|
Page Revised: 5/7/05 |
|
|
Available Sites Malibu Creek State Park |
Date of Review 5/3/05 |
|
See the photo gallery of
What’s Blooming at: http://www.nps.gov/samo/bloom/bloom.htm |
|
|
In the interest of keeping
this What’s Blooming page
brief, but simultaneously providing access to past reports, we have created
an archive of previous reports which can be found at www.nps.gov/samo/bloom/archive/index.htm |
|
|
Many organizations are now
offering guided wildflower walks. You can check the Spring calendar of the
Santa Monica Mountains NRA, Outdoors, for more details. The on-line
version of this printed booklet can be found at http://www.nps.gov/samo/outdoors. |
|
|
In addition to the Rec
Area’s trails many of the roadsides are displaying beautiful stands of
flowers. Indeed, some flowers are encountered almost exclusively on the
roadsides. Some of my favorites include Mulholland Highway, Westlake
Boulevard, Deer Creek Road and Yerba Buena Road. Use caution when driving and
walking these roads for they are frequently very winding and have little or
no shoulder. Drivers on these roads can be fast and aggressive, especially on
the weekends. |
|
|
Malibu Creek State Park |
Crags Road / Bulldog Road |
Date: 5/03/05 |
|
|
|
The hike into Malibu Creek State
Park from the west end (Crags Drive) to the MASH site and including the lower
3/4 mile of Bulldog Motorway is really lovely right now. As of 4/30 and 5/3, species blooming included
purple clarkia (Clarkia purpurea), farewell-to-spring (Clarkia bottae),
elegant clarkia (Clarkia unguiculata), globe gilia (Gilia capitata),
chaparral gilia (Gilia angelensis), common linanthus (Linanthus parviflora),
blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum), woolly morning glory (Calystegia
malacophylla ssp. pedicellata), poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), scarlet
bugler (Penstemon centranthifolius), foothill penstemon (Penstemon
heterophyllus), chinese houses (Collinsia heterophyllus), California milkweed
(Asclepias californica), blue dicks (Dichelostemma capiatatum), golden yarrow
(Eriophyllum confertiflorum), owl's clover (Castilleja exserta), blue larkspur
(Delphinium parryi ssp. parryi), spreading larkspur (Delphinium patens ssp.
hepaticoideum), western vervain (Verbena lasiostachys var. lasiostachys),
black sage (Salvia mellifera), crimson pitcher sage (Salvia spathacea),
silver puffs (Uropappus lindleyi), smooth cat's ear (Hypochaeris glabra),
creek monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus), sticky monkey flower (Mimulus
aurantiacus), sticky madia (Madia gracilis), hareleaf (Lagophyllum
ramosissimum), miniature lupine (Lupinus bicolor), broad-leaved lupine (Lupinus
latifolius var. latifolius), bush lupine (Lupinus longifolius), scarlet
pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), water speedwell (Veronica
anagallis-aquatica), slender cottonweed (Micropus californicus), golden stars
(Bloomeria crocea), spring vetch (Vicia sativa), purple nightshade (Solanum
xanti), fiesta flower (Pholistoma auritum), California chicory (Rafinesquia
californica), caterpillar phacelia (Phacelia cicutaria), rock phacelia
(Phacelia egena), Spanish broom (Spartium junceum), deerweed (Lotus scoparius),
yucca (Yucca whipplei), woolly blue curls (Trichostema lanatum), chamise
(Adenostema fasciculatum), prickly phlox (Leptodactylon californicum),
fiddleneck (Amsinckia menziesii), fairy lanterns (Calochortus albus),
catalina mariposa lilies (Calochortus catalinae), chia (Salvia columbariae),
wild rose (Rosa californica), yellow pincushion (Chaenactis glabriuscula),
canyon sunflower (Venegasia carpesioides), california everlasting (Gnaphalium
californicum), popcorn flower (Cryptantha intermedia), bur-chervil
(Anthriscus caucalis), perennial peppergrass (Lepidium latifolium), buckwheat
(Eriogonum fasciculatum), and many other things that I can't remember
off-hand. (MC) |
|||
|
Naturalist's rating: Very
Good |
|||
|
Lower Zuma Canyon |
Zuma Canyon Trail / Zuma Loop Trail |
Date: 5/03/05 |
|
|
|
The lower section of Zuma Canyon has
a heavy burden of "weedy" non-native species. As you move out and
up you begin to see more native species and a greater overall diversity of flowers.
