Laguna Canyon - The Blog

Following the Rains: New Volunteers, Flowers, and Spring

2010-03-15T13:49:00.000-07:00

After all of the rain that we got last month, things are definitely looking green and healthy around here! And after a few months of silence, I've returned to contribute some updates and observations to all of you who may be checking in every now and then. :)

Laguna Canyon Foundation just hosted their latest Volunteer Orientation at the Nix Nature Center this past Saturday, March 13th, 2010. We are so happy to have the newest volunteers-in-training on board and look forward to getting to know them better! For any information on the volunteer or naturalist programs at the Laguna Canyon Foundation, please contact Kimberly Leeds, head of education, at education@lagunacanyon.org .

Last month, on 15 February 2010, I was able to squeeze in a little hike at Aliso and Wood Canyons. I checked up on the Wood Canyon Trail and came across a whole bunch of different fungi, which I know nothing about, but which looked pretty awesome! :) Some Toyon berries were still hanging on the branches of our Toyon shrubs. Fuschia-flowered gooseberry was in bloom, and milk maids were lining parts of the trails.

Yesterday, Sunday 14 March 2010, I did a much larger hike, starting at Lower Laurel, up to Bommer Ridge, all the way to El Moro Ridge (Crystal Cove State Park), then back down to Bommer, to Willow, down to the Willow Staging Area parking lot at LCWP. The weather was absolutely perfect! Beautiful blue sky, temps in the high 60s, clear skies with 360-degree views of snow-capped mountains and Catalina Island & the beautiful blue Pacific Ocean. Photos with a JH in the watermark were taken by our lead canyon photographer Mr. Hoof.

Much is in bloom currently along the trails visited, including, but not limited to:

Chapparal Nightshade
Milk Maids
Paintbrush (along Willow)
Coast Live Oak! :)
Popcorn Flower
Red Maids
Common Deerweed (so often in bloom :) )
California Plantain
Miner's Lettuce
Fuschia-flowered Gooseberry
California Buttercup

Blue DicksCommon Fiddleneck
Encelia californicaCalifornia Manroot / Wild Cucumber - also well into the fruit stageCanyon Pea

Prickly Pear Cactus
California Poppies

Sticky Monkey Flower
In bud only:
Blue-eyed Grass.
English plantain.
The Lupines along Lower Laurel in the shaded oak woodlands - though many lupines have already bloomed along the 133.

Poison oak was rather well leafed out in the oak woodlands.
Calif. False Indigo is just starting to leaf out, it's still pretty sparsely leaved.
The lance-leaved dudleya along the beginning of Lower Laurel is developing its flower stalks.

Aspire to An Awe Filled Life - by Bette Lee

2009-12-16T19:32:00.000-08:00

It is with much regret that we volunteers and naturalists for the Laguna Canyon Foundation say goodbye to our trusted, generous and so dearly loved Volunteer Manager, Bette Lee.

Bette's dedication, professionalism, honesty and passion for both the canyon and her volunteer corps will be forever remembered by all who worked beside her. While we are eagerly awaiting the announcement of a future Volunteer Manager, and are looking forward to collaborating with him/her as much as possible, one thing is certain: there is no replacing Bette Lee.

As an involved member of our canyon's growing community of volunteers and visitors, I take the liberty tonight to publish the above words. With 2010 on its way, a new chapter for us volunteers and naturalists is about to begin. It is my hope that a renewed sense of excitement and appreciation for all on the trails, be it rock, plant or person, will come to define the upcoming year.

Tonight's post features a heart-felt message from Bette, destined to all of you who read this blog. It is entitled, "Aspire to An Awe Filled Life," and it shall be the final posting of this blog this year.

See you on the trails next year!
Jennifer Wood

Aspire to An Awe Filled Life - by Bette Lee

Awake each morning, potentially inspired, centered, with a sense that many options and opportunities stretch before you. Awe is a power unto itself, and by its very nature transforms us. The best part is it is free, natural, and continually available.

When you get out of bed in the morning and put your feet on the floor, give thanks that you are part of a great adventure, an ever-expanding journey.

Each moment is a gift. Savor it. Be in it. Even in the tough times, take a moment to breathe, ground yourself and become present in the moment.

Take time to consider bigger questions, such as how you are willing to use the space and time left to you.

Realize that you are MORE than petty or narrow judgments.

Stay open to the possibilities and surprises of life; they may be around the corner. When you’re in conversation or working, or just simply being, realize that change—often positive change—can spontaneously occur.

Pain is our teacher. As difficult as it is, pain can be an opening—as well as closure—to a new way of life. For example, if you are sad, perhaps you can view the sadness as a long neglected chance to slow down, appreciate subtleties, and consider life anew.

Try for balance. We all experience fragility and resiliency. To cope best with this life, acknowledge both your limits and your possibilities. Recognize that limits and possibilities play off one another and that to live fully one must be open to tearfulness as well exhilaration.

Accept change. Life is ever revolving. An ability to stay present to, and accept, the evolving nature of life is a powerful skill. As painful as conflict can be, realize that, like everything else, it too shall pass, and something new will emerge.

You are so much more than what you think you are. So take the leap if you dare, follow your grandest visions and dreams, and partake of the greatest investigation ever known—your own awe-filled life. Breathe in the awesomeness of life!

SO -

Open to the mystery of Life and Being
Surrender and Trust in the Unknowable
Take a Leap of Faith into Your Future

New observations at the Park

2009-12-05T09:08:00.000-08:00

Our good friend and fellow naturalist Len Gardner shares his observations of late:

Nov 29

In the stretch of upper Laurel between the waterfall and signpost 10, there are a few shoots of new growth. Maidenhair fern and Polypody fern are both putting out bright green new foliage. This is a hopeful sign in an otherwise continuing drought. Also, sagebrush has its flower buds out and Fuschia-flowered Gooseberry is sporting new leaves. Otherwise, things still look pretty bleak.

Dec 4

I stopped by the Nix this morning [...] While there, I checked for Jepsonia.

I could only find five plants, all near the picnic table on the knoll and all fading fast. Laura said that at Thanksgiving she found them doing well at the Conservancy. She pointed out it's more sheltered there and it was earlier. They're at their best in November.

In good news, there's rain in the forecast for next week. At this point, they're predicting serious rain (1" or more).

More Poetry Contributions!

2009-12-05T09:07:00.000-08:00

Check out Volunteer Voices' "Poetry Corner" for more Poetry Contributions from Chuck Wright: http://www.lagunacoastwilderness.com/volunteer-voices/poetry

Dat Guy is at it again! :)

2009-11-24T19:26:00.000-08:00

Read Part Two of Dat Guy's Series, "Asphalt Jungle to the Back Country – A Journey."

(Click HERE : http://www.lagunacoastwilderness.com/volunteer-voices/short-stories/dat-guy)

New Poetry Contributions!

