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Page Revised: 7/14/06 |
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Available Sites Upper Zuma Canyon |
Date of Review 7/14/06. |
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What's Blooming photo gallery: www.nps.gov/samo/bloom/bloom.htm |
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Upper Zuma Canyon |
Backbone Trail between Kanan and Mulholland |
Date: 7/14/06 |
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Backbone Trail from Kanan Rd. Trailhead
west to Mulholland Rd. This is a good
hike for the warmer months of summer as quite a bit of it is shaded. The
cooler and wetter areas associated with the Oak woodland and Riparian
ecosystems allow spring plants to hold on longer than in the drier and hotter
ecosystems. However, same conditions also allow poison oak to thrive, and while most of the
trail is wide enough to make it easy to stay out of the foliage there are a couple
of places where the trail is narrow and the oak is right at the trail’s
edge. In addition, the west end also passes through the drier Chaparral and
Sage Scrub ecosystems providing quite a large variety of plants over the
length of this section of trail. The relatively low density of flowers we saw
might have dropped this trail’s rating down to fair at the height of
the blooming season, but this is a pretty good showing for the summer months. Some of the flowering highlights
include Toyon, heat-leaved penstemon, chalk dudleya, chamise, cliff aster,
elegant clarkia, hedge nettle, bush monkey flower, branching phacelia,
slender sunflower, bush mallow, scarlet larkspur, twiggy wreath plant,
Plummer’s mariposa lily, golden yarrow, common madia, California wild
rose, cream bush, checker bloom, snow berry, coffee berry, Fish’s
milkwort, chaparral honeysuckle, perezia, bird’s beak, hillside
penstemon, Indian pink, woolly blue curls, California buckwheat, wild morning
glory, and narrow-leaved milkweed. All told about sixty plants in bloom. (TV) |
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Naturalist's rating: Good |
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Topanga State Park |
Musch Trail |
Date: 7/5/06 |
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I was on the Musch Trail early this
morning - I hadn't been up there for several weeks, and I was amazed at how beautiful
it was. There is not a large variety of blooming plants, but there are great
displays - huge masses of California Everlasting and California Buckwheat
interspersed with enough Black Sage,
Heart Leaved Penstemon, and Monkey Flower to make it very dramatic. There is
Scarlet Larkspur and still a little Notable Penstemon about halfway to the
top. Quite a treat. (LH). |
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Naturalist's rating: Good |
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Circle X Ranch |
Triunfo Backbone Trail |
Date: 6/30/06 |
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Many of the spring flowers have dried
up for the season although a few can still be found scattered about if one
looks carefully. We are beginning to see good numbers of some of the true
summer flowers like twiggy wreath plant, cliff aster, slender tarweed, and
scarlet larkspur. This trail passes principally through dry coastal sage
scrub and chaparral with little relief from the sun. The trail was brushed a
couple of months back but some sections have grown back with a bit of thistle
and foxtail. I still wear shorts while hiking this trail but I also wear
gators to protect my socks. For some people long pants might be in order.
When I was there I saw quite a few butterflies including both checkers and
swallowtails. Except for some of the shrubs like
bush monkey flower, chamise, laurel sumac, black sage, and California
buckwheat most of the flowers are scattered about in rather low numbers.