The Zuma Loop trail is better than the Zuma Canyon trail in this respect.
Altogether about 80 different species encountered. Highlights include Elderberry, Bull
Mallow, Milk Thistle, Nightshades, Coast Figwort, Sunflowers, Speedwell,
Popcorn Flowers, Lupines, Monkey Flowers, Henbit, Hedge Nettle, Fiesta
Flower, Blue Dick, California Buckwheat, Heart-leaved Penstemon, Red Bugler,
Yucca, Wild Morning Glory, Yarrows, Indian Pink, Chamise, Cutleaf Geranium,
Catalina Mariposa Lily, Indian Paintbrush, Blue-eyed Grass, Toyon, Purple
Sage, Slender Tarweed, Locoweed, and Wild Sweet Pea. (TV). |
|||
|
Naturalist's rating: Fair
to Good |
|||
|
Circle X Ranch |
Mishe Mokwa Loop |
Date: 5/02/05 |
|
|
|
While the trail is beginning to dry
out there was still a decent display of flowers. Several of the early
bloomers are definitely on the wane but others are really busting out in
spectacular displays of blossoms. It will be interesting to see how the recent
rains affect the flowers. The section of the trail from the trailhead to
split rock is the most productive for flower with 94 different species
encountered. Adding in the entire rest of the loop brings the total up to
114. The back section of the trail often shows flowers in bloom long after
they are done elsewhere. For example, Chaparral Current and Wild cucumber are
still in bloom back there and the Star Lilies are only beginning to bloom.
The Sandstone Peak section is often the poorest of for flowers, however, the
dense display of ordinary (even weedy) flowers that grow on this section
combined to produce a very nice palette of colors this time out. The great
display of Bush Lupine is worth mentioning. Highlights include: Evening
Primroses, Monkey Flowers, Wild morning Glory, several Phacelias including
Parry's and Yellow-throated, California Buckwheat, Clarkias including Purple
and Speckled, Nightshades, Chamise, Chinese Houses, Blue Dick, Pincushions,
Collarless California Poppy, Globe Gilia, Our Lord's Candle, Woolly Blue
Curls, Star Lily, Catalina Mariposa Lily, Red-skinned Onion, Lupines, Purple
Owl's Clover, Bird's Beak, Fiesta Flower, Hollyleaf Cherry, Wild Sweet Pea,
Pitcher Sage, Blue Larkspur, Snowberry, Woodland Star, and Prickly Phlox. (TV) |
|||
|
Naturalist's rating: Good |
|||
|
Circle X Ranch |
Canyon View Trail |
Date: 4/30/05 |
|
|
|
While the trail is beginning to dry
out and grasses and thistles are becoming more prominent there was still a
good display of flowers. It will be interesting to see how the recent rains
will affect the flowers. Ninety two different species encountered although
several of the early bloomers are definitely on the wane. Highlights include:
Evening Primroses, Monkey Flowers, Wild morning Glory, several Phacelias
including Large-flowered and Parry's, Clarkias, Nightshades, Chamise,
California Wild Rose, Blue-eyed Grass, Chinese Houses, Blue Dick, Wishbone
Bush, Pincushions, Collarless California Poppy, Globe Gilia, Turkish Rugging,
Our Lord's Candle, Woolly Blue Curls, Star Lily, Catalina Mariposa Lily,
Red-skinned Onion, Annual Paintbrush, an early Bush Mallow, Lupines, Purple
Snapdragon, Rock Rose, Purple Owl's Clover, and Whispering Bells. We have
been seeing a good number of unusual color variations this year and on this
hike we saw a few Scarlet
Pimpernel that were blue. (TV) |
|||
|
Naturalist's rating: Very
Good |
|||
|
Cold Creek Preserve |
Stunt High Trail |
Date: 4/27/05 |
|
|
|
Parking for this trailhead is on
Stunt Road about one mile in from Mulholland Highway. Across the street is
the entrance to the Calabasas Fire Road. We parked here and then walked up
the trail, about two miles, crossing Stunt Road once before reaching the top
trailhead, also on Stunt Road near mile marker three. The two mile trail
ascends through the Stunt Ranch property along the creek and then turns left
to continue up the hill. Over eighty flowers were found in the lower section
with its passage through several different habitats. The top section, which
is mostly chaparral, added another half dozen or so bringing the total count
