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Page Revised: 2/3/05 |
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Available Sites Rancho Sierra Vista |
Date of Review 1/25/05 & 1/15/05 |
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See the photo gallery of
What’s Blooming at: http://www.nps.gov/samo/bloom/bloom.htm |
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Recent heavy rains have
damaged some of the Rec Area’s trails. If you are not up to stream
crossings and climbing into and out of washouts you might want to call the
park office to check on trail conditions. |
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Rancho Sierra Vista |
Wendy and Upper
Sycamore Canyon Trails |
Date: 1/25/05 |
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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. (RMW) |
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Naturalist's rating: Good |
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Circle X Ranch |
Backbone Trail below Triunfo
Peak |
Date: 1/22/05 |
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This Hike ran from the Eastern
intersection of the Backbone trail with Yerba Buena Road to the Sandstone
Peak trailhead, a distance of about 5.5 miles. We are now seeing new flowers
every trip out and counted twenty-four species in bloom (including the weedy
ones like black Mustard and Common Groundsel). Ceanothus were represented by
Bigpod, Greenbark and the beginnings of a few Hairy-leaved Ceanothus. Bush
Sunflower, Hollyleaf Redberry, Wild Cucumber and Chaparral Current were
plentiful in spots as were Woolly Lomatium and Purple Nightshade. The
diminutive Bur Clover, Small Evening Primrose and Popcorn Flower were only
seen in only a few scattered locations and required a sharp eye. Black Sage
and Deerweed had begun to bloom in several locations and although already
blooming elsewhere I saw my first Morning Glory, Wild Peony and Yellow Monkey
Flower blooming here at Circle X this day. Just below the Mishe Mokwa trail
we encountered a good-sized field of Shooting Stars. Scattered holdouts from
the last blooming season included a few Twiggy Wreath Plants, some Coyote
Brush, and even a Rock Rose. (TV) |
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Naturalist's rating: Fair |
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Point Mugu State Park |
La Jolla and Loop Trails |
Date: 1/18/05 |
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We got back on the trail again on a
beautiful warm and dry weekday morning. The trails of choice were the La
Jolla and Loop Trails on Jan. 18, 2005. During the hike of about 5.5 miles we
encountered 39 different species exhibiting blooms. Starting right from the
trail head we spotted bush sunflower, giant coreopsis, bladder pod, bush
mallow, mulefat, deer weed and morning glory. There were spots of coast
paintbrush throughout the hike with red-stem filaree, black sage, fountain
grass and Calif. everlasting also seen. Blue dicks were seen sporadically all
along the trails and some mustard was already showing color. The lemonade
berry bush was starting to bloom as well as a single chaparral yucca and
several bush monkey flowers. A single coast wallflower was found and a lot of
Southern Tauchia and wild sweetpea. Amongst the usual pink and white
sweetpeas was one plant with all pure white blooms. A few wild blackberries
were present and purple nightshade as well as one white nightshade plant.
Several Fuchsia flowered goose berries were in bloom as well as a lot of
chaparral current. Only a few bigpod ceanothus and greenbark ceanothus were
flowering. A few sweet fennel and Calif. sagebrush showed their flowers as
did the two-toned everlasting and purple sage. Several lupines were seen that
may have been of the foothill variety. Snakeroot, poison oak and common
groundsel was seen , but the special treat was a large group of shooting
stars. The large pond at the trail campsite was full and overflowing, but
muddy as could be. The last time we had been here the pond was completely
dry. The two waterfalls on the La Jolla Trail were flowing with copious
quantities of water and the little pond at the foot of the upper fall was
full and inviting. (This pond was also dry during our last visit). The trails were mostly dry, but were
like small river beds full of rocks from the water flow during the heavy
rains. Rating for blooms is a fair approaching good with lots of promise for
the weeks ahead. (RMW) |
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Naturalist's rating: Fair |
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Arroyo Sequit |
Loop Trail |
Date: 1/18/05 |
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The loop trail was dry and in good condition
but had several sections washed out by the recent heavy rains. It is now
necessary to climb down the deep and steep banks of the creek and cross the
creek by balancing on stones. If you are up to this moderate physical
activity then the 1.5 mile loop trail is worth the effort. As in several
other units in the Rec Area you now have the sound of water and a view of a
significant water falls. Most flowers are not out in great quantities yet. Flowers are immediately visible in
the small parking and on the paved road leading up to the loop trail. Look
for Spring Vetch, both White and Purple Nightshade, Greenbark Ceanothus,
California Fuchsia, Woolly Lomatium, Indian Warrior, Fuchsia-flowered
Gooseberry, Mule Fat, Hollyleaf Redberry, a good-sized patch of California
Peony, and once you get up to the house a beautiful stand of Bermuda
Buttercup. On the loop trail itself you can find Shooting Stars, several
Prickly Phlox, scatterings of Black Sage and Deerweed, and many Chaparral
Currant, Bush Sunflower, and Wild Cucumber. The Bigpod Ceanothus and the
Bigberry Manzanita are still blooming in places but most seem to be finished.