Flower highlights include, Plummer's mariposa lily, California chicory,
branching phacelia, good numbers of both speckled clarkia and
farewell-to-spring, masses of golden yarrow, yellow monkey flower, hedge
nettle, perezia, rock rose, lance-leaf dudleya, wild morning glory, Turkish
rugging, purple nightshade, woolly blue curls, bush mallow, a lot of canyon
sunflower, some slender sunflower, pitcher sage, bird’s beak, toyon,
western thistle, elderberry, heart-leaved penstemon, California fuchsia,
California thistle, and the dramatic native bleeding heart. All told about
sixty species in bloom. (BC & TV) |
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Naturalist's rating: Good |
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Rancho Sierra Vista |
Misc. Trails |
Date: 6/28/06 |
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Trails hiked include the Wendy Trail,
portions of the Satwiwa Loop Trail, The Hidden Valley Overlook Trail, and portions
of the Ranch Overlook Trail. Many of the spring flowers have dried up for the
season although a few can still be found scattered about if one looks
carefully. These trails pass principally through dry grasslands, coastal sage
scrub, and chaparral with little relief from the sun. The sections closest to
the trailheads are also the areas that are most disturbed and consequently
there is more "weedy" non-natives there. Once you go south into the
chaparral you begin to see more of the native wildflowers. Highlights include
hyssop loosestrife, turkey mullein, California wild rose, California
blackberry, bush mallow, narrow-leaved milkweed, purple sage, black sage,
California everlasting, elderberry, yarrow, golden yarrow, wild morning
glory, horehound, bush monkey flower, canyon sunflower, heart-leaved
penstemon, hedge nettle, common vervain, deerweed, perezia, Plummer's
mariposa lily, cliff aster, purple nightshade, scarlet larkspur, slender
tarweed, California collarless poppy, chamise, and laurel sumac. All told
about forty species in bloom.. (TV) |
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Naturalist's rating: Fair |
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Circle X Ranch |
Canyon View Trail |
Date: 6/24/06 |
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Many of the spring flowers have dried
up for the season although a few can still be found scattered about if one
looks carefully. Some of the true summer flowers have not gotten off to a
proper start yet and consequently we are between seasons, so to speak. This
trail and most of the Grotto trail have been recently brushed so it is again
a pleasure to hike them in shorts. Until the Canyon View trail joins the
upper section of the Grotto trail there is not much shade during the heat of
the day. In the morning and evening the trail twists around enough that the
steep hillsides above the trail can provide quite a bit of shade. The creeks
still have water in them and this provides a pleasant variety to a trail that
otherwise passes principally through dry coastal sage scrub and chaparral.
Just below the campgrounds I saw the largest alligator lizard I have ever
seen sunning himself on a rock. This guy, typical of the breed, allowed me to
get quite close before scuttling off into the bushes. Except for some of the
shrubs like bush monkey flower, deerweed, chamise, black sage, and California
buckwheat, most of the flowers are scattered about in rather low numbers.
Flower highlights include scarlet larkspur, Plummer's mariposa lily, yucca,
California chicory, cliff aster, Parry's phacelia, purple clarkia, elegant
clarkia, golden stars, masses of golden yarrow, yellow monkey flower, creek
monkey flower, annual paintbrush, white hedge nettle, rock rose, lance-leaf
dudleya, wild morning glory, heart-leaved penstemon, Turkish rugging,
California wild rose, both purple and white nightshade, woolly blue curls,
bush mallow, slender tarweed, and canyon sunflower. All told well over fifty
species in bloom. (TV) |
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Naturalist's rating: Fair |
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Circle X Ranch |
Grotto Trail |
Date: 6/24/06 |
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We are now moving away from the
dramatic early Spring flowering season and into the more subdued displays of
Summer. As such, the shady area near the Grotto becomes a lot more attractive
as it gets hotter. The creek and falls still have a lot of water in them and
the tadpoles and newts are a delight for the young among us. When I was down
among the huge live oaks near the Grotto one of my favorites, the house wren,
was singing up a storm. Many of the flowers reported earlier are now on the way
out but in compensation we are beginning to see some of the very beautiful
flowers that appear later in the season. Among these are the clarkias and
lilies, several of which are now showing up on the Grotto Trail. In addition,
right now we are getting a pretty amazing second bloom of the greenbark
ceanothus. Indeed, it rivals a first bloom of some previous years. Including
the flowers encountered on the dirt road leading down to the campgrounds we
saw a respectable seventy species in bloom. Highlights included golden
yarrow, sugar bush, several different monkey flowers, California buckwheat.
deerweed, yucca, black sage, sunflowers, chamise, white and purple
nightshades, a few early woolly asters, elegant and purple clarkias, wild
morning glory, California blackberry, blue-eyed grass, blue dicks, red
skinned onion, chinese houses, angels gilia, lance-leaf dudleya, elderberry,
Catalina mariposa lily, heart-leaved penstemon, and crimson pitcher
sage. (TV) |
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Naturalist's rating: Good |
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Cold Creek Preserve |
Stunt High Trail |
Date: 6/22/06 |
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I keep expecting things to peter out
but the trail is still going strong.