to about ninety. The lower section could be given a Very Good designation but
the upper section is only Fair. Highlights include Purple Sage, Wild Morning
Glory, much Chamise, Monkey Flowers, Blue-eyed Grass, many Golden Stars,
Fiesta Flower, Baby Blue-eyes, many Bush Poppy, Globe Lily, Large-flowered
Lotus, dense spreads of Chinese Houses, Blue Larkspur, Purple Owl's Clover,
Carolina Geranium, California Wild Rose, a few Red Maids, Star Lily, Woolly
Blue Curls, and Rock Rose. (TV) |
|||
|
Naturalist's rating: Good |
|||
|
Triunfo Creek Park |
Pentachaeta Trail |
Date: 4/26/05 |
|
|
|
This park, tucked away in a corner of
Westlake Village at the end of Lindero Canyon Road, is most famous for the
very rare Lyons Pentachaeta which blooms here in profusion. The main
attraction is the easy, one-mile Pentachaeta Trail which is currently
experiencing an explosion of flowers. An afternoon hike here netted an
impressive 120 species in bloom some of which carpet the hillsides with
spectacular displays of flowers. Highlights include impressive displays of
the afore mentioned Lyons Pentachaeta, fields of Coast Goldfields, California
Poppy, Purple Owl's Clover, large and very dense stands of Chinese Houses,
plentiful and many-blossomed Blue Larkspur (including an unusual pink
variation), Ground-pink, frequent Purple, Speckled, Elegant, and Willow-herb
Clarkias, Fuchsia-flowered Gooseberry, Sticky Cinquefoil, Indian Pink,
profuse Chamise, Ceanothus, both Yarrow and Golden Yarrow, Carolina Geranium,
Annual Coreopsis, several different Lupines, several different Monkey
Flowers, Checker Bloom, Blow Wives, Elderberry, both White and Yellow
Pincushions, a good stand of Foothill Penstemon, Curly Dock, Blue-eyed Grass,
Woolly Blue Curls, Purple Sage, Wild Morning Glory, California Wild Rose,
Common Vervain, Caterpillar Phacelia, Fiesta Flower, Angel's Gilia, Golden
Stars, Star Lily, Catalina Mariposa Lily, and even an early Yellow Mariposa
Lily. If you go to the park to see the Pentachaeta
you might want to look up the difference between this and the Coast Goldfield as they are
similar and in places growing together.
(TV) |
|||
|
Naturalist's rating:
Excellent |
|||
|
Circle X Ranch |
Backbone Trail below
Triunfo Peak |
Date: 4/24/05 |
|
|
|
We hiked a piece of one of the newest
segments of the Backbone Trail from the intersection of the trail with Yerba
Buena road at about mile marker 7.5 up to the Triunfo peak access road and
then back on Yerba Buena. Altogether about eighty species were encountered
although the lack of dense stands of flowers prevents a rating above good. On
the other hand some of the flowers here are rather unique. Highlights include
Holly-leaved Cherry, Wild Morning Glory, Chamise, Bush Monkey Flower, Yellow
Monkey Flower, Fiesta Flower, Hedge Nettle, Fire Poppy, Bleeding Heart,
Canyon Sunflower, Chinese Houses, Peninsular Onion, Rock Rose, Pitcher Sage,
Blue Dicks, Douglas Sandwort, Lance-leaf Live-forever, Prickly Phlox,
Brewer's Red Maids, Woolly Blue Curls, Globe Gilia, Twining Snapdragon,
Collarless California Poppy, Caterpillar Phacelia, Parry's Phacelia,
Large-flowered Phacelia, Mustard Evening Primrose, Several different Lupines,
Catalina Mariposa Lily, Star Lily, Virgin's Bower, Fuchsia-flowered Gooseberry,
Elderberry, and Yerba Santa. (TV). |
|||
|
Naturalist's rating: Good |
|||
|
Paramount Ranch |
Several Trails |
Date: 4/22/05 |
|
|
|
Although Paramount Ranch is best
known for its Western Town, the trails in the hills behind are easy, fun to
explore, and great for wildflowers. And for a short, half-mile trail, Coyote
Canyon has to be one of the best-bangs-for-bucks in the Santa Monica
Mountains. Starting just behind the “train station,” it
doesn’t look like much–mostly non-natives–but quickly
enters the “native and profuse” category as the trail follows a
chattering brook. Owl’s clover, dove lupine, golden yarrow, blue dicks,
elderberry, and caterpillar phacelia all vie for attention—until you
find the volcanic outcrops that add yucca and showy penstemon to the mix.