2009-11-17T20:41:00.001-08:00

We're so excited!!!! New Poetry Contributions have been added to the Permanent Site www.lagunacoastwilderness.com (in the volunteer voices section). We're also including them below, so that you can read them Right This Instant! :)

Poetry by Jim von Tungeln

Poetry by Patricia Minassian

Jim von Tungeln

Whispering Winds

Whispering winds through the window of my soul,

Gently asking me, "What is your true and final goal?

Looking around at all I see,

Assuming it is all just for me --

While it whispers sweetly to my soul --

"Don't you want to be set free?"

At the mountain top the flying ants put on their best wedding show,

So much to see, so much to know…

A long reflective walk back down through the blooming meadows of ancient green,

And then a quiet beckoning sunset that finally burst it's love deep within me.

I pray you, too, discover exactly what I mean.

Because deep down inside, I think, we all yearn so much to be finally set free.

Patricia Minassian

Dilley under the Oaks
11-14-09

A canyon grandfather provides the canopy under which I lay
I am a grateful interloper in a sacred place
Through a veil of delicate oak branches intertwined
Cirrus clouds swirl, ever-changing like oil on water
Impressionistic lace on lace
In the distance a loving pair call “squeaky clean!”, “squeaky clean!”
All the while, the woodpecker does her daily chores
Come In!

Naturalist Training Course Starts January 13, 2010

2009-11-17T20:34:00.000-08:00

Train to be a Volunteer Naturalist!
The Spring 2010 Training Program Starts on January 13.

A training program for those wishing to become volunteer naturalists will be the subject of an 8-week course at Saddleback College: Ticket #14095, Environmental Studies 200: Naturalist Training.

The class is worth 2.5 units of college credit, and consists of 8 Wednesday evening seminars on topics ranging from ecology to human history, and 8 weekend field trips to various natural areas in Orange County. Instructors are some of the most dedicated and talented local scientists and naturalists.

There is a fee for the course. To enroll, call Saddleback College Admissions directly at 949-582-4555 or visit the website: www.saddleback.edu.

Throughout Orange County, setting aside open space is only a small part of preservation. The most important job is helping the public learn how to keep the wilderness wild while enjoying it.

As a volunteer, you can make it all happen!

After successful completion of the training program, you will be eligible to lead tours at a variety of local natural areas, such as Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Irvine Ranch Land Reserve, City of Irvine Open Space, Donna O'Neill Land Conservancy, Crystal Cove State Park, Chino Hills State Park, Cleveland National Forest, Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park, Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, O'Neill Regional Park, General Riley Wilderness Park, and many others.

For more information, please email Elisabeth Brown: LGreenbelt@aol.com

"Asphalt Jungle to the Back Country – A Journey" by Dat Guy

2009-11-01T09:11:00.000-08:00

A "VOLUNTEER VOICES" ANNOUNCEMENT!

I am so excited to announce to you today the newest contribution to "Volunteer Voices" - a series entitled "Asphalt Jungle to the Back Country – A Journey," written and submitted by "Dat Guy."

Below, you will find the link to the very first part of Dat Guy's series.

http://www.lagunacoastwilderness.com/volunteer-voices/short-stories/dat-guy

Follow Dat Guy's writings on our new website, www.lagunacoastwilderness.com - the website dedicated to housing permanent articles, photos and information on the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, and maintained by yours truly!

Suggestions and comments are always welcome.
Keeping it WILD,
Jennifer Wood

Update at the Dilley Preserve - 30 October 2009

2009-10-30T19:54:00.000-07:00

All photos in this update (except for one) were taken by Thea Gavin on 30 October 2009 at the James Dilley Preserve. Photo of the Twiggy Wreath by Jennifer Wood ;)
Above: Sycamore leaves in the morning sunlight.

10-30-2009: This morning at 7:45 AM, Thea Gavin (www.theagavin.com) and I went on a nice little hike on Canyon trail in the James Dilley Preserve. It was a nose-numbing 46 degrees outside, and our warm bodies were the only ones shivering in the otherwise peaceful, waking landscape.

We were greeted immediately by a very healthy-looking coyote - and I was ecstatic!; I realized that this was the very first time that I saw a coyote in our park (sounds strange, doesn't it? after all this time???). After the coyote went on his way, we headed towards the sign-in table, where we spotted some beautiful deerweed in bloom, and lots of croton. (Croton pictured to the left! along with my hand. Thea says I make a wonderful hand model. I am thus now rethinking my career.)

Lining the beginning of the trail were a few of my favorite sage scrub plants, including beautiful displays of California Buckwheat, new growth on California Sagebrush, and new blooms of Twiggy Wreath. (To right: Twiggy Wreath). Of the more remarkable changes to be noticed were the new white and pink flowers which crowded the crowns of the buckwheat plants, creating a very colorful compilation of brown, red, pink and cream tones. (To left, buckwheat). This new blooming reminded me of the power of rain and its gift of life the plant community. (We did get some rain this past month, along with some humidity and lower temperatures, and some of the plants have taken advantage of the situation to get their reproductive processes underway!)

As the sun rose higher in the sky, beautiful silver linings haloed the dried out phacelia (right), and warmed up the air sufficiently for the bees to begin vibrating their wings and to start a new day of flight (below, left).

Update on the lemonade berries in the park: While I recently observed that the lemonade berries on our trails were lacking in zing, some of the lemonade berries at Dilley have a slight zing left in them. It really depends on location, and on the shrub/tree's individual timing.

Thanks for reading!
Jennifer

"In All Her Glory" - Acrylic on Canvas by W. Bradley Elsberry

2009-10-29T22:45:00.000-07:00

"In All Her Glory" ~ Acrylic on Canvas ~ 36 x 48" ~ C. 2007
by W. Bradley Elsberry

After a photo taken by Mr. Elsberry on the old Laguna Canyon Road in 2005.

Take a look at a not-so-distant past, when the old Laguna Canyon Road was a two-lane, winding path from the ocean to the freeways. Now, go back in your mind, quietly, slowly. Do you remember how dark and mysterious that road was, when you drove along it at night? How many curves did you count in that road, and how few cars passed you by? Do you remember seeing the cattle by day? How about the hippo? And what about the view that you had at the north end, looking out towards Irvine?

It is true, that simple two-laner is no longer with us, and the memory of it through first-hand experience may likely end with those who are now in their early twenties. At twenty-five, I sometimes find myself making a conscious effort to keep my recollections of the old canyon road vividly sketched in my mind. Luckily for me, there are archives to consult when my memory lacks - including photos, written accounts (stories, poetry, news articles, etc.), and art. These resources fill in the gaps and educate me about the past I never knew, before my existence on Earth even began.

Yet, references to the past do not have to come strictly from the past. Today, through certain forms of expression, we can bring back the old canyon road in its myriad colors and curves, and recount the thousands of stories of those who traveled upon it. This is especially the case with art, and more specifically, with painting.