At the trailhead are purple sage, California buckwheat, chamise and
elegant clarkia. In fact the trail
belongs to the elegant clarkia this week, it is everywhere. Forget that it signals the end of spring
flowers and enjoy its beauty. On the
creekside trail the elegant clarkia are joined by morning glory, deerweed,
golden yarrow, sticky monkey flower and California everlasting. There is quite a bit of milkwort, a small
beautiful flower that I haven't seen here before. There are some magnificent Humboldt lilies as
well as heart leaf penstemon, black sage, chaparral honey suckle and Indian
pink. Stepping down to the creek
itself there are some exquisite stream orchids and lovely scarlet monkey
flower. Climbing into the chaparral we
find that it too belongs to the Clarkia genus this time purple clarkia,
speckled clarkia and farewell to spring.
There are also golden stars, slender tarweed, bush mallow, hummingbird
sage, slender sunflower, sapphire wool stars, woolly blue curls, scarlet
bugler and scarlet larkspur. There was
even a large notable penstemon in full bloom, months after it should be
finished. (DS) |
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Naturalist's rating: Good |
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Circle X Ranch |
Mishe Mokwa Trail |
Date: 6/15/06 |
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Many of the spring flowers have dried
up for the season although a few can still be found scattered about if one
looks carefully. Some of the true summer flowers have not gotten off to a
proper start yet and consequently we are between seasons, so to speak. Some
sections of the trail provide quite a bit of shade, but once you get up
toward the ridge there is not much relief from the sun. On a hot day
I’ll carry almost a gallon of water. The creek at split rock still has
water in it and makes the picnic table in the shade under the oaks a very pleasant
for lunch. There are a couple of places where poison oak hangs out over the
trail (notably near split rock) and you really have to be on the watch and be
able to identify it by sight to avoid getting
into it. Except for some of the shrubs like Pitcher sage, bush monkey flower,
deerweed, chamise, black sage, and California buckwheat, most of the flowers
are scattered about in rather low numbers. Flower highlights include yellow
mariposa lily, Humboldt lily, soap plant, sapphire wool stars, linanthus,
woolly blue curls, yucca, purple clarkia, golden yarrow, golden stars,
Turkish rugging, slender tarweed, yellow monkey flower, lance-leaf dudleya,
Parry's phacelia, caterpillar phacelia, purple and white nightshades,
speckled clarkia, willow-herb clarkia, cliff aster, angel's gilia, yellow
pincushion, sticky cinquefoil, chaparral honeysuckle, Fish's milkwort, rock
rose, chinese houses, blue larkspur, snowberry, wild morning glory,
California blackberry, California wild rose, cobweb thistle, bush lupine,
bush mallow, rose snapdragon, wild brodiaea, garden toadflax, and purple
owl's-clover. Almost ninety species in bloom.
(TV) |
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Naturalist's rating: Good |
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Upper Solstice Canyon |
Backbone Trail |
Date: 6/14/06 |
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I was so awed by the fire following
flowers when I visited three weeks ago that I made a return visit. Things have changed. The large flower phacelia cover an even
more extensive area. White pincushion
which we didn't see last time is blooming in profusion. However the small evening primrose are
almost finished, there is very little twining snapdragon or globe gilia and
no Brewers red maids to be found. Moving out of the burned area the
chaparral boasts a lot of slender sunflower and Turkish rugging along with
golden yarrow, California buckwheat and California everlasting. This time we went deeper into the canyon
and found a delightful full stream running surrounded by blooming flowers:
Purple, elegant and willow herb clarkia, the lovely canchalagua and sapphire
wool stars as well as sticky madia, fiesta flower, blue larkspur, Indian
pinks, hummingbird sage, Indian paintbrush, Chinese houses, and blue eyed
grass. Being by the stream is
refreshing but don't forget to plan for the uphill climb out. (DS) |
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Naturalist's rating: Good |
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Topanga State Park |
Temescal Canyon Loop Trail |
Date: 6/12/06 |
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I was amazed at how much was in bloom
in the well traveled canyon. There is
nothing that is terribly unusual but that deficit is compensated by the
profusion of flowers in bloom.
