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Available Sites |
Date of Review |
Page Revised:
11/2/04 |
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Circle X Ranch |
11/2/04 & 10/22/04 |
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See the photo gallery of
What’s Blooming at: http://www.nps.gov/samo/bloom/bloom.htm |
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The Rec
Area has seen enough rain that some of the creeks and falls are now running.
The ground in exposed areas is turning green as we begin to see a
wealth of small plants poking through the damp soil. Most trails have dried
enough to be free of the worst of the mud. The cool fall weather helps make
strenuous hiking more safe and enjoyable. |
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Circle X Ranch |
Mishe Mokwa loop Trail |
Date Observed:11/2/04 |
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Very few flowers
blooming on this six mile loop that includes a stop at Sandstone Peak. The
trail itself is in excellent condition with essentially no mud left from last
week's rain. Green grass and other small plants are a welcome sight. There
were a few patches of Wooly Aster, a single example of Bush Senecio in bloom,
a couple of small Sawtooth Goldenbush blossoms, some Coyote Bush, California
Sagebrush and a sparse scattering of California Buckwheat. Blooming
elsewhere at Circle X (but none plentiful): California Fuchsia, Cliff Aster,
Twiggy Wreath Plant, Tejon Milk-aster, Ashy Leaf Buckwheat, Wand Buckwheat,
Toyon, Telegraph Weed, California Brickelbush, Tree Tobacco, Black Mustard,
Felt-leaf Everlasting, Deerweed, and even a few Red Shank blossoms. (TV) |
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Naturalist's rating: Poor |
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Rancho Sierra Vista |
Hidden Pond Trail |
Date Observed:10/29/04 |
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The recent rains are evidenced by the
deep runoff ruts cut in the trails on the steeper slopes of the Hidden Pond Trail
out of the Rancho Sierra Vista area on 10/29/04, but no water is running in
any of the creeks as yet. Only 15 different species were displaying blooms
with only a single sample of many of them. For a 9 mile hike only 15 species
rates a poor rating on the old bloom-o-meter. The Hidden Pond was virtually
still hidden in as much as only a 20 foot puddle was seen whereas the dried Tules implied nearly 3/4 acre pond when the water was
plentiful. Since the pond is atop a mesa like meadow, there are no streams to
feed it so I assume it must get all of its moisture from direct rainfall,
which would indicate that a lot more rain is needed to fill it up. The dominant color of blooms were in
the yellow hues and included hedge mustard, telegraph weed, a single deerweed
and prickly pear and coast golden bush, sweet fennel and a few bush monkey
flowers. Amongst the whites were coyote bush, ashy-leaved buckwheat, cliff
aster and mule fat. In the lavender part of the spectrum we still see wooly
aster, a few bush mallow and wand chicory. Wand buckwheat added a little pink
to the color starved flora. Other sightings include turkey mullein. The hike started at the parking lot
at Ranch Sierra Vista and proceeded south to the upper part of Big Sycamore
Canyon, thence west along the Hidden Pond Trail to near Ranch Center with a
return on Ranch Center Road. (RWM) |
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Naturalist's rating: Poor |
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Circle X Ranch |
Grotto Trail |
Date Observed:10/22/04 |
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The recent
rain and cooler weather has made everything feel fresh and clean. The sunny
sides of slopes are showing a multitude of tiny green plants that have
sprouted in the last few days. However, it seems even the summer bloomers are
running out now, many of which are down to a few isolated individuals still
blooming when most of their siblings have already gone to seed. In addition,
many of the individuals still blooming are a bit faded and/or wilted. At the
top end of the trail you can still find Milk-asters (both Tejon and Twiggy
Wreath Plant) and the similar Cliff-Aster. The Woolly Asters are looking a
bit faded but are still easy to find. Only a few Sawtooth Goldenbush are
still blooming, most instead showing their brown dandelion-like seed heads.