In August, I wrote about Candice Bohannon's magnificent oil on canvas entitled "Cardoons," painted in 2008. (Read the post on "Cardoons" HERE). "Cardoons" acts very much as a testament to the changing destiny of Laguna Canyon Road, as it evokes in its very imagery the transition commanded by man from a time of simplicity to an era of booming construction and heavy commuting. With the orange fencing representing mitigation work along the 133, and the cardoons' presence suggesting man's disruption of the soil layers, "Cardoons" asks us to not only understand the new reality of the much larger and expanded Laguna Canyon Road, but to bring back into view the simpler road that we lost to changing needs.

Local artist W. Bradley Elsberry of Irvine also brings back the memory of the old Laguna Canyon Road through his acrylic on canvas entitled, "In All Her Glory," painted in 2007. It is this very special work that I wish to share with you all today. Elsberry's piece gives us a beautiful glimpse of a part of the road (or part of the land sitting just beside the old road) that can no longer be accessed today, for its very existence has been forever modified by tractors and construction. It also evokes the native life that was lost, and the implications of such a loss on our consciousness. Below, you'll find a few of Elsberry's personal comments, that he has graciously accepted to share with us on the blog.

"This portrait of this tree could be considered a "Nude" since at this point in her life cycle she has at last shed all her leaves and the late afternoon light guilds the beautiful form and textures normally hidden from view. While this tree is no longer green it should be noted that there is new growth coming up from her roots. At first glance desolate, this is actually a look at a moment when the time of day, the time of year, and this time of transition in this tree's life give us a clear golden look at this Oak tree's strength and beauty.

"I photographed this tree along the side of old Laguna Canyon Road in 2005 and it was not spared when the new road went through. I like to think that some of the smaller Oaks still standing are her offspring." - W. Bradley Elsberry

Elsberry's paintings are currently being represented by Len Wood's Indian Territory Gallery in Laguna Beach, and can be seen on the gallery's website HERE.

Until next time,
Jennifer

Volunteer Voices: Chuck Wright

2009-10-27T21:07:00.000-07:00

Today I received an email with some inspired poetry, written by LCF volunteer Chuck Wright.

In order to maintain the poems' visual composition, I am unable to publish them on this blog, but I have put them here: PLEASE CLICK HERE to read Chuck Wright's poetry! (Thank you, Chuck, for sharing your pieces with us!)

Please email me with your contributions and we will be able to develop a section online entitled "Volunteer Voices."

Contact: Jennifer at lagunacanyon@gmail.com

Laurel Loop Update: 24 October 2009

2009-10-24T21:00:00.000-07:00

Trail Update - 24 October 2009 - Laurel Loop (Lower Laurel Trail and Willow Trail)

Hello, Friend!

This morning I hiked Laurel Loop (started on Lower Laurel, to finish at the end of Willow), from 8:45-10:20 AM. It was an absolutely beautiful morning, with warm temperatures, a beautiful blue sky with few scattered clouds, and the sweet smell of mulefat perfuming the air.

(photo on left: view from Lower Laurel today, looking towards the Laguna Canyon Road)

It had been a while since my last visit to the Willow Staging area, and the land somehow "feels" different to me, as if it is fuller, a bit heavier, less dusty - perhaps due to the recent rain that we received this month?

As I was on somewhat of a schedule this morning, I could not take my usual four hours to minutely observe what was going on in the canyon. I did succeed, however, in obtaining a general overview of the loop, and noted a few of the more obvious changes, to share with you today.

It was absolutely fantastic to get out on the trails again. Here are a few of my observations, for the record:

1. The Lemonade Berries have lost their Zing! Bam! Punch! and most of the "slimy" coating has left, leaving only a nice coat of oak woodland dust to color the berries a darker hue of red (bordering red-black in some instances). Their tart, lemon taste has almost faded completely. Guess we'll have to wait until the next batch comes along...

2. The fuschia-flowered gooseberry is just starting to leaf out on Lower Laurel, in the oak woodland portion. Exciting!

3. Toyon is in bloom in certain areas of Lower Laurel Trail. Take a look at these beauties!!!

4. I have a tradition of taking a photograph from this vantage point, of the California False Indigo and the surrounding plants/trail. You can observe the changes in the area in comparing this photo with the others, HERE.

The leaves of the False Indigo, especially their color loss/gain, was noted.

5. Speaking of color, Len Gardner recently mentioned the color of the Poison Oak at Aliso and Wood Canyons. He expressed his amazement at "the color in the poison oak leaves, which seems to be at a peak now. Even though poison oak starts to get color as early as June in some drought-stressed locations, most does not color up until this time of year. Right now, it's really very colorful." On Laurel Loop, the beautiful colors of green and red are also visible, especially in the oak woodlands.

As I mentioned in my earlier post today, I am excitedly awaiting your contributions to the blog! And I will be posting some art on the blog this next week. So, stay tuned!

Keeping it WILD,
Jennifer Wood

We are Back on the Blog - and So Are You!

2009-10-24T12:41:00.000-07:00

Hello Everybody!

Well, I have a lot to catch up on, since the last time I posted (exactly 3 weeks ago - ouch!). The absence of news has not been without cause - a sprained muscle in my foot was the culprit, keeping me immobile and off our trails! For those of you who have checked in regularly, I apologize for the wait and for the lack of news. But thank you for your loyal readership!

Being unable to get outdoors and enjoy the coastal sage scrub, the oak woodlands, the grasslands, etc. these past three weeks really made me feel badly for the handicapped, who have little-to-no chance of enjoying our canyon like the rest of us mobile, healthy bipeds do. Sure, while I was on crutches for most of my injury, and could probably get up enough courage to visit the Nix Nature Center and look at the canyon through the windows, I knew that it would be impossible for me to "crutch-it" up Little Sycamore, Lower Laurel, Willow, Canyon, and all the other trails. Almost everything became "off-limits" to me - it was like a cruel taunting, a mirage of water in a dropless desert. Nope, I couldn't step onto the single tracks. I couldn't go even 10 feet up Little Sycamore. There was absolutely no way to get away from the canyon road. And even if I had found someone to push me in a wheelchair, it would have been in vain, for our trails are in no state to accommodate such contraptions.

Being handicapped and forced into a state of immobility also highlighted in my mind just how much the canyon has become part of my normal, weekly lifestyle. To not be able to get a whiff of the mulefat or the California sagebrush when Saturday came around left me with a noticeably duller, blander weekend. To not know how the birds were doing or with what kind of intensity they were singing their songs, and to not be able to watch the subtle changes in the plants, I felt increasingly out-of-the-loop, in another world, waiting, as a sailor far out at sea, to cross the interminable horizon and to reach my home port again.

A few of you have recently received requests for contributions to this blog, and I am excited about the articles, photos and observations that you have mentioned you will share in the upcoming weeks and months. Please let me know if you have any questions - you can email me any questions and your contributions at lagunacanyon@gmail.com.

Many of you have recently discovered my blog through the newsletter, "Canyon Views," sent home to you just recently. If this is your first time here, I strongly encourage you to get a feel for this blog by looking through the archives and reading some past posts. Recently, I have attempted to include fine art, depicting scenes of Laguna Canyon, in this online setting. If you know of any artist who has been inspired by Laguna Canyon and has shown this inspiration in their works, please let me know, and I will be happy to feature their art. A magnificent work by W. Bradley Elsberry is coming soon - so stay tuned!