Entering the trail there are wild rose, vervain hedge nettle, black
sage and purple nightshade. Heading up
to the waterfall there was yucca, caterpillar phacelia, sticky monkey flower,
California everlasting, golden yarrow, greenbark ceanothus, Indian pinks and
scarlet monkey flower. Near the
waterfall we found a California newt, something I have never observed in this
creek. Climbing further there is
deerweed, elder flower, cliff aster, morning glory and canyon sunflower. Coming down through the chaparral there was
bush sunflower, wishbone flower, white nightshade, violet snapdragon, woolly
blue curls, Turkish rugging, Parry's phacelia, mallow, California bee plant
and blue eyed grass. There were a
large number of lizards sighted on the chaparral side including a horned
lizard. (DS) |
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Naturalist's rating: Good |
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Cheeseboro & Palo Comado Canyons |
Various north-end trails |
Date: 6/7/06 |
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We are now moving away from the
dramatic displays of the early Spring flowering season and into the more
subdued displays of Summer. Many of the flowers reported earlier are now on the
way out but in compensation we begin to see some of the very beautiful Summer
flowers. Among these are the clarkias, penstemons and lilies, several of
which are now showing up in the north end of Cheeseboro. Trails visited
include the Albertson Motorway, Palo Comado Canyon Trail, Sheep Corral Trail,
Cheeseboro Ridge Trail, Sulfur Springs Trail, and Cheeseboro Canyon Trail.
Much of the lower section of this unit is literally choked with non-native
grasses and weeds but if you get up to the Northern end you are rewarded with
some very nice wildflower displays. Some sections of some of the trails are
quite good right now, but overall the quality of the flower display was quite
variable from place to place. Be aware that much of this unit was burned in
last fall's fires and has not been fully reopened for visitor use. Be sure to
read all posted signs to avoid entering closed areas. Some of the burned
areas are especially fragile right now. The vicinity of the intersection of
Sheep Corral Trail and Palo Comado Trails was quite good at least until we
dropped back down into the depths of the burn. It is interesting to see how
some of the burned areas are coming back primarily as non-native weeds, but
in other areas the native wildflowers are holding their own. My own curiosity
will certainly keep me watching the burned areas as the year progresses.
Similarly, sections of the Albertson Motorway vary considerably, but none as
bad as the weed choked lower end of the unit. Right now the Sulfur Springs
Trail is doing fairly well but it too is showing signs of drying up. Many of
the species blooming earlier in the season have finished up for the year or
are only lightly represented now. Highlights include lupines, paintbrush,
datura, purple nightshade, blue dick, primroses, popcorn flowers, golden
stars, heart-leaved and hillside penstemons, scarlet bugler, Rein orchid, and
phacelias. The sages are doing very well now as are the mariposa lilies,
clarkias, monkey flowers, morning glory, sunflowers, pincushions, golden
stars, hooked navarretia, sapphire wool stars, yucca, snapdragons, yarrow and
even a few early scarlet larkspur.
(TV) |
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Naturalist's rating: Poor to Good |
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Topanga State Park |
Santa Ynez Trail |
Date: 6/5/06 |
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This cool dark canyon makes a great
summer hike and is also worth a look in spring. At the trail head there is sticky monkey
flower, lupine and deerweed. Once you
get to the creek there is hedge nettle and white hedge nettle, purple
nightshade, canyon sunflower, golden yarrow, black sage and elder
flower. There is some lovely scarlet
monkey flower, California buckwheat, sweet pea, white nightshade, wild rose,
caterpillar phacelia and heart leaf penstemon. The Humboldt lilies are just starting and
the ones in bloom all seem to be dangling above the trail. There is also cinquefoil and large flower
phacelia. Leaving the riparian area
the trail rises into the chaparral.
There you find chamise, owls clover, Turkish rugging and white and
yellow pin cushion. There is quite a
bit of white snapdragon and scarlet bugler with dudleya and golden stars
peeping through. There is one patch
each of fleabane aster and sapphire wool stars. The riparian area is always a good place to
look for butterflies and the chaparral to look for lizards and snakes. (DS) |
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Naturalist's rating: Good |
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Leo Carrillo State Park |
Nicholas Flat Trail |
Date: 6/2/06 |
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Leo Carrillo Campground to Nicholas
Flat. The hike begins with a series of switchbacks up to a ridge. Wild Rose
and Gumplant can be seen in the beginning followed by Deerweed, Mustard,
Monkey Flower, Purple Nightshade, Sow Thistle, California Everlasting and
Ashy Buckwheat. Large clusters of Purple and Black Sage line the trail
interspersed with Morning Glory, Mariposa Lily and Indian Paintbrush.
