower. A number of wishbone bushes, bush sunflower and elderberry were also exhibiting flowers. A few bush monkey flowers were present and a lot of Chilean clover. A single collarless Calif. poppy and several prickly phlox were also in bloom. The only red was a few brilliant coast paint brushes. The fragrant and brilliant yellow of the Spanish broom was sprinkled along the way. Black mustard, Calif. buckwheat, coast live oak, big-pod ceanothus, and sour clover completed the floral bouquet for the day.  (RWM)

 

Naturalist's rating: Good

 

Malibu Creek State Park

High Road to Visitor Center

 Date: 3/1/05

 

 

        Flowers are starting to bloom nicely here, but you have to look carefully. Take the path marked 'back country trails' (Crags Road) and see colorful displays of wildflowers emerging from the grasses: small golden yellow bur clover flowers, blue balls of globe gilia, baby blue eyes, reddish purple balls of owl's clover and darker blue curls of phacelia mixed with the white stars of wild cucumber vines and the occasional violet-purple whorls of chia.  Highlights are the contrasting colors of the flowers and the occasional willow trees covered with white fluff. Taking the high road when the road splits (the low road is not passable) brings you under the oaks to the bridge. Views of the creek are excellent, in fact, Malibu Creek is so big it seems more like Malibu River. Frogs are croaking, Sara's Orange Tip butterflies are flying and swallows are swooping. Spring flowers are expected to get better each week.  (SB)

 

Naturalist's rating: Fair

 

Rocky Oaks

Various trails

 Date: 2/13/05

 

 

        Winter storms have filled the pond at Rocky Oaks to the highest level seen in years. The picnic table that was formerly beside the water is now in the water which did not seem to bother the ducks floating on the pond. Most of the trails were pretty muddy and only a few flowers were starting to bloom. The highlights were seeing several large buckbrush (ceanothus cuneatus) in full bloom and several giant chocolate lilies. These lily plants that are generally less than a foot tall were two feet tall and just about to bloom. The area will definitely be worth a trip back to see those blooms.  (SB)

 

Naturalist's rating: Just beginning

 

Zuma/Trancas Canyons

Bonsall Trailhead

 Date: 2/13/05

 

 

        The Bonsall Trailhead for Zuma Canyon Trail was re-opened this week. A rough new trail now bypasses the washed out section. We checked out the by pass and found many things already in full bloom here. Chaparral sunflower has large burst of yellow flowers, a few elderberry are starting as are deerweed, mustard, and wild cucumber. As soon as the new section joins the old trail, the trail becomes very muddy. We re-traced our steps and enjoyed good views of the new streambed and flowing water.  (SB)

 

Naturalist's rating: Just beginning

 

Zuma/Trancas Canyons

Newton Trailhead

 Date: 2/13/05

 

 

        Most people are taking this trail to see the Newton Waterfall, and as they walk down the trail beside the north facing rock face, you can certainly hear the waterfall. You may also notice the beautiful greenbark ceanothus bushes and wild cucumber vines, but unless you make a point to look down, you will pass by  some of the most interesting small plants seen in some time. These small plants, mosses, lichens and ferns are beautiful, delicate and well worth looking at. Little white flowers of California lace pod and shepherd’s purse stand out against the background of dark rock. Lichens, mosses, and ferns (goldback fern, bird’s foot fern, and coastal wood fern) look like a tropical rain forest. Interspersed among them are larkspurs (delphinium patens), miner’s lettuce, saxifrage and small flowered meconella, a quite small white flower with six petals that is a member of the poppy family. Virgin’s bower and canyon sunflower are ready to bloom, but not out yet. (SB)

 

Naturalist's rating: Just beginning

 

Circle X Ranch

Canyon View Trail

 Date: 2/12/05

 

 

        This trail, running from the Sandstone Peak trailhead to the campgrounds passes through several ecosystems and consequently often has a wide variety of flowers represented. The trail drains well and is mostly dry and pleasant going even a few hours after a heavy rain, although the grass is now getting high enough in places to get shoes wet if done immediately after a rain. As it crosses a rock-bottomed creek and follows above the West Fork of the Arroyo Sequit it is frequently serenaded by the sound of running and falling water. Be sure to take a quick side trip of a few hundred yards and walk part way down the Grotto trail just below the small falls. This short “flower alley” is worth any flower enthusiast’s time.

        Highlights include masses of Blue Dicks, a large patch of Globe Gila, a small but dense patch of Skullcap, California Peony, frequent scatterings of Wishbone Bush, many Wild Cucumber, Hollyleaf Cherry, masses of Greenbark Ceanothus, what my wife and I call “The Valley of the Blue Curls,” a nice spray of Virgin's Bower, Shooting Stars, both Purple and White Nightshade, both Succulent and Stinging Lupine, Blue Larkspur, several Collarless California Poppy, a few Owl Clover, and a single Parry's Phacelia. It is always fun to see a new flower for the first time and for me it was the Twining Snapdragon.