So! To Come:
- Original Acrylic on Canvas by W. Bradley Elsberry
- Updates on the Trails of the Canyon
- Your contributions, comments, and questions? :)

Your friend keeping it WILD,
Jennifer Wood
lagunacanyon@gmail.com

California Coffeeberry, Stinking Gourd, and Mysteries at Aliso and Wood Canyons Park

2009-10-03T22:30:00.000-07:00

Hiking at Aliso and Wood Canyons Park this morning with a friend, I came across a plant that I hadn't met before on the trail: California Coffeeberry! Here's a quick photograph of it (see left). For more pictures of the California Coffeeberry taken today, please click HERE.

"California Coffeeberry (Rhamnus californica) prefers somewhat more moist conditions than the other Rhamnus species and is more prevalent in somewhat shady environments, such as canyon bottoms and near creeks. Leaves are soft and elongate, with rounded margins. The fruit is a two-seeded, relatively large, round berry that turns red before becoming black at maturity." (p.261 of Oscar Clarke's Flora of the Santa Ana River and Environs).

I also was excited to note the large leaves of this stinking gourd plant. (Note the poison oak surrounding the stinking gourd - I made sure my friend, who is "giving me a hand" with scale in the photo, wasn't touching any of it!)

I asked a few of my knowledgeable plant friends about the size of the leaves, since I have been used to seeing leaves just a bit larger than the length of my hand at the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park ( the Willow/Lower Laurel trails instantly come to mind ). Here, at the Aliso and Wood Canyons park, the leaves were double the length of my hands! I have been told that this larger size is quite normal, given the better living conditions this plant has at Aliso and Wood Canyons. Truly, with its more abundant water supply and good sun exposure allowing optimum growth, there is no reason for the leaves to be smaller than they are currently. It just goes to show you what more water can do for our native plants... I'd love to see this kind of growth in our plants at Laguna Coast Wilderness Park!

A few final observations from the trails this morning:

- I noticed some bush mallow (with lavender colored flowers [we also have a white flowered bush mallow in the canyon]) in full bloom on Wood Canyon trail. Most of the bush mallow in our parks has already been in bloom months ago; yet Oscar Clarke notes in his Flora of the Santa Ana River and Environs that bush mallow's flowers "may occur over a wide range of seasons, given sufficient precipitation" (180). I wonder if this particular bush mallow plant has been in continuous bloom since May/June when I first started to notice the mallow blooms in the canyon and on Irvine Ranch lands - or if this is the first blooming since a long while... It really makes me want to get out more than I do, plant myself in the earth amongst the rest of creation, and just watch us all grow together. I'd have so many more answers!

- There weren't any bees buzzing in the tree along Wood Canyon trail that I had come to know well (about 1 mile from gate 7?). What happened to their hive? Why the total absence of bees? Earlier this year, bees were buzzing all about the tree, flying back and forth from all over, and making themselves known to all. Who can tell me about bees, and why none were to be heard/seen today? (The hive is just after this water crossing, to the left, if walking towards Soka University on Wood Canyon Trail. Note the atrocious non-native plant thriving in the water. WHAT IS THAT PLANT? YUCK!)

- The weather today was just glorious. How lucky are we to have such sunshine and such deep, blue skies in the beginning of October?! Yet let us be wary as the Santa Ana winds come upon us - in these drought conditions, every season seems to be fire season - your heightened awareness of your activities and of others will help us all keep our treasured parks safe.

That's it for today - hopefully I'll have more updates for you soon.
And I'm counting on some of our newest volunteers to send me their submissions! ;)

With the cry of our local red-tailed hawks in my heart,
Jennifer

Natural History Lecture Series at the Orange County Great Park

2009-09-29T07:58:00.000-07:00

Hello all - I am posting this information here since the events are close to our park and the subject matter is pertinent to what goes on in Laguna Canyon. More updates on our beautiful canyon will be coming soon!

On the Orange County Great Park's website, http://www.ocgp.org, one can find this very exciting announcement: (Click here to access their page directly)

October 8 and 22, 2009
7:00 PM, at Second Harvest
Free Parking & Admission

The Orange County Great Park will be a new center for experiencing our natural world, and understanding how people and our environment can advance together. The first expression of this mission is a new public and free evening lecture series offering new insights into our natural and dynamic world of Southern California. Our first speakers this fall will confront issues critical for us to have a sustainable world.

After the presentations, there will be ample time for a public discussion of the issues these fascinating speakers will present to us.

Lectures will be held adjacent to the Great Park in the Executive Conference Room of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, 8014 Marine Way, Irvine, CA. Please enter Marine Way from Sand Canyon Avenue and follow the signs to Second Harvest Food Bank.

For information please call 949-724-7420.
Lecture Schedule

Native California Bees Looking for New Real Estate
Thursday, October 8, 7:00 PM
Presented by Gordon Frankie, Ph.D., Professor of Entomology at UC-Berkeley
Pollinators are necessary partners for our food supply, critical for California agriculture, as well as sustaining our natural habitats. Dr. Frankie is a world expert on the ecology of bees and their fascinating adaptations for survival. After years of studying tropical and California bee species, he has begun to focus on our urban environments, understanding the hundreds of bee species around us, often ignored, and their role in sustaining our home gardens and communities. Have you thanked a bee today? Let Dr. Frankie tell you why you should!

21st Century Megafires in Southern California: Adapting to Fires in Paradise
Thursday, October 22, 7:00 PM
Presented by Jon Keeley, Ph.D., U. S. Geological Survey, and Adjunct Professor of Ecology, UCLA
Wildfire! A constant concern and fear for our human communities, and a big factor that molds the natural world around us. We struggle against fire, every year, yet the plants and animals of our region have managed to survive for eons under the pressure of regular and devastating fires. Dr. Keeley is a world expert on the “ecology of fire,” how plants manage with this stress and how the habitats around us persist and change as fires sweep through. How do they do it? What does the future hold for our communities as the frequency of wildfires changes as our climate changes?

Destruction of Wildliife Habitat Next to Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

2009-09-27T20:15:00.000-07:00

Hello to all.

This past week I was contacted by Marcus, a concerned fellow resident of the area, who has become very concerned, frustrated, and saddened by the destruction of wildlife habitat just next to the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.

His message was as follows: Hi, We live adjacent the end of the Lake Forest Road.
They bulldozed that area a couple of years ago to start to make way for the connection to the 133. Yesterday and moreso today they have been cuttin tall trees in a grove that does not block the road direction. Please see our site http://www.shinhill.com for the area. Tomorrow I will have pictures up of the current destruction.

There are three endangered species there among others:

Check this map for a map of the area that links these species:

http://imaps.dfg.ca.gov/viewers/cnddb_quickviewer/app.asp

I called the fish and game dept and got a run around. What can be done to stop it?