Further up, as the trail winds into mixed chaparral, globe lilies, mariposas,
and golden stars appear in the tall grasses, with lots of chia and wooly blue
curls, lotus, and yellow monkey flowers just beyond. Near its finish (at 45 species), you
might turn left on the Hacienda Trail and add purple clarkia, Chinese houses,
Johnny-Jump-Ups, silver puffs and gumweed to your list—along with a
hillside of deep blue phacelia. After a quarter-mile, another left puts you
on the Medicine Woman Trail and bearing left at the junction of Backdrop
Trail, get set for the densest stretch of wildflowers you may see this year.
It’s a one-way up-and-back trail to the park’s western boundary,
and there were tons of popcorn flower, Parry’s phacelia, white
pincushion, yellow monkey flower, two different evening primroses, black
sage, chia, sticky monkey flower and a dozen others—along the first
quarter mile. This one, and parts of Coyote Canyon, earned the
“Excellent” rating. Returning to the Backdrop Trail and
following it around to the Bwana Trail, again, the rolling grass-fields
wouldn’t seem to add anything until you cross a few tiny
creeks—still with water—and pick up patches of cinquefoil, globe
gilia, California poppies, elegant clarkia, Indian pinks, and blue larkspur,
among many of the previous varieties. The whole 4-5 mile circuit produced
about eighty species plus a good number of spring birds: blue and black-headed
grosbeaks, lazuli buntings, ash-throated flycatchers, yellow warblers, and
orioles. This area should be good until we get a few heat waves — just
be sure to pick up a map at the entry kiosk. (JG) |
|||
|
Naturalist's rating: Very Good to Excellent |
|||
|
Topanga State Park |
Nature Trail / Musch Trail |
Date: 4/22/05 |
|
|
|
I got out early this A.M. and of
course at 6:30 some of the flowers are still closed, but I got a pretty good
list from a walk on the Nature Trail and on the Musch Trail from Trippet
Ranch to the Hillside Dr. cutoff. Canyon sunflower, caterpillar phacelia,
black sage, chemise, black mustard, popcorn flower, deer weed, vervain,
golden yarrow, buckwheat brush, silver puffs, California everlasting, a lot
of bush monkey flower, purple nightshade, white nightshade, twining
snapdragon, Turkish rugging, blue dicks, a lot of fiesta flower, California
buttercup, hummingbird sage, blue eyed grass, red stem filaree, Catalina mariposa
lily, spring vetch, wild radish, owl's clover, bush and other lupine, miner's
lettuce, golden stars, morning glory, bush sunflower, scarlet pimpernel,
wishbone bush, white nightshade, Chinese houses, Carolina geranium and
foothill penstemon. My assessment: a very good display with a lot of mustard,
sunflowers, and bush monkey
flower. (LH) |
|||
|
Naturalist's rating: Very Good |
|||
|
Zuma Canyon area |
Miscellaneous Trails |
Date: 4/21/05 |
|
|
|
On 4/21/05 we hiked the three trails
in the Zuma Canyon area and found 98 species blooming, one of which we could
not identify. We would give this a very good rating only because many of the
blooms were of alien species which some would classify as noxious weeds. The
trails are all well rutted by the recent rains and require care to maintain
one's footing. We first went up to the end of the Zuma Canyon Trail and
returned to pick up the Canyon View Trail and returned to the parking area
via the Ocean View Trail. The flowers are reported as they were first
encountered along the hike. Departing from the trail head at the
end of Bonsall Rd. we encounter elderberry, black mustard, prickly sow
thistle, scarlet pimpernel, hare barley, rupgut brome and milk thistle. Both
cheese weed and a single bull mallow along with Italian thistle, vervain,
deerweed, black sage, bush sunflower and wild radish were abundant. Soft
brome, western ragweed, Calif. everlasting, red stem filaree, fuchsia
flowered gooseberry, blue dick and bush monkey flower were spotted in that
order. White nightshade, horehound, Calif. buckwheat, eucrypta, windmill pink
and sugar bush added to the collection. Long beaked filaree, fiesta flower,
golden top, creek monkey flower, microseris, succulent lupine, yellow sun cup
and heart leaf penstemon added their colors to the trailside. Canyon
sunflower, snakeroot, cobwebby thistle, annual bedstraw, curly dock and giant
rye were identified in passing. Toyon was starting to bloom and the sycamores
were finishing with many catkins hanging from the trees. The hillsides
revealed a few yuccas and the spurge called Chinese caps were also found.