        Completing the list we saw Wild Morning Glory, Common Fiddleneck, Popcorn Flower, Mule Fat, Miners Lettuce, Black Sage, Common Groundsel, Black Mustard, Woolly Aster, Henbit, Eucrypta, California Black Walnut, California Laurel, Mustard Evening Primrose, Narrow-leaved Fringe-pod, Golden Yarrow, Yellow Monkey Flower, Chaparral Current, Hollyleaf Redberry, California Saxifrage, Pineapple Weed, Mountain Mahogany, Elderberry, Western Sycamore, Deerweed, Pacific Sanicle, Telegraph Weed, Small Evening Primrose, California Buckwheat, Strigose Lotus, both Bush and Canyon Sunflower, both Yellow Sweet and Bur Clover, both Red-stem and White-stem Filaree, both Shiny and Woolly Lomatium, Felt-leaved, California, and Two-toned Everlasting, and Narrow-leaved, Climbing and Annual Bedstraw. We also saw several examples of Poison Oak in bloom -- a good reason to stay safe by staying on the trail. All told a count of 65 different species in bloom but since many have not yet really hit their stride we can't give as high a rating as we otherwise might. (TV)

 

Naturalist's rating: Good

 

Leo Carrillo /

Arroyo Sequit

Nicholas Flat /

Arroyo Sequit Loop Trail

 Date: 2/3/05

 

 

        On 2/3/05 we hiked two areas just a few miles apart, Nicholas Flat and Arroyo Sequit. We first entered the trail off Decker School Road and made a clockwise loop around the Nicholas Flat Area. We found the large pond to be full but extremely muddy, but with none of the water plants yet revived. We did find purple nightshade, wild cucumber, wild sweet peas and even some Vinca major blooming. Miner's lettuce was plentiful and snake root was starting to flower. A few fuchsia-flowered gooseberries, poison oak and hedge mustard also were in flower. Greenback ceanothus, both white and blue blossomed were conspicuously positioned along the way. In the grassy areas many fiddlenecks and some horehound were blooming along with slender oats and Calif. everlasting. Red stem filaree and blue dick were also present in the grasslands mostly. Some arroyo willow were sporting their catkins and the bur clover held aloft its tiny yellow flower. Some hold-over Western ragweed was seen and the canyon sunflower was starting to bloom. Scarlet pitcher sage, bush monkey flower, black sage, deer weed, bush sunflowers and morning glory were also encountered. The masses of shooting stars continue to delight as does the coast paintbrush. Some hog fennel was spotted as well as popcorn flower, dandelion, several yucca, chaparral current and bigpod ceanothus and the tiny common groundsel. The trail was dry but deeply rutted with loose stones from the recent rains, requiring more attention to the trail than one would really like. This loop is about 3.5 miles and the bloom rating is still fair with about 22 species found to be in bloom.

        The second part of the hike was over the 1.5 mile loop at nearby Arroyo Sequit. Many of the same plants seen at Nicholas Flat were also seen on this part of the hike, but additionally wooly lomatium, holly-leaf redberry, Calif. peony, and Bermuda buttercup. Also seen were gum plant, prickly phlox, chamise (budding), and shiny lomatium. Two-tone everlasting and felt-leaf everlasting were found as were elderberry, telegraph weed, and eucrypta. The prize, for me, was several Indian warriors, the first that I have found. The bloom rating was fair and the two creek crossings which had been washed out were found to be significant obstacles since they were sheer eight foot banks that someone had hacked some foot holds in to aid in descending and ascending. (RWM)

 

Naturalist's rating: Fair

 

Rancho Sierra Vista /
Point Mugu State Park

Wendy and Upper Sycamore Canyon Trails

 Date: 1/25/05

 

 

        On Jan. 25, 2005 we hiked down the Wendy Trail and made a 5.5 mile loop around the area returning from the South along the Upper Sycamore Canyon Trail with a stop at the Waterfall before returning to the trail head on Portrero Canyon Rd. The weather was cool and comfortable, the trail dry in most places and the flowering species observed numbered 54 warranting a good rating for the first time this year. Across the grasslands the wild radish dominated with colors of lavender, lavender and white, white, yellow and rose observed. The usual hedge mustard was present, but the less frequently seen hog fennel and Johnny-jump-ups were also seen. Blue dick, big-pod ceanothus, morning glory, deerweed and a single rose in a large stand of wild rose were observed along the way. Red stem filaree and quite a few shooting stars were on display as well. Amongst the grasses in flower were both wild and slender oats and foxtail barley. Bush lupine were seen as well as stinging lupine. Several small stands of fiddleneck were in bloom as was the arroyo willow. Other trees blooming were an eucalyptus globulus, Calif. laurel and what appeared to be a domestic apricot along the trail to the waterfall. Bush sunflower and canyon sunflower were passed as were three of the everlasting: Calif., velvet leaf, and two-toned.  The ubiquitous telegraph weed, common groundsel and some coyote bush and ragweed were still hanging around from last year. Horehound and black sage were both starting to bloom and the green-bark ceanothus was thick on the hillsides with a few adding their bouquet along the trail. The first popcorn flower, wishbone bush, and golden yarrow for this year were starting to bloom. The sow thistle and wild cucumber were still blooming as well as a couple of wooly asters and purple sage. There was a lot of wild sweet pea seen and a few scarlet pitcher sage blooming. Holly leaf redberry, and chaparral current and poison oak displayed their blooms in various locations. Seen for the first time this year was miner's lettuce and fiesta flower. Virgin's bower was blooming wildly as it crawled over the adjacent chaparral. Milkmaid and blue larkspur and eucrypta was spotted along the trail to the waterfall. Also seen in passing were some bur clover and Calif. collarless poppy.

        The water fall was pouring copious quantities of water down its cascade and the babble of the running water in the stream was a constant sound to be heard throughout the hike up the Upper Sycamore Canyon trail. Even the accursed "macadam road" was a pleasant walk since we chose to go down it and hike back up via the Upper Sycamore Canyon Trail. (RWM)

 

Naturalist's rating: Good

 


 

 

Contact Information:

 

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

 

401 West Hillcrest Drive
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

 

Ph. 805-370-2301

 

web. www.nps.gov/samo

 

Thank you

 

for your contributions:

 

Sheila Braden
Jack Gillooly
Ken Low
Robert W. Maughmer
Tony Valois

If you would like to contribute to the wildflower report:

 

e-mail:
Tony_Valois@partner.nps.gov

 

or phone him at 310-457-6408