Unprocessed CNDDB Data for TUSTIN Quad (3311767) - 20 elements selected

Record	QUADNAME	SCINAME	COMNAME	FEDSTATUS	CALSTATUS
1	Tustin	Ixobrychus exilis	least bittern	None	None
2	Tustin	Accipiter cooperii	Cooper's hawk	None	None
3	Tustin	Laterallus jamaicensis coturniculus	California black rail	None	Threatened
4	Tustin	Rallus longirostris levipes	light-footed clapper rail	Endangered	Endangered
5	Tustin	Calypte costae	Costa's hummingbird	None	None
6	Tustin	Selasphorus sasin	Allen's hummingbird	None	None
7	Tustin	Picoides nuttallii	Nuttall's woodpecker	None	None
8	Tustin	Eremophila alpestris actia	California horned lark	None	None
9	Tustin	Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus sandiegensis	coastal cactus wren	None	None
10	Tustin	Polioptila californica californica	coastal California gnatcatcher	Threatened	None
11	Tustin	Vireo bellii pusillus	least Bell's vireo	Endangered	Endangered
12	Tustin	Dendroica petechia brewsteri	yellow warbler	None	None
13	Tustin	Icteria virens	yellow-breasted chat	None	None
14	Tustin	Aimophila ruficeps canescens	southern California rufous-crowned sparrow	None	None
15	Tustin	Chondestes grammacus	lark sparrow	None	None
16	Tustin	Passerculus sandwichensis beldingi	Belding's savannah sparrow	None	Endangered
17	Tustin	Ammodramus savannarum	grasshopper sparrow	None	None
18	Tustin	Carduelis lawrencei	Lawrence's goldfinch	None	None
19	Tustin	Choeronycteris mexicana	Mexican long-tongued bat	None	None
20	Tustin	Calochortus catalinae	Catalina mariposa-lily	None	None

Results for EL TORO Quad (3311766) - 34 elements selected

Record	QUADNAME	SCINAME	COMNAME	FEDSTATUS	CALSTATUS
1	El Toro	Anaxyrus californicus	arroyo toad	Endangered	None
2	El Toro	Spea hammondii	western spadefoot	None	None
3	El Toro	Elanus leucurus	white-tailed kite	None	None
4	El Toro	Accipiter cooperii	Cooper's hawk	None	None
5	El Toro	Buteo regalis	ferruginous hawk	None	None
6	El Toro	Athene cunicularia	burrowing owl	None	None
7	El Toro	Eremophila alpestris actia	California horned lark	None	None
8	El Toro	Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus sandiegensis	coastal cactus wren	None	None
9	El Toro	Polioptila californica californica	coastal California gnatcatcher	Threatened	None
10	El Toro	Vireo bellii pusillus	least Bell's vireo	Endangered	Endangered
11	El Toro	Icteria virens	yellow-breasted chat	None	None
12	El Toro	Aimophila ruficeps canescens	southern California rufous-crowned sparrow	None	None
13	El Toro	Ammodramus savannarum	grasshopper sparrow	None	None
14	El Toro	Rhinichthys osculus ssp. 3	Santa Ana speckled dace	None	None
15	El Toro	Eumops perotis californicus	western mastiff bat	None	None
16	El Toro	Neotoma lepida intermedia	San Diego desert woodrat	None	None
17	El Toro	Actinemys marmorata pallida	southwestern pond turtle	None	None
18	El Toro	Phrynosoma blainvillii	coast horned lizard	None	None
19	El Toro	Aspidoscelis hyperythra	orangethroat whiptail	None	None
20	El Toro	Aspidoscelis tigris stejnegeri	coastal whiptail	None	None
21	El Toro	Salvadora hexalepis virgultea	coast patch-nosed snake	None	None
22	El Toro	Thamnophis hammondii	two-striped garter snake	None	None
23	El Toro	Crotalus ruber ruber	northern red-diamond rattlesnake	None	None
24	El Toro	Southern Coast Live Oak Riparian Forest	Southern Coast Live Oak Riparian Forest	None	None
25	El Toro	Southern Cottonwood Willow Riparian Forest	Southern Cottonwood Willow Riparian Forest	None	None
26	El Toro	Southern Sycamore Alder Riparian Woodland	Southern Sycamore Alder Riparian Woodland	None	None
27	El Toro	Southern Riparian Scrub	Southern Riparian Scrub	None	None
28	El Toro	Streptocephalus woottoni	Riverside fairy shrimp	Endangered	None
29	El Toro	Pentachaeta aurea ssp. allenii	Allen's pentachaeta	None	None
30	El Toro	Dudleya multicaulis	many-stemmed dudleya	None	None
31	El Toro	Nama stenocarpum	mud nama	None	None
32	El Toro	Nolina cismontana	Peninsular nolina	None	None
33	El Toro	Brodiaea filifolia	thread-leaved brodiaea	Threatened	Endangered
34	El Toro	Calochortus weedii var. intermedius	intermediate mariposa-lily	None	None

Watch a little footage that Marcus took on September 22, 2009 (the movement that you'll see on your screen near the end may leave a cold, dark pit feeling in the center of your stomach - it did for me...) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_brrwOBgNZ4

After trying to find some contact information for Marcus, so that he could avoid getting the run-around and start getting results, I realized once again how tragic it is that we are unable to stop the destruction of our wild lands just by individually stepping outside, walking up to those "in charge" and speaking sense to them (yes - SENSE, not "cents"...). Yet perhaps even more tragic is my lack of a fully combative spirit/attitude, faced with this desolate news. Sure, I'm a dedicated naturalist and volunteer for the Laguna Canyon Foundation and the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, and I'll post this information on my blog tonight, hoping that those who follow it will become aware of this issue and make a difference in their own way - but will this actually change anything at all? Will I really have done "my part" in posting this information online? Will your awareness help our lands?

I could write paragraphs on the moral implications of the challenges that we face daily here in Southern Orange County in regards to our natural lands - but we all know what they are, and we all know what's gone wrong. So tonight, I leave you simply with a single question, one that I will ask myself as I get quietly into bed: What will it take for us to want to help Marcus in his search for justice, for protection of these lands? What will get us motivated enough to become the true authorities, the true stewards of the land?

Until next time...

The Results are in for Laguna Beach's Coastal Cleanup Day (9-19-09)

2009-09-25T13:55:00.000-07:00

California Coastal Cleanup Day: Laguna Beach September 19, 2009

Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of California Coastal Cleanup Day, nearly 800 volunteers here in Laguna Beach took part in what has become an international event that focuses on removing debris from the open spaces, streams, lakes, estuaries and marine habitats worldwide.

In Laguna Beach 2800 lbs. was collected, consisting of 1600 lbs. of regular trash plus 1200 lbs. of recyclables.

Unusual items found were an intact lobster trap found in a Heisler Park cove, a brand new folding chair still in its wrapping, a large metal crate plus a small vessel boom and winch system.

