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Page Revised: 7/11/05 |
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Available Sites Circle X Ranch |
Date of Review 7/10/05, 6/18/05, 6/12/05 |
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What's Blooming photo
gallery: www.nps.gov/samo/bloom/bloom.htm |
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Circle X Ranch |
Mishe MokwaTtrail to
Split Rock and back |
Date: 7/10/05 |
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This trial is often one of the best
in the spring, but now as the summer heat dries things out much of it is only
Fair. Less than fifty species were encountered, and even this number is
artificially high since several were added to the count based on only a few
dried-up specimens. In addition, many others in the count might be considered
uninteresting "weedy" species. I have given a rating of Good
because of the presence of a few of summer's great flowers. They are the
Humboldt Lily, Plummer's Mariposa Lily, and Scarlet Larkspur. The Scarlet
Larkspur is particularly plentiful on the trail right now, but the other two
are uncharacteristically plentiful as well. These flowers are making great
displays on several of the Recreation Area's trails this year. Other highlights (although several of
these are only lightly represented) include Flax-flowered Linanthus, Woolly
Blue Curls, Birds Beak, Red Shank, Laurel Sumac, Twiggy Wreath Plant, Pitcher
Sage, Heart-leaved Penstemon, Bush Monkey Flower, Scarlet Monkey Flower,
Chalk Live-forever, Chaparral Honeysuckle, Fish's Milkwort, Bush Mallow,
California Fuchsia, Soap Plant, Cliff Aster, and the inconspicuous Rein
Orchid. (TV) |
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Naturalist's rating: Good |
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Point Mugu State Park |
Serrano Canyon and Big
Sycamore Canyon Trails |
Date: 7/1/05 |
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This report begins in the Serrano
Valley and follows a little used trail through Serrano Canyon, down the last
mile of Big Sycamore Canyon to the Pacific Coast Highway. I hiked up Sycamore
Canyon to Serrano Valley to a destination and the flowers were so good I
decided to record them on the return, so this report begins in Serrano
Valley. The out and back distance from the day parking lot at Sycamore Canyon
is 7.6 miles. Seventy one species were identified. Do be cautious of poison
oak on this trail. Beginning in the grassland were Bush
Mallow, Cliff Aster, California Buckwheat, Chicory, Black Mustard, Slender
Tarweed, and Slender Aster. In small clumps of chaparral, becoming denser as
the trails dips into the canyon were Laurel Sumac, Chemise, Deerweed, Morning
Glory, and Black Sage. There are stands of Toyon with limbs bending, heavy
with flowers. One Golden Star was seen among an abundance of Purple Sage,
Bird’s Beak, Bush Monkey Flower, and Narrow Leaved Milkweed; and less
common are California Fuchsia and Horehound. Creek Monkey Flowers are at most
of the many stream crossings, with Scarlet Monkey Flower much less frequent.
At the upper end of the canyon are many Heart Leaf Penstemon, Plummer’s
Mariposa Lilies, and Scarlet Larkspur. A new sighting for me turned out to be
the rare Cream Bush. Only one of the largest plants still had blossoms, but
there is a sizable distribution along several hundred feet of trail.
Farewell-to-Spring, Honeysuckle, and Indian Pink are distributed along most
of the trail. Bright red Rose Hips now outnumber Wild Rose blooms. A few
Humboldt Lilies are still blooming along a section of trail where the sound
of the rushing stream is muffled by many ferns on both sides of the trail.
