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Page Revised: 6/24/06 |
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Available Sites Circle X Ranch |
Date of Review 6/24/06 & 6/15/06
& 5/31/06. |
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What's Blooming photo gallery: www.nps.gov/samo/bloom/bloom.htm |
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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: 5/24/06 |
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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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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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Upper Solstice Canyon |
Backbone Trail |
Date: 5/24/06 |
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Backbone Trail from Corral Canyon Rd.
toward Castro Crest This is a perfect hike to see
chaparral recovering from fire and to see flowers that are seldom seen except
after fires. The hillside is covered
with the blackened skeletons of burnt shrubs.
Underneath is a carpet of flowers. Twining snapdragon, small evening primrose,
fern leaf phacelia and the impressive large flower phacelia spread for as far
as the eye can see. There are also
wild cucumber, eucrypta and monkey flower.
A bit further along the trail these flowers are joined by whispering
bells, Brewer's red maids and globe gilia.
There are a few collarless poppies here and there. Also blue dicks,
mariposa lilies and mustard evening primrose. When you cross out of the burned area
you have an excellent opportunity to see what the flora would look like had
it not burned. Here there are
flowering yucca, California buckwheat, sticky monkey flower, purple
nightshade, golden yarrow, wild morning glory, bush sunflower, chamise, popcorn
flower and California everlasting. There
are also wooly blue curls, lots of rock rose, caterpillar phacelia, purple
clarkia and red skinned onion growing in a flowing creek. (DS) |
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Naturalist's rating: Excellent |
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Newton and Upper
Solstice Canyons |
Backbone Trail |
Date: 5/20/06 |
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Backbone Trail Sections including
Kanan Road to Latigo Canyon Road and crossing over Latigo Canyon Road and
continuing to the end of Corral Canyon Road through Upper Solstice Canyon. This hike was a make-up of the fifth
of the 2005-2006 Backbone Trail NPS Series.
The originally scheduled hike was rained out on March 11th and
rescheduled. For the wildflower enthusiast,
the rescheduled hike was a blessing in disguise as we encountered at least 94
flowering plants. The weather began
overcast, but soon cleared to sunny conditions. The total hike distance was approximately
6.5 miles. Starting at the overflow parking area
just north of the main Kanan Road trailhead we went down to the main Backbone
Trail junction and proceeded south towards the Newton Canyon waterfalls. From the parking area we noticed black
mustard, Spanish broom, sticky monkey flower, deer weed, yucca, tree tobacco,
yellow sweet clover, milk thistle, big pod ceanothus, chicory, black sage,
chamise, and red-stemmed filaree. Once
on the trail we spotted caterpillar phacelia, purple nightshade, popcorn
flower, scarlet pimpernel, greenbark ceanothus, wishbone bush, windmill pink,
eucrypta, heart leafed penstemon, sugar bush, California everlasting, parry's
phacelia, wild cucumber, figwort, miner's lettuce, fiesta flower, hedge
nettle, canyon sunflower, bur-chervil, snowberry, holly leafed cherry,
willow-herb clarkia, purple clarkia, blue larkspur, horehound, and golden
yarrow. As the trail emerged from Newton
Canyon we continued up and over the tunnel and east towards Latigo Canyon
Road. Along the way we identified
mountain mahogany, cobweb thistle, Indian paintbrush, elderberry, California
buckwheat, coulter's lupine, vervain, chinese houses, bedstraw, chia, bush
lupine, sticky cinquefoil, scarlet pitcher sage, blue-eyed grass, wild
hyacinth, canyon pea, mariposa lily, purple sage, dove lupine, coast live
oak, coffee berry, California black walnut, fuchsia-flowered gooseberry,
morning glory, woodland stars, slender sunflower, globe gilia, and foothill
penstemon. Crossing Latigo Canyon Road we noted
bush poppy, Indian pink, milkmaids, elegant clarkia, stinging lupine, poison
oak, wooly blue curls, yellow monkey flower, rock rose, long-beaked filaree,
common groundsel, and fern-leaved phacelia.