Combining forces to supervise the cleanup of almost 5 miles of sand plus 1 mile of the Aliso Creek streambed were Michael Hazzard (Aliso Creek Steelhead), Rick Conkey (Help Blue Water) and Roger von Bütow (Clean Water Now! Coalition). They were assisted by numerous critical site leaders who helped organize the yearly event and gave up their beautiful Saturday morning to help turn the tide against trash locally.

Volunteers from Tesoro and Upland High Schools came out in force along with other local students plus our usual boy and girl scout troops from inland. Approximately 2/3 of our volunteers do not live or work in Laguna but travel significant distances to do their share for California’s coastal ecologies.

Kudos to Michelle Clark of Waste Management of Orange County who helped by having her crew collect and weigh the trash for us, also the underwater folks from South OC Divers and La Verne Dive Club sprinkled throughout the coves that pulled up their fair share.

Personal thanks to: Perennial participants Hearts of Montage led by Christine Loidolt, John Krill (Laguna Beat), Joanne Sutch, Art Fahy, Earl Longstreet, David Marchese, Trevor Keetch (Pacific Edge Hotel), Mike Cohan (Spencer Recovery), Bill Thornton (South OC Divers), Michel Olyer (Advisor Upland HS), Michal Peri (GS Troop 2084), Joseph Hassine (Tesoro HS) and the Dr. Russ Hill clan.

As a state-wide effort coordinated by the California Coastal Commission, we’re grateful to their educational program staff, Eben Schwartz and Shannon Waters, who also assist us throughout the year in our local Adopt-A-Beach cleanups.

Contact: Roger von Bütow Clean Water Now! 949.715.1912

CPR and Wilderness First Aid Training at Willow Staging Area, 09-19-09

2009-09-20T13:46:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, September 19th 2009, a group of volunteers and naturalists for the Laguna Canyon Foundation participated in CPR and Wilderness First Aid Training.

From 8-11:45 AM, Compression-only CPR and Wilderness First Aid techniques and preparation were covered. Here are a few of the emergency scenarios that were reviewed (list non-exhaustive):

Breathing is present yet labored
snake bites
fractures
bleeding
choking
shock management
asthma
heart and stroke conditions
stroke vs. heat stroke
clinical health survival chances

All participants practiced their compression-only CPR techniques along with placing a victim into the "recovery" position. Watch the video HERE to observe the proper technique for the RECOVERY position.

Kirsten asks a question, other volunteers and naturalists listen attentively.

Mike telling the group about first aid preparation.

The rest of the photos below are those of volunteers practicing their Recovery Position skills with volunteer Damon. Thanks to everyone who came and participated in CPR Training! You are helping to keep our parks safe and WILD!

Volunteer Orientation A Success!

2009-09-15T21:47:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, September 12th, 2009, the Laguna Canyon Foundation hosted its final Volunteer Orientation for the 2009 calendar year.

This last group of incoming volunteers was quite inspiring, not only due to their collective interest & passion for the South Coast Wilderness, but also due to their sheer number! An all-time record turnout of 26 new individuals was reported on Saturday!

Laguna Canyon Foundation's volunteers are so important to the vitality and preservation of our beautiful South Coast Wilderness. Here are just some of the essential roles that they take on during their hours on duty (list non-exhaustive):

they greet the visiting public at the major "staging areas" (Trailheads) of the park, ensuring that everyone has the information and equipment they need to fully enjoy their experience on the trails (providing maps, brochures, water, advice, etc.)
they participate in trail maintenance
they participate in plant restoration days (remove non-native plants from the park's trails)
they work in Laguna Canyon's nursery of native plants
they work at the front desk of the Nix Nature Center, fielding the public's questions both on the phone and in person, recommending appropriate hikes, taking reservations for the park's monthly led hikes and activities, assisting Foundation and County staff, etc.
they participate in special events throughout the county as representatives of Laguna Canyon Foundation
they are the eyes and ears of the land, reporting both exciting discoveries of wildlife activity as well as suspicious activity in the park - keeping our knowledge of what goes on in the wild as current and complete as possible.

To all of you who participated in the latest Volunteer Orientation, thank you so very much for joining us - we are so glad that you are on our team! And to those of you who have just discovered us, be it online or in the canyon, we can't wait to welcome you, too!

Please feel free to contact Volunteer Trainer Jennifer Wood at lagunacanyon@gmail.com for more information on how you can become a volunteer for the Laguna Canyon Foundation.

Become a Volunteer for the Laguna Canyon Foundation

2009-09-05T00:33:00.000-07:00

Laguna Canyon Foundation's Volunteer Orientation

               Saturday, September 12th, 2009 from 8:30 AM               to               1:00 PM
at the Nix Nature Center - Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

Learn about various volunteer opportunities, from greeting park visitors to helping with wilderness restoration projects, leading hikes and other activities.

Full Moon Hike at Willow

2009-09-04T23:57:00.000-07:00

Full moon at Willow - September 4, 2009
Photo taken at 8:30 PM on Willow Trail

This evening, Laura Cohen led her wonderful Full Moon Hike at Willow, starting at 6 PM. We started up Lower Laurel Trail, along which Laura spoke about the beauty of our cherished wilderness and the importance of celebrating the special moments that we either step into or create - both in our park & in life in general.

Starting on Lower Laurel there were many acorns to be seen on the Coast Live Oaks, as seen below.

High above and far away from us, sat a raptor of some sorts. In binoculars, I believe to have observed yellow talons and a yellow beak. The body of this raptor was a dark brown with red highlights, through and through. He/she was huge!!!!! What I love about this photo is the aura of light that surrounds this majestic beauty. Anyone want to say this is a rarely seen Golden Eagle? Laura and I are hoping it was!

The poison oak and the California Buckwheat were displaying rich and varied hues of red, contrasting wonderfully with the various yellow and blue greens, and that creamy golden tone that I love so much.

Our California False Indigo that I have been tracking over time was rather droopy and dry - no doubt due to the heat spell that we've been having. Usually, False Indigo is found at higher elevations - I felt badly for it.

But my feelings went quickly from sad to happy ones when I turned around and saw this beautiful rose-colored cloud grouping in the sky.

It was in the mid-80s when we began our hike at 6:00 PM and it was quite warm the whole evening, especially going up Lower Laurel (which is no easy walk in the park, let's admit it). In fact, the heat combined with the upward climb and challenging terrain reminded us of the importance of knowing the trails and coming to the park prepared.

Which leads me to my (important) side note.

For those of you who are volunteers and naturalists, please remember that it is vitally important to ensure that the public understands what the trails involve and demand physically. If you are leading/sweeping a hike, please tell your visitors what they can expect (what kind of terrain, elevation gain, for how long) and give an idea of how it might be more challenging for certain physical limitations (bad backs, knees, ankles, etc.).

For those of you coming to the park on your own, do your best to inform yourself as to the conditions of the trail and to what you need to get out and back safely. If an advertised hike sounds appealing to you because of its title, make sure to read the description of the hike, and double check with the hike leaders before embarking on your journey to make sure that the description in words truly reflects reality. (If the word "strenuous" is used in the hike's description, but you have a really bad back and cannot do inclines without shooting pains every ten seconds, don't just overlook the mention of "strenuous" because you want to see the full moon on a hike in the park... believe me, it's not fun!!!)