Also seen in the canyon were Yucca, Twiggy Wreath Plant, Chalk Live-Forever,
Lance Leaved Live-Forever, Fleabane Aster, and Hedge Nettle. Turning down Big
Sycamore Canyon, the trail is lined with Poison Hemlock, Elderberry, large
Datura blossoms, Castor Bean, and Wild Elderberry. (BE) |
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Naturalist's rating: Very Good |
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Rancho Sierra Vista
& Point Mugu State Park |
Upper Sycamore Canyon
Trail |
Date: 6/30/05 |
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We hiked a loop beginning at Rancho
Sierra Vista on the Satwiwa Loop Trail and headed out to the waterfalls in Upper
Sycamore Canyon. From there we headed down the Upper Sycamore Canyon Trail to
the Sycamore Canyon Fire Road and then back to the parking lot at RSV,
perhaps a total of four miles. About seventy five different species were
encountered, but because many are of the weedy variety or only lightly
represented we only give a rating of good. Highlights include Slender Tarweed,
Turkey Mullein, Spanish Clover, Narrow-leaved Milkweed, Gum Plant, Bush
Mallow, Morning Glory, Soap Plant, Long-beaked Filaree, California Poppy,
Laurel Sumac, Toyon, Elderberry, Cliff Aster, Twiggy Wreath Plant, a good
showing of Plummer's Mariposa Lily, a couple Humboldt Lily,
Farewell-to-Spring, Elegant Clarkia, Heart-leaved Penstemon, Scarlet
Larkspur, Bush Monkey Flower, Scarlet Monkey Flower, Round-leaved Boykinia,
Yarrow, Bush Lupine, California Wild Rose, Fish's Milkwort, Snowberry,
Pitcher Sage, Crimson Pitcher Sage, Leather Root, Fleabane Aster, Branching
Phacelia, Large-flowered Phacelia, Bird's Beak, and Indian Pink. (TV) |
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Naturalist's rating: Good |
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Malibu Creek State Park |
Miscellaneous trails
near the main entrance |
Date: 6/28/05 |
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We hiked several of the trails
between the main entrance parking lot and Century Lake including the whole
length of the beautiful Mott Adobe trail. As elsewhere wildflowers are on the
wane, but the appearance of some of the summer bloomers reminds us that there
are still plenty of reasons to get and enjoy the view. About ninety species
were encountered, but because many are of the weedy variety or only lightly
represented we only give a rating of good, Twiggy Wreath Plant, Slender Tarweed,
California Wild Rose, Elderberry, Purple Clarkia, Elegant Clarkia,
Farewell-to-Spring, Vinegar Weed, Narrow-leaved Milkweed, Bush mallow, Annual
Paintbrush, Cattail, Speedwell, Wand Mullein, Turkey Mullein, Cliff Aster,
White Sage, Purple Sage, Golden Yarrow, Morning Glory, Turkish Rugging,
Caterpillar Phacelia, Sticky Phacelia, Branching Phacelia, Sticky
False-gilia, Chaparral Honeysuckle, Foothill Penstemon, Heart-leaved
Penstemon, Gourd, Gum Plant, Soap Plant, Datura, Woolly Blue Curls, Fleabane
Aster, Matilija Poppy, Toyon, Wild Heliotrope, Long-beaked Filaree, Indian
Milkweed, Chalk-leaved Live-forever, Lance-leaved Live-forever, California
Fuchsia, and Water Cress. (TV). |
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Naturalist's rating: Good |
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Circle X Ranch |
Grotto Trail |
Date: 6/18/05 |
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We started from the group campground
and walked down to the Grotto and back, a round trip of about 2.5 miles. The
trail has been recently brushed so it was a pleasure to walk. Now heading
into summer we were pleased to see some of our favorite flowers including
Plummer's Mariposa Lily, Humboldt Lily, Bush Mallow, Heart-leaved Penstemon,
Scarlet Monkey Flower, Fleabane Aster, and Scarlet Larkspur. Lately I've been
seeing California Fuchsia in several places here at Circle X and was pleased
to see they are beginning to bloom on the Grotto trail as well. All told we
encountered almost 70 species in bloom. Other highlights include California
Wild Rose, Soap Plant, Bush Monkey Flower, Yellow Monkey Flower, Elegant
Clarkia, Farewell-to-Spring, Toyon, Woolly Blue Curls, Elderberry, White
Nightshade, Morning Glory, Golden Yarrow, Golden Stars, Indian Pink, Fish's
Milkwort, Bird's Beak, Western Thistle, and even a holdout Catalina Mariposa
Lily. (TV) |
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Naturalist's rating: Very Good |