The California Fuchsia is still plentiful adding a striking red to the
landscape. Down near the grotto we encounter California Sagebrush and Wand
Buckwheat. The tadpoles are at last gone but the pools of the creek are all
full again and the sound of water is everywhere. |
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Naturalist's rating: Poor |
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Rancho Sierra Vista / Point Mugu State Park |
Upper Sycamore Canyon
Trail |
Date Observed:10/20/04 |
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This hike was
done on a very overcast morning during a respite between the showers of a
multi-day storm. Starting from the inner most parking lot at Rancho Sierra
Vista, hike to the Sycamore Canyon Road and turn left on Old Boney Road just
before the Sycamore Canyon Road starts downhill. You will be returning up
this hill. Hike along the rim of the canyon, up a steep hill, then down into
the canyon. As Boney Road begins to level out in the canyon turn right on the
narrow Sycamore Canyon Trail. There are almost no flowers, but the green of
many trees is deepening, contrasting with the pastel colors of fallen leaves
and grasses. The pink of the Ashyleaf Buckwheat merges nicely with the other
pastels. Occasionally brilliant scarlet California Fuchsia is seen with the
flowers bowed from being pummeled by the rain. The stream is running for the
first time in many months, but by the fourth crossing is again underground.
Turn right at the Big Sycamore Canyon Road and hike back to the start. One
can always count on seeing the yellow bloom of the Telegraph Weed along the
road. Out in the open now, Coyote Brush is beginning to add its bright white
to the scene. The soil on this hike drains well and what little mud is
present is easily avoided. It can be hiked even in light rain. (BE) |
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Naturalist's rating: Poor |
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Point Mugu State Park |
La Jolla Canyon Trail |
Date Observed: 10/12/04 |
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On 10/12/04 we hiked the La Jolla
Canyon Trail to the Large pond at the north end of the trail and returned via
one of the loop trails. The degree of the present drought was evidenced by
the total lack of water in the pond. Over the last 6 years I have never seen
this pond dry, but this year the cracked mud bottom was fully exposed. The
little pond and spring about 0.6 miles north of the trail head was also
completely dry, another first. Despite these outward signs of the drought a
surprising number of blooms were encountered along the trail, 23 different
species to be exact. This is more than were seen on hikes in July and August
this year. The yellow blooms were the dominant
group and included sawtooth goldenbush, telegraph weed, Calif. sage brush,
sweet fennel, tree tobacco, western goldenrod, hedge mustard, gum plant, and
ragweed. White flowers seen were morning glory, ashy-leaved buckwheat, coyote
bush, mule flat, cud weed, cliff aster and laurel sumac. Even reds were
represented with scarlet monkey flower, hoary fuchsia, and wand buckwheat
being spotted. Wooly aster, vervain, Calif. loosestrife and several bush mallow
represented the lavender/purple colors. The wildlife seen included brush
rabbits, groups of tits, and one granddaddy of a Calif. whiptail lizards that
must have been 16 to 18 inches long. I don't know where the wild life is
getting its water, but it seems to be plentiful with lots of deer tracks also
seen. (RWM) |
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Naturalist's rating: Fair |
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Paramount Ranch |
Coyote
Canyon Trail |
Date Observed: 10/11/2004 |
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The hillside behind
the meadow and the Coyote Canyon Trail are covered with large yellow hawkfield tarweed flowers interspersed with blue flowers
of chicory. The trail has a very nice patch of vinegar weed. Also blooming
were coast goldenbush, bush mallow and ashy leaf buckwheat. (SB) |
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Naturalist's rating: Fair |
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Rancho Sierra Vista |
Native
Plant Garden |
Date Observed: 10/11/2004 |
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Reliable water
brings out continual bloom here. You'll see both spring (fuchsia flowered
gooseberry, verbain, California wild rose, sticky
monkey flower, purple sage, bladderpod, yerba mansa) and summer blooms
(California fuchsia, conejo buckwheat, wand buckwheat) as well as dried
berries (rose hips) and pods (yerba mansa, narrow-leaved milkweed) (SB) |
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Contact
Information: Santa
Monica Mountains National Recreation Area 401 West
Hillcrest Drive Ph.
805-370-2301 web. www.nps.gov/samo |
Thank
you for your
contributions: Robert W.
Maughmer |
If you
would like to contribute to the wildflower report: e-mail: sheila_braden@nps.gov |
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