I also found examples of Wild Morning Glory, Canyon Sunflower, Golden Yarrow,
and Popcorn Flower. Looking carefully you can still find examples of Woolly
Aster, Gum Plant, Felt-leaf Everlasting, and Twiggy Wreath Plant. (TV) |
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Naturalist's rating: Fair |
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Rancho Sierra Vista |
Satwiwa garden |
Date: 1/15/05 |
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Satwiwa garden has nice early spring
blooms in a very small space. Many golden currants are in bloom along with a
few hummingbird sage plants. There is one small yellow monkeyflower along
with one or two fuchsia flowered gooseberry with multiple flowers. Both of
these are great plants for home gardens. Several blooming sugarbushes make a
nice backdrop for the garden. (SB) |
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Naturalist's rating: Fair |
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Rancho Sierra Vista |
Trail to the waterfall
and through upper Sycamore Canyon |
Date: 1/15/05 |
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Only a few flowers are out, but the
flowing stream and waterfall add to the general enjoyment of this 4.5 mile
trip. One morning glory has several flowers. Both chaparral sunflowers and
canyon sunflowers are trying to catch sun some after all the rain. Lots of
greenbark ceanothus is blooming and there are a few remnants of big pod
ceanothus still blooming. Also seen were California everlasting and purple
nightshade. (AS) |
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Naturalist's rating: Poor |
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Circle X Ranch |
Mishe Mokwa and
Sandstone Peak Trails |
Date: 1/14/05 |
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A very brief update to the report on
1/1/05: The trail condition is generally good but there are muddy patches and
there is one place where you have to pass a large rock completely covering
the trail. The stream crossing at Split Rock will require balancing on the
rocks in the streambed to keep your feet dry. The flower situation is
essentially the same as on 1/1/05. (TV) |
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Circle X Ranch |
Grotto Trail |
Date: 1/3/05 |
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Very few flowers on this two mile
round trip to the Grotto and back. This hike, done right after a rain, will not
include those flowers that remain closed in the cool of the day. Still a good
number of Big-pod Ceanothus blooming although many have lost their blossoms
to the heavy rains of the last week. A few of the Greenbark Ceanothus have
begun to show their pale blue blossoms and Wild Cucumber can be seen in
several places. Otherwise, the remaining flowers seen were pretty much
isolated examples and easily missed. Perhaps in compensation the lively
babble of the creek and the many visible waterfalls
were worth the walk on the muddy trail. (TV) |
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Naturalist's rating: Poor |
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Circle X Ranch |
Mishe Mokwa and
Sandstone Peak Trails |
Date: 1/1/05 |
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This hike is an annual New
Year’s Day event with the Conejo Group of the Sierra Club. The hike
consists of a counterclockwise loop, beginning up the Mishe Mokwa Trail and
coming back down the Sandstone Peak Trail, using the connector trail to get
back to the starting point; a distance of about 6 miles. This year the emergence of the usual
flowers is much later due to colder fall weather. Today a thick overcast
barely cleared Sandstone Peak. There are still a lot of Big Pod Ceanothus
blooming, but many are now forming seedpods. Without the sun, the Red Stem
Filaree flowers refused to open. The Chaparral Current is still quite
beautiful, in shades of red to light pink. A single Pearly Everlasting was
just beginning to bloom and Bay Laurel is budding. There is a fair amount of
mud in places on the trail. A few hours of sunshine would probably dry it
out. The sound of running water is everywhere. The stream crossing at Split
Rock is 8 to 10 feet wide. Side streams cross the trail on the way down from
the hillsides. About a tenth of a mile beyond Split Rock, on the right, is a
huge Chalk Live-Forever. I expected to find Silk Tassel in bloom in the area
of Split Rock, as in years past, but could only find dried tassels from last
season. There are Shooting Stars and Black Mustard coloring some of the
grassy areas. Many Bigberry Manzanita are blooming. After checking the flower
book I have come up with a good way to remember the difference between the
Bigberry and the Eastwood Manzanita:
the Eastwood variety is hairy, the Bigberry is not. Clint Eastwood
played Dirty Harry in the movies. (BE) |
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Naturalist's rating: Fair |
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Contact
Information: Santa
Monica Mountains National Recreation Area 401 West
Hillcrest Drive Ph.
805-370-2301 web. www.nps.gov/samo |
Thank
you for your
contributions: Sheila
Braden |
If you
would like to contribute to the wildflower report: e-mail: or phone
him at 310-457-6408 |
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