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Malibu Creek State Park |
Tapia Spur Trail |
Date: 6/14/05 |
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We only hiked the section of this
trail between the entrance road of the Salvation
Army camp in Tapia Park to the group campsite in Malibu Creek State Park, a bit
less than a mile. Highlights include Indian Milkweed, Narrow-leaved Milkweed,
Golden Yarrow, Foothill Penstemon, Canchalagua, Sticky False Gilia, Chamise,
Common Vervain, Purple Clarkia, Elegant Clarkia, Woolly Blue Curls, Bush
Mallow, White Snapdragon, Woolly Monkey Flower, Yellow Monkey Flower, Bush
Monkey Flower, Scarlet Larkspur, Heart-leaved Penstemon, Elderberry, Indian
Pink, Honeysuckle, Toyon, Yellow Pincushion, White Pincushion, Twiggy Wreath
Plant, Turkish Rugging, Bush Poppy, Purple Nightshade, Branching Phacelia,
Cliff Aster, Lance-leaf Live-Forever, Yucca, Mustard Evening Primrose,
Long-beaked Filaree, White Sage and a couple of different Sunflowers. (TV). |
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Naturalist's rating: Very Good |
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Lower Zuma Canyon |
Ocean View
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Date: 6/13/05 |
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Although the lower trails in lower
Zuma Canyon tend to be rather "weedy," the upper ones can provide a
nice display of native wildflowers. The Ocean View / Canyon View loop is only
a little over two and a half miles, but the elevation change adds
significantly to the workout. I also added the short Scenic Trail loop and
found a couple of nice flowers there as well. Parts of the Canyon View trail
had an annoying burden of star thistle and made wearing shorts uncomfortable.
Over 70 species of flowers were seen, although there are many
"weedy" ones in this count and some are only lightly represented as
they are on their way out for the season. Sections of the trail were worthy
of a very good rating although most was only good. Highlights include Datura,
Elderberry, Common Vervain, Bush Mallow, Canyon Sunflower, Yucca, Horehound,
Turkey Mullein, White Nightshade, Branching Phacelia, Morning Glory, Cliff
Aster, Yarrow, Golden Yarrow, Bush Lupine, Twiggy Wreath Plant, California
Poppy, Bush Monkey Flower, Creek Monkey Flower, Scarlet Monkey Flower, Toyon,
Black Sage, Purple Sage, Gum Plant, Western Thistle, Indian Paintbrush,
Indian Pink, Soap Plant, Plummer's Mariposa Lily, several different Dudleyas, Chamise, Heart-leaved Penstemon, Chaparral
Honeysuckle and Fish's Milkwort. (TV). |
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Naturalist's rating: Good |
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Circle X Ranch |
Sandstone Peak via the
Mishe Mokwa Trailhead |
Date: 6/12/05 |
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Our main purposes on this hike were
to visit Sandstone Peak and to check on the progress of the Rein Orchids on
the Mishe Mokwa trail. These inconspicuous slow growing plants are finally
beginning to bloom, rewarding the real die hard flower enthusiast. The
variety of flowers is down as we head into summer, although this section of
trail is never spectacular in that particular way. Many of the fifty or so species
encountered are of the "weedy" variety or on their last legs, so to
speak. However, there are still respectable displays of Bush Lupine, Yellow
Monkey Flower, Woolly Blue Curls, Black Sage, Chamise, Deerweed, Yucca,
Caterpillar Phacelia, and the Clarkias, although they are on their way out. Still going strong are California
Buckwheat, Bush Monkey Flower, Turkish Rugging, Golden Yarrow, Lance-leaf
Live-forever, Golden Stars, Yellow Mariposa Lily, Branching Phacelia,
Heart-leaved Penstemon, Flax-Flowered Linanthus, Chaparral Honeysuckle and
Pitcher Sage. Early yet in their blooming cycle are
Scarlet Larkspur, Slender Tarweed, Soap Plant, Bird's Beak, Chalk
Live-forever, Rein Orchid, and the magnificent Humboldt Lily. (TV) |
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Naturalist's rating: Good |
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Santa
Monica Mountains National Recreation Area 401 West
Hillcrest Drive Ph.
805-370-2301 web. www.nps.gov/samo |
Thank
you for your
contributions: Burt
Elliot |
If you
would like to contribute to the wildflower report: e-mail: or phone
Tony at 310-457-6408 |
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