So now that my side-note has been said, what were the other memorable highlights of the evening? Hearing poorwills in the dark as we descended Willow, listening in the not-so-quiet night to Laura's bat detector (and me making tricky sounds to fool us all), Ranger Sarah using the black light to detect the florescence of rat urine, and learning about how cats need only 1/16th of the light that we humans need to see objects clearly were definitely highlights for me.

And then, of course, there was the moon.
Hope to see you on a Full Moon hike in the near future!

California Coastal Cleanup Day : September 19th

2009-08-23T21:23:00.000-07:00

Please mark your calendars! And thanks to Roger Butow of Clean Water Now! for communicating this important date!

Our Canyon Inspires! Cardoons by Candice Bohannon

2009-08-18T21:16:00.001-07:00

"Cardoons" - Oil on Canvas - 2008 - 30x48" - by Candice Bohannon http://www.candicebohannon.com

Last Friday afternoon, I was flipping through the August edition of Southwest Art, when my eyes were drawn to a beautiful image of an oil painting by Candice Bohannon, entitled, "Cardoons." "Hey!" I instantly shouted out in surprise, "that's Laguna Canyon!" And yet for a few moments I doubted my instant identification - after all, I was holding in my hands a national magazine focused primarily on the Southwestern art culture. What would Laguna Canyon's pesky non-natives be doing here?

Yet I couldn't manage to doubt myself for long. No, I was sure of it. The lighting was right. The energy was right. The dried-up grasses in that golden cream tone that I absolutely love were perfectly represented, and that annoying orange-colored plastic fencing so often used in mitigation was providing that subtle reminder of man's disturbance on the 133. It couldn't be anywhere else but from our canyon.

So I read the article, which kept the actual location of these cardoons rather vague. The painting depicted cardoons that Candice saw in "Southern California," in an "area [that] was soon to be cleared for a new roadway." Then I read that Candice had studied at the Laguna College of Art and Design. "Well, only one way to know for sure," I concluded, "I'll just write to her."

A few days later I got a response from Candice. My instincts were right. These cardoons were from Laguna Canyon. Not only that, but Candice is more than happy to share her image of this beautiful painting with us on my blog and websites!

It is so tremendously awesome to see how truly connected to Laguna Canyon we can become when we spend the time to intimately connect with the land and living beings on it. I definitely feel that I have been doing something right this past year, in getting to know the canyon's trails, plants, and animals; when I can flip through a national magazine and instantly identify in an oil-on-canvas a section of disturbed grassland along the 133, I have an unshakable, magnificent proof that I have become part of the canyon, and that the canyon has become a part of me.

Please read more to discover more about Candice, the Southwest Art article, and my future plans for the blog/websites! Thanks!

As Candice Bohannon's blog explains,

Southwest Art Magazine has featured Candice Bohannon in the August 2009 issue as the editors' choice for up-and-coming talent. Along with color reproductions of "Cardoons" and "Marie Masson" the magazine has published a particularly astute article about Bohannon and her work.

The article is as follows:

Candice Bohannon drove past a patch of wildflowers called cardoons for years before she decided to paint them. At first, she recalls, she was content to merely grab the prickly plants from the side of the road and bring them home. “I came back home with a lot of wounds because they are very thorny,” Bohannan says with a laugh. Not long ago, however, the cardoons seemed particularly stunning. And she knew the area was soon to be cleared for a new roadway. It would be their last season. It was time to capture them on canvas. “I love how weeds can sometimes be very beautiful. Cardoons grow wild everywhere in Southern California with very little water and nurturing,” she says. “They are so forceful and willful.” Bohannon not only talks about the wildflowers as if they have human characteristics, she paints them that way, too. Anyone who saw her painting in the California Art Club’s Gold Medal Show recently might have observed that the spiny weeds did, in fact, convey a human-like energy, almost as if they could walk off the canvas and onto the floor of the museum. At 27, Bohannon was one of the youngest artists featured in the juried show. Already an award-winning painter, she most recently was named a semi-finalist in the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery’s Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition. Her painting captured an elderly woman afflicted with dementia. Unlike some artists, Bohannon relishes working in many genres—still life, landscape, figurative. “I paint things that interest me,” she says. What doesn’t interest this Northern California-based painter and sculptor though, is art that comes from a cynical point of view, mocking and tearing apart things she holds dear. For Bohannon, art heals and awakens emotions as well as brings substance to light. She explains with this analogy: “Great artworks can be related to a feast, the meal laid out for you: beauty, thought, emotion, and kinship. It can leave you feeling full or perhaps serve to awaken the appetite further. But it will never leave you empty.” Universal themes are what interest her most, and she looks to many of art history’s great painters, such as Rembrandt and Michelangelo, for inspiration. “I’m not going to paint the inside of my car or my daily sandwich,” she says. “Those things don’t register an emotional blip on my radar screen.” Growing up in Applegate, a small mountain town in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas, Bohannon says she was a quiet and shy girl. By the time she started thinking about what she wanted to become, she realized that she loved and was good at only two things: writing and visual art. Thus, after high school graduation, she headed for the Laguna College of Art and Design in Laguna Beach, CA, which seemed like the big city at the time. Since graduating from there, she has returned once again to Applegate, where she shares her life and art with her husband, Julio Reyes, also a talented emerging artist. Bohannon’s studio is in her home, and it’s not unusual for her to spend more than 100 hours there working on a single piece. But her method is strictly spontaneous and embraces variety. For example, when she met an intriguing woman at a wedding in Baltimore last year, she asked her to sit for her. When she saw a horse at an equestrian center, she watched it for hours and then painted the white equine as a symbol of innocence. Although it’s early in her career, Bohannon is self-assured about her career choice. As she writes, “I create because I must create, it is what I was born to do. There’s no other life for me.”
See more of her work at www.candicebohannon.com.

By the way: one of my new goals for this blog will be to showcase artists inspired by the beauty of our treasured canyon. If you know of any inspired artists, please send me their information / names / website addresses! Thanks!

Local Artist: Rachel Uchizono

2009-08-09T23:14:00.001-07:00

Update Thursday, August 13, 2009: Rachel sent me another image. This was her painting for the Best Of Plein Air Show 2008: "Laguna Laurel." Beautiful! Thanks, Rachel, for sharing your talent with us!

Local artist Rachel Uchizono has recently painted a few scenes of Laguna Canyon. Please visit her website at www.racheluchizono.com and see her works in person at the Sawdust Festival, at booth # 407 right next to Greg Thorne (#406).

Some of Rachel's work can also be seen at Studio 7 Gallery North.

Please visit her website for all contact information.

Laurel Sumac's Developments and More

2009-07-19T18:48:00.001-07:00

This afternoon at 1 PM I did the Laurel Loop, starting on Lower Laurel and finishing on Willow down all the way to the parking lot. It was very hot, about 86 degrees F, and I only crossed paths with 3 other hikers, and one biker over the course of about 2 1/2 hours.