Calif. figwort could hardly compete with the sticky phacelia and Parry's
phacelia for display. Golden yarrow, silver puff, slender bedstraw, big pod
ceanothus, and a good quantity of rigid hedge nettle were blooming. The trail
edges were sprinkled with sticky popcorn flower and large flowered popcorn
flower. Scarlet bugler added to the color diversity and mule fat and snowberry
made their own contributions. Cliff aster, wishbone bush, wooly aster, small
evening primrose, bajada lupine and the red dotted creek monkey flower were
on display. Telegraph weed, slender oats, bush mallow, bush lupine, mustard
evening primrose and wild sweet pea were encountered as we continued up the
trail. The usual morning glory made its appearance accompanied by the coast
paintbrush, Catalina Mariposa lily, red brome, chamise, Calif. sagebrush,
hedge mustard and fern leaf phacelia. A few Indian pinks brightened the path
along with Chilean lotus, caterpillar phacelia, minute flowered popcorn
flower, Turkish rugging and western locoweed. Blue eyed grass, Calif. poppy,
American vetch, common yarrow, golden star, gumplant and English plantain as
well as coffee berry and pineapple weed concluded the floral display for the
day. (RWM) |
|||
|
Naturalist's rating: Very Good |
|||
|
Saddle Peak Area |
Miscellaneous Trails |
Date: 4/18/05 |
|
|
|
On 4/18/05 we hiked two adjacent
trails; one to the top of Saddle Peak and the other to the Topanga lookout.
These are both accessed from the parking area near the Stunt Rd and Schueren
Rd intersection. This hike yielded the floral promise we have been expecting
all spring. About 70 species were found in bloom, many of which were in large
quantities. We had selected the Saddle Peak area on the chance that we would
see some early blooming chaparral pea, and we were not disappointed. The
masses of Spanish broom near the summit of the trail provided a splendid
display of brilliant yellow accompanied by the sweet bouquet of its blossoms.
This is one alien plant I do not regret seeing in our hills. Another bonus
was several fair sized stands of silver lotus, which I especially appreciated
since I had never spotted it before. Another surprise we had was the sight of
apparently a mutant bush monkey flower exhibiting red and gold blossoms. A
single Matilija poppy was blooming at the lookout site amid a large stand of
the plants. Reporting on the sightings in color
groups, we found the yellow/gold was the largest with only one fewer in the
white/cream group. The former group included black mustard, deerweed, golden
yarrow, silver puff, bush monkey flower, mustard evening primrose, and both
bur and sour clover. The silver lotus, southern tauschia, slender bedstraw,
common groundsel, brown microseris and Spanish broom were all plentiful.
Prickly sow thistle, large flowered lotus and canyon sunflower were also present A fair quantity of bush poppy was in bloom
as was a few Calif. poppies and telegraph weed. The white/cream group
provided flowers from the elderberry, Calif. buckwheat, chamise, and three of
the popcorn flower species. Several Catalina Mariposa lilies and a couple of
star lilies were also seen. The big pod ceanothus was still blooming up here
and a good stand of red skinned onions were present. Eucrypta, velvet leaf
everlasting, morning glory, Calif. everlasting and miner's lettuce all
contributed to the show. Even bur chervil was found displaying its tiny white
flower. Some wild cucumber, hollyleaf cherry, virgin's bower, sugarbush and
the aforementioned Matilija poppy conclude this list. In the pink/red group we found large
areas covered with Chilean clover and windmill pinks. Along with the
chaparral pea there was also one fuchsia flowered gooseberry and one
lingering chaparral current and several groupings of sweet pea. The
lavender/blue/purple colorings were evidenced in the stands of black sage,
dove lupine, hairy leaf ceanothus and bush lupine. Also found were redstem