Approaching the ridge we saw Scarlet Bugler and Southern Calif. Locoweed
which had finished blooming but had numerous seed pods. Along the ridge we
saw California Bay Laurel, Greenbark Ceanothus, Golden Yarrow, Bush
Sunflower, Parry's Phacelia and many Chaparral Yucca in full bloom. During a
second set of switchbacks which take you up to Nicholas Flat we encountered a
magnificent show of Purple Clarkia. On the final approach to the Flat we saw
Hedge Nettle, Crimson Pitcher Sage, Blue Eyed Grass, Yarrow, Red Stem
Filaree, Scarlet Pimpernel, Tomcat Clover, Wooly Blue Curl, Italian Thistle
and Common Vervain. Many of the plants
were in their last stages of flowering - we were on this trail four weeks ago
and while the show is diminished, it is still beautiful and worth the uphill
effort. Just beware of the heat - you are almost fully exposed to the sun for
the three miles up. You'll also have expansive views of the ocean and the
Boney Mountains on the way back down.
(R&AT) |
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Naturalist's rating: Good |
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Cold Creek Preserve
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Stunt High Trail & others |
Date: 6/1/06 |
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On the first day of June, 2006 we hiked
three trails which are accessed from trailheads on Stunt Rd, most in the Cold
Creek Preserve. Our objective was to check for Stream orchids first in the
Cold Creek Preserve then to check out the status of the chaparral peas on
Saddleback Peak area and finally to see if the brick red monkey flower found
last year on the trail to Topanga lookout was still extant. I am pleased to
report that all three objectives were met with outstanding results. A large
stand of Stream orchids, consisting of about two dozen plants, all in full
bloom were located along the creek about a quarter of a mile above the lower
gate to the trail. Up near the top of Saddleback Peak dozens of profusely
blooming chaparral peas were on display and finally the brick red bush monkey
flower was found in full bloom, but with smaller flowers this year than last.
Not only did we meet our objectives, but we also recorded a total of 76
different species during the course of the hikes. The flowers were abundant
and in some cases, such as the Spanish broom, were overpowering in color and
fragrance. With almost no wind blowing the bouquet from the broom was almost suffocating. Just walking from the parking area to
the gate (up the trail to the Stream orchids) we spotted heart-leaved penstemon,
golden yarrow, California everlasting, morning glory, greenbark ceanothus,
hedge mustard, red brome, sow thistle, Clarkia (Farewell-to-spring?), mustard
evening primrose, caterpillar phacelia, red stem filaree, bush monkey flower,
rip-gut brome, California buckwheat, coast goosefoot, slender-leaf bedstraw,
black mustard, sour clover, yellow star thistle, canyon sunflower and cliff
aster. Entering the gate we saw purple sage, fern leaf phacelia, eucrypta,
scarlet pimpernel, minute-flowered popcorn flower, common bed straw, purple
night shade, white nightshade, fiesta flower, giant horsetail, wild
blackberry, watercress and finally the stream orchids Returning to the car we drove up to
the parking area near the intersection of Schueren Rd and Stunt Rd. Hiking up
toward Saddleback Peak we Saw Italian thistle, elderberry, deerweed, slender
oats, yellow Mariposa lily, chamise, black sage, blue dick, lance-leaf
live-forever, prickly phlox, Harding grass, hairy leaf ceanothus, Catalina
Mariposa lily, bush lupine, bigpod ceanothus, winter vetch and some escaped
African daisies. Also seen was fountain grass, foxtail barley, lots of
Spanish broom, wild oats, sticky madia, Chilean clover, wild sweet pea,
Indian pink and then the large quantities of chaparral pea. Continuing up
toward the top of the mountain we saw southern Tauschia, wooly blue curls,
Eastwood manzanita, blue larkspur, silver puff, large-flowered lotus, bur
clover, bush poppy, golden star and milk thistle. We returned to the car and entered
the trail to Topanga lookout. Entering on the macadam road we noted
holly-leaved redberry, virgin's bower, chaparral honeysuckle, California
filago, yucca and finally the brick red bush monkey flower (UTM coordinates
49026E, 73046N at 2454 feet altitude). This hike rates an excellent on the
bloom-o-meter. (RWM) |
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Naturalist's rating: Excellent |
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Santa
Monica Mountains National Recreation Area 401 West
Hillcrest Drive 805-370-2301 |
Thank
you for your
contributions: Bonnie
Clarfield |
If you
would like to contribute to the wildflower report: e-mail: or phone
Tony at 310-457-6408 |
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