Continuing down into Upper Solstice Canyon we observed tomcat clover,
scarlet bugler, blackberry, collarless poppy, red-skinned onion, globe lily,
twining snapdragon, star lily, skullcap, Turkish rugging. Just before the end of the trail at the top
of Corral Canyon Road we entered a recently burned area covered with large
flowered phacelia, coastal lotus, red maids, and small evening primrose. (GS) |
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Naturalist's rating: Good |
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Point Mugu State park |
Various south-west corner trails |
Date: 5/19/06 |
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We started at the Chumash trailhead
and hiked up the steep hill to the Mugu Peak trail and then to the La Jolla Valley
Loop trail and finally down to the coast on the La Jolla Canyon trail. We had
a friend drop us off at the Chumash trailhead so that we could walk back to
the car we left at the La Jolla Trailhead. This avoids the two mile hike
along PCH between these two trailheads. In paces we ran into both wood ticks
and mosquitoes so protective clothing and perhaps repellent might be a good
idea. These trails are narrow and poison oak
is right along the edge of the trail in several places. If you are not
familiar with it you might want to bring a friend who is. As with most trails
that pass through multiple ecosystems there was a good variety of flowers,
almost a hundred different in bloom, some in good quantities. Highlights include
wild morning glory, giant coreopsis, canyon sunflower, Indian paintbrush,
bush monkey flower, creek monkey flower, scarlet monkey flower, deerweed,
bush mallow, black sage, purple sage, scarlet pitcher sage, yarrow, golden
yarrow, cliff aster, Catalina mariposa lily, blue-eyed grass, yucca, oxalis,
lance-leaf live-forever, wishbone bush, blue dicks, Southern California
locoweed, Parry's phacelia, caterpillar phacelia, both bigpod ceanothus and
greenbark ceanothus in a second bloom, bladderpod, Coulter's lupine, bush
lupine, purple and white nightshade, chinese houses, golden stars, blue
larkspur, Indian pink, hedge nettle, elderberry, Carolina geranium,
snowberry, California blackberry, sticky cinquefoil, California figwort,
gumplant, fuchsia-flowered gooseberry, willow-herb clarkia,
farewell-to-spring, and California loosestrife. (TV) |
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Naturalist's rating: Good |
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Rancho Sierra Vista |
Satwiwa Garden |
Date: 5/14/06 |
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There is a nice display of wildflowers
at the Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa Native Plant Garden. You can see creek
monkey flower (yellow with red spots), sticky monkey flower, onions, golden
currant (berries), fuchsia flowered gooseberry (berries), all three sages
(black, purple and white) and hummingbird sage too. Lots of native grasses
are in the fenced area which protects them from the native rabbits. At the
beginning of the garden path are bladderpod, both yellow and white yarrow and
lots of prickly pear cactus (both flowers and fruits). The little garden path has a lot of flowers
to see, plus (on weekends) you can visit the beautiful artwork display at the
Satwiwa Culture Center. Of course, on any day you can come and walk around
the area or walk onto the Satwiwa loop trail and see fields of non native
mustard (yellow) and radish (pink, white and rose) as well as the flowers of
purple vetch sticking up among them.
(SB) |
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Naturalist's rating: Good |
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Topanga State Park |
Hondo Canyon & Topanga Meadows |
Date: 5/11/06 |
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The creek runs right alongside Old
Topanga Rd. Find rocks to scramble
across on and the trail takes you up to a meadow that is filled with blue
eyed grass interspersed with mariposa lilies and buttercups, rigid hedge
nettle stands at the edge of the woods.
The trail climbs through the meadow and enters the woods where there
are deerweed, canyon sunflower and sticky monkey flower. There is an area that is completely covered
in hummingbird sage. Just
beautiful. (DS) |
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Naturalist's rating: Good |
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Santa
Monica Mountains National Recreation Area 401 West
Hillcrest Drive 805-370-2301 |
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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