filaree, Italian thistle, blue dick, prickly phlox, fern leaf phacelia,
purple nightshade and cheeseweed. A beautiful group of notable penstemon was
seen and what was tentatively identified as Bajada lupine as well. A colorful
group of fiesta flower concludes this group. It should be noted that amongst
the usually bright blue dove lupines were several plants with all white
flowers on them. Amongst the grasses still in bloom
were golden top, slender oats, rescue grass, hare barley, rip-gut brome,
fountain grass, wild oats, soft brome, red brome and some 4 or 5 others
unidentified. The impact of the quantities and
reasonably large number of species warrants an outstanding rating on ye olde
bloom-ometer. (RWM) |
|||
|
Naturalist's rating:
Outstanding |
|||
|
Upper Zuma Canyon |
|
Date: 4/18/05 |
|
|
|
Today we hiked Upper Zuma Canyon and
the wildflower display was very good to excellent. There were big stands of
bush lupine, black sage, Spanish broom, fiesta flower, deerweed, wishbone
bush, sticky monkey flower and canyon sunflower. Other finds were star lily, globe lily,
clematis, blue larkspur, Parry's phacelia, caterpillar phacelia, large flower
phacelia, hedge nettle, meadow rue, and prickly phlox. Some of the streams
are now dried up and the remaining streams are easily crossed. (KJ) |
|||
|
Naturalist's rating: Very Good to Excellent |
|||
|
Circle X Ranch |
Grotto Trail |
Date: 4/11/05 |
|
|
|
This easy-to-moderate trail goes
downhill about 1.5 miles through riparian, grassland, and chaparral habitats,
in shade and sun, with dramatic views of Boney Ridge and a couple of
waterfalls. We counted seventy four species in bloom, not counting a few that
we did not recognize. The Grotto remains a bit more challenging to get to
since the winter's rains because of the high water levels. We get frequent
questions from children regarding the California Newt seen in the stream and
pools near the Grotto. Flower highlights include Evening Primroses, Lilies,
Phacelias, a grassy field full of Vetches, a huge crop of Chinese Houses,
Blue Larkspur, Blue Dicks, Crimson Pitcher Sage, and Nightshades. The
appearance of Clarkias (including Purple Clarkia on the Canyon View Trail),
and seed heads of the Silver Puffs remind us that Spring is well along now. The complete list includes Deerweed,
Red-stem Filaree, Black Sage, California Buckwheat, California Filago, Black
Mustard, Yellow Monkey flower, Creek Monkey Flower, Bush Monkey flower,
Yellow Sweet Clover, Mustard Evening Primrose, Small Evening Primrose, Bush
Sunflower, Canyon Sunflower, Bur Clover, Morning Glory, Pineapple Weed,
California Everlasting, Two-tone Everlasting, Common Chickweed, Pacific
Sanicle, Windmill Pink, Mule Fat, Annual Bedstraw, Climbing Bedstraw,
Narrow-leaved Bedstraw, Spring Vetch, Winter Vetch, Blue Dick, Purple
Nightshade, White Nightshade, Black Walnut, Silver Puffs, Caterpillar
Phacelia, Parry's Phacelia, Fiesta Flower, Blue Larkspur, Chinese Houses,
Popcorn Flower, Eucrypta, Miner's Lettuce, Chamise, Scarlet Pimpernel,
Blue-eyed Grass, Golden Yarrow, Catalina Mariposa Lily, Star Lily, Bigpod
Ceanothus, Greenbark Ceanothus, Wishbone Bush, Hollyleaf Cherry, Hollyleaf
Redberry, Strigose Lotus, Coastal Lotus, Yucca, Rattlesnake Weed (Daucus Pusillus), Cliff Aster,
Stinging Lupine, California Blackberry, Thread Stem, Common Groundsel,
Twining Snapdragon, Fuchsia-flowered Gooseberry, Crimson Pitcher Sage, Hedge
Nettle, Elderberry, Willow-herb Clarkia, Sugar Bush, Curly Dock, Coffeeberry,
Wild Sweet Pea, Sow Thistle, Prickly Sow Thistle, Annual Cat's Ear. (TV) |
|||
|
Naturalist's rating: Very
Good |
|||
|
Newton & Upper
Solstice Canyons |
The Backbone Trail |
Date: 4/9/05 |
|
|
|
This hike was the fifth 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. A couple of the early hikes
that were rained out have been re-scheduled for April and May resulting in
two hikes in each of these months. This hike was from the Kanan Dume Road
