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Page Revised: 2/4/05 |
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Available Sites Circle X Ranch |
Date of Review 2/4/05 & 1/22/05 &
1/14/05 |
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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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Circle X Ranch |
Grotto Trail |
Date: 2/4/05 |
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The trail is dry except for a few
muddy patches that are easy to avoid. Getting to the grotto itself is a
little different than a month ago because the stream bed has shifted a bit
and a few sections are still flooded. We counted forty three different species
in bloom but most are only lightly represented. Highlights include many
Greenbark Ceanothus, Purple Nightshade, and Wild Cucumber. In the reds the
California Peony is well along while the Crimson Pitcher Sage is just
beginning. Chaparral Currant, Milkmaids, scatterings of Wild Sweet Pea and a
few Winter Vetch blossoms add pink to the landscape. In the blues a large
patch of Stinging Lupine is close to the almost open buds of the Wishbone
Bush. Near the first waterfall several Blue Larkspur are open with a promise
of many more to come. Blue Dicks were plentiful in the grassy meadow. For
yellows we have along the lower trail both Bush Sunflower and Canyon
Sunflower with Telegraph Weed and Deerweed near the upper end. The whites
were well represented by Wild Cucumber, Wild Morning Glory, Virgin's Bower,
White Nightshade, and Popcorn Flower. Also in bloom along this trail were
California Everlasting, Two-tone Everlasting, Felt-leaf Everlasting,
California Buckwheat, Red-stem Filaree, Redberry, Bur-clover, Woolly Aster,
Elderberry, Yellow Sweet Clover, Pineapple Weed, Poison Oak, Mountain
Mahogany, Mule Fat, Miner’s Lettuce, Narrow-leaved Bedstraw, Black
Sage, Oxalis, Southern Tauschia, Arroyo Willow, Common Groundsel, and Black
Mustard. (TV) |
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Naturalist's rating: Fair |
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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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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 |
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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