Out at Willow on a Sunday Afternoon

Yesterday from 11 to 3 I was at the Willow Staging Area, greeting all of the fantastic bikers and hikers that came to enjoy Laguna Canyon. The weather was perfect - just enough warmth to enjoy hiking/biking in the shade, but cool enough to avoid overheating on those upward steep slopes. Len Gardner came to show me some examples of California Plantain that he had signaled earlier this month at Mary's Trail, and that I found later that afternoon where Dick Newell had indicated, at the start of Lower Laurel. I was surprised to learn how small California Plantain was... just about the length of two quarters back-to-back! Read about the endangered Quino Checkerspot Butterfly, which depends on California Plantain, in Clicking HERE.

At 3 pm, I did the Laurel Loop (Lower Laurel to Willow) and took my time observing the changes in the landscape, especially on Lower Laurel. Here is the report.

• The False Indigo is leafing out a bit more.
• The canyon pea is developing more and more, blooming as it can. There are many more pink flowers than purple on Lower Laurel, compared to the more dominant purple flowers on Little Sycamore, from what I can remember.
• The mulefat is blooming more and more.
• I believe to have seen the snowberry in bloom (from what I saw from a distance, staying on the trail and looking onto the slope to the left of me).
• The caterpillars and ladybugs are in great number and are absolutely loving the Common Fiddleneck.
• The blue dicks are opening up in great quantities everywhere.
• The Coast Indian Paintbrush is adding that awesome, bold orange-red color to our sagegreen hills in scattered streaks.
• The invasive, non-native mustard is more conspicuous now, as it has grown taller.
• The Mexican Elderberries are filling out now with more and more leaves.
• Many California Poppies are to be seen on the initial climb at Willow, from the Willow staging area. By 5 pm, they were closed up... but still so fantastic to see!
• I saw some full California Manroot prickly gourds near Post 2, up at the top of Willow.
• I took some photos of flowers that I haven't immediately identified yet, more commentary on them soon.

Many photographers came out to Willow, yesterday, as well. While most of them did seem pretty content with the photographs that they were able to take of the canyon, I did meet one who didn't find enough "wildlife" and seemed pretty disheartened about it all. In Laguna Canyon, it's true that it does take a certain amount of luck to meet up with deer, coyotes, or bobcats, and that our birds often hide in the trees and bushes off-trail. But there is still so much to enjoy on the trails here, if not the music of the wind whistling through our oaks and sycamores, then the heartbeat of the earth and the scents of our native plants. Don't be surprised if you come to the canyon searching for one experience and find yourself leaving with another.

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