Page Revised: 2/3/05

 

Available Sites

Rancho Sierra Vista
Circle X Ranch
Point Mugu State Park
Arroyo Sequit

Date of Review

1/25/05 & 1/15/05
1/22/05 & 1/14/05 & 1/3/05
1/18/05
1/18/05

See the photo gallery of What’s Blooming at: http://www.nps.gov/samo/bloom/bloom.htm

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.

 

Rancho Sierra Vista

Wendy and Upper Sycamore Canyon Trails

 Date: 1/25/05

 

 

        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)

 

Naturalist's rating: Good

 

Circle X Ranch

Backbone Trail below Triunfo Peak

 Date: 1/22/05

 

 

        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)

 

Naturalist's rating: Fair

 

Point Mugu State Park

La Jolla and Loop Trails

 Date: 1/18/05

 

 

        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)

 

Naturalist's rating: Fair

 

Arroyo Sequit

Loop Trail

 Date: 1/18/05

 

 

        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)

 

Naturalist's rating: Fair

 

Rancho Sierra Vista

Satwiwa garden

 Date: 1/15/05

 

 

         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)

 

Naturalist's rating: Fair

 

Rancho Sierra Vista

Trail to the waterfall and through upper Sycamore Canyon

 Date: 1/15/05

 

 

         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)

 

Naturalist's rating: Poor

 

Circle X Ranch

Mishe Mokwa and Sandstone Peak Trails

 Date: 1/14/05

 

 

        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)

 

Circle X Ranch

Grotto Trail

 Date: 1/3/05

 

 

       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)

 

Naturalist's rating: Poor

 

Circle X Ranch

Mishe Mokwa and Sandstone Peak Trails

 Date: 1/1/05

 

 

        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)

 

Naturalist's rating: Fair

 


 

 

Contact Information:

 

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

 

401 West Hillcrest Drive
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

 

Ph. 805-370-2301

 

web. www.nps.gov/samo

 

Thank you

 

for your contributions:

 

Sheila Braden
Burt Elliott
Robert W. Maughmer
Antonio Solorio
Tony Valois

If you would like to contribute to the wildflower report:

 

e-mail:
Tony_Valois@partner.nps.gov

 

or phone him at 310-457-6408