Trailhead to the Corral Canyon Road trailhead, about 6.5 miles. This trail
drops into cool oak groves and rises up to dry sage scrub several times along
its length providing multiple opportunities to see a large variety of
flowers. We recorded seeing 119 different species in bloom. Several of the
flower displays were quite spectacular, especially among the blue flowers. We
are still waiting for that superlative display that will earn an excellent
rating. Highlights include masses of Fiesta
Flowers, frequent Catalina Mariposa Lilies, Star Lilies, Indian Paintbrush,
Monkey flowers, good quantities of both Parry's and Caterpillar Phacelias,
Sunflowers, several different Lupines, Evening Primrose, Blue-eyed Grass,
Chinese Houses, groves of Chamise, Crimson Pitcher Sage, Indian Pink, Woolly Blue Curls, California Poppies,
Tree Poppy, many Blue Dick, and Globe Gilia. (BE & TV) |
|||
|
Naturalist's rating: Very Good |
|||
|
Point Mugu State Park |
Chumash Trail / |
Date: 4/5/05 |
|
|
|
The steep ascent from PCH via the
Chumash trail is strenuous and has tricky footing in places. A walking stick
might be a good idea. The reward is an unobstructed view of the coast just
off of the Seabee firing range. This trail is principally coastal sage scrub
but since it is literally right on the coast it shows a slightly different
mix of plants than seen in the sage scrub more frequently encountered in the
interior of the Rec. Area. At the top I always stop to look at the native
bunchgrasses in the wide-open grassland. We continued on to the La Jolla Loop
trail and took the lower branch back to the La Jolla Canyon Trail and finally
to the Ray Miller Trailhead. Down below you can get the impression that
summer is just around the corner as things are really beginning to dry out.
We also did a very quick side jaunt up the Mugu Peak Trail to see what was
blooming near the creek. Parts of the La Jolla Loop Trail had a great deal of
Poison Oak along the trail margin. It could be avoided if you were careful,
but if you don't know what it looks like you have almost no chance of
avoiding it. In addition, Mosquitoes were thick along a couple of short
sections so repellent might not be a bad idea if you plan on stopping near
the creek. Highlights include Indian Paintbrush, many Catalina Mariposa
Lilies, Blue-eyed Grass, several different Lupines, Bush Monkey Flower, Bush
Mallow, Southern California Locoweed, Sticky Cinquefoil, Chinese Houses,
Larkspur, and Indian Pink. Altogether about eighty different species were
encountered. The complete list includes: Deerweed,
Indian Paintbrush, Black Mustard, Black Sage, Catalina Mariposa Lily, Wild
Morning Glory, White Sweet Clover, Golden Yarrow, Bush Sunflower, Bur Clover
Blue-eyed Grass, California Buckwheat, Stinging Lupine, Succulent Lupine,
Bush Lupine, Bush Mallow, Parry's Phacelia, Blue Dicks, Oxalis, White
Pincushion, Coastal Lotus, Lance-leaf Live-forever, Bush Monkey Flower,
Toyon, Giant Coreopsis, Rattlesnake Weed (Daucus Pusillus), Yucca, Small
Evening Primrose, Whispering Bells, Narrow-leaved Bedstraw, Wishbone Bush,
Shiny Lomatium, California Filago, Snakeroot, Lemonade Berry, Red-stem
Filaree, Southern California Locoweed, Horehound, Sow Thistle, California
Sagebrush, Wild Cucumber, Cliff aster, Cheeseweed, Pineapple Weed. Eucrypta,
Winter Vetch, Italian Thistle, Pacific Sanicle, Poison Oak, Wild Sweet Pea,
California Blackberry, Hedge Nettle, Crimson Pitcher Sage, Scarlet Pimpernel,
Annual Bedstraw, Strigose Lotus, Coulter's Lupine, Tomcat Clover, Field
Clover, Woolly Aster, Sticky Cinquefoil, Fiesta Flower, Purple Nightshade,
Chinese Houses, Climbing Bedstraw, Larkspur, Miners Lettuce, Indian Pink,
Curly Dock, California Wild Rose, Greenbark Ceanothus, Bigpod Ceanothus,
Southern Tauschia, Caterpillar Phacelia, Peninsular Onion, Mule Fat, and
Prostrate Coast Goldenbush. (TV). |
|||
|
Naturalist's rating: Good to Very Good |
|||
|
|
|
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
Tony at 310-457-6408 |
|
|
||