If you are planning on hiking during the summer at Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, please make sure you bring lots of water, sunscreen, and that you wear the appropriate clothing and a hat!!!

I hadn't been able to check up on the plants since my last post on June 8, 2009. Here are some photos with a few notes to give you the update on what I saw. Enjoy!

At the beginning of Lower Laurel. Note the buckwheat in flower, and the overall dryness of the grasses.

Continuing along Lower Laurel. Please stay on the main trail and do not go off trail towards the caves - those are off limits, even though people have trampled so much on the grasses that it looks like there is an official trail!!!

The weirdest thing? Poison oak (foreground clump of green) in a grassland in 86 degree weather in dry, sunny conditions, on Lower Laurel. I am definitely confused on this one.

Poison oak next to the California False Indigo - now here the Poison Oak makes sense - and has a beautiful red color to it in areas... wow!

The lemondade berries have, in most parts of our park, seen their glorious days come and go. However, many of them still have a bright dark red / orange-red. I would not advise tasting them anymore, most of them are dirty / covered in dust. ( I didn't even try).

The progression of Laurel Sumac in flower/fruit. All three photos taken on Lower Laurel trail.

Hey, cool! Remember the False Indigo in bloom? Check out the fruit/seed now.

Here's another shot of the False Indigo, for the records.

Ghost Rock in the hot sun. Beautiful clouds behind.

This little critter was fun to notice on some California Buckwheat in bloom.

Bedstraw on Lower Laurel!

A final little note: recently, two mountain bikers visiting our park cut off the head and tail of a rattlesnake near Camarillo / South Stagecoach - and even boasted about it to people they met along the trail. Please stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the Park Rangers, County Staff, or the Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteers/Staff. We need everyone's help in keeping our precious park WILD.

Thanks!

The latest observations from Len Gardner

2009-06-23T23:08:00.001-07:00

I'll be the first to complain about the dearth of posts here on the blog, given the amount of beauty that there is to write about in our treasured Laguna Canyon. For all of you followers who have been disappointed in my lack of blogging during these past few weeks, please accept my sincerest apologies!

Of course, there are good reasons for this lack of posting - the first of which is that my camera is in for repair (going on its third week now!!)... so until I have it back, I cannot take any photos of the canyon and its plants. Boohoo!
The second reason is more general in nature - in short, life has just gotten more hectic! With a heavier work schedule, I have been without my usual two days of connecting with the canyon's natural rhythm.

Thankfully, during these two chaotic weeks, Len Gardner remained faithful to his duties and sent me a report on Sunday, June 21st. For all of you Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteers and Laguna Canyon visitors, this is your time to shine - consider contributing your thoughts and observations to the blog. Don't worry about grammar or form - just submit! The more voices we get on the blog, the richer our experiences will be, both online and on the trails.

Until my next post, I wish you all a wonderful rest of the week. Thanks for following this blog!

Len Gardner's report, 21 June 2009:

I was in Little Sycamore this morning. I was helping Laura with her Father's Day special hike.

The most interesting natural history note for me was to see Sacapellote, Acourtia microcephala, in full bloom. This plant is an exuberant flowerer. It's pink-purple blossoms, when taken en masse, are quite striking. I also found it interesting that its leaves are turning yellow and drying out even as it rushes to complete its flowering.

Oscar Clarke, in his Santa Ana Flora, says its "foliage dries by autumn." This year, autumn evidently comes early. Of course, this is indicative of our long-term water deficit. This year and last year were a little sub-par, but three years ago was drastically deficient (about 4.5 inches). We still haven't recovered from that disastrous year.

It was nice to see one Calochortus weedii along the trail. Last year they seemed to be everywhere. This year, only a few.

Someone in the group said they heard that the forecasts are looking more positive for a return of El Nino conditions later this year. I hope so.

http://www.elnino.noaa.gov/

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/e
nso_advisory/ensodisc.html

Quarterly California Coastal Commission Adopt-A-Beach Cleanup in Laguna Beach: Saturday June 20th

2009-06-19T10:36:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release Laguna Beach
Adopt-A-Beach Cleanup Kicks Off Summer

Join the Clean Water Now! Coalition during the Summer Solstice weekend by participating in our Quarterly California Coastal Commission Adopt-A-Beach Cleanup in Laguna Beach.

The cleanup is Saturday, June 20th, from 9 am to noon at the following 3 sites:
Main Beach (HQ), Victoria Beach, and Treasure Island/MontageResort & Spa.

Gloves, bags and educational materials provided. Community service hours for youth groups. Wear a hat or bring sunblock!
Stick around and shop locally.
Contact: Roger von Bütow rogerbutow@cleanwaternow.com
Phone messages: (949) 280.2225
Website: http://www.cleanwaternow.com/

Our next, regularly scheduled beach cleanup will be the BIG yearly event, California Coastal Cleanup Day, now an international effort with nearly 100 countries and over 28 US States participating.
CCCD: Saturday, September 19, 2009 9 am to noon
California Coastal Commission website for more information:
http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/pendx.html

CLEAN WATER NOW! COALITION
P.O. Box 4711, Laguna Beach, CA 92652 - 949.280.2225 - www.cleanwaternow.com
“The Clean Water Now! Coalition is dedicated to the protection, restoration and
preservation of aquatic and riparian ecologies worldwide.”

Full Moon Hike at Willow, Laguna Canyon

2009-06-08T21:48:00.000-07:00

Last night, June 7th, I had the immense fortune of going on the full moon hike at Willow, led by Resource Specialist Laura Cohen. From 6 to 10 PM, we enjoyed the sights and sounds of a canyon cooling down from the heat of the day.

Going up Lower Laurel Trail first, we watched as the tops of the hills were crowned with the last rays of golden light, and listened to the playful hummingbirds as they fluttered and whizzed about us, as if to tell us a special message from the trees.

I noticed that Toyon is in bloom along the trail...

...along with our wild berries, either in bloom or in fruit (please do not pick the berries but leave them for others to see and the animals to enjoy!)

There was also something else going on here. We're going to investigate it and let you know what it is ASAP.

Once we reached Bommer Ridge, it was nearly dark, with only a bit of light to allow for a breathtaking sight of a buck (deer) in silhouette against a pink-purple sky. It was simply a magical moment!

Laguna Coast Wilderness's Full Moon hikes are always very popular - their sign-up lists fill up fast! Call the Nix Nature center at 949-923-2235 and inquire about reserving your spot for the next full moon hikes in July and August!

Remember: Park hours are from Sunrise to Sunset; Parking lot hours are from 8 AM to 4 PM. Thanks for respecting the hours, the trails, and all sentient beings that you come across while enjoying the great outdoors!

Weekends at the Nix Nature Center Insect and Arthropod Day, June 7, 2009

2009-06-08T21:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Sunday June 7, 2009, from 1 to 4 PM, the Nix Nature Center was filled with sounds of excitement, curiosity and joy, as children and their parents discovered the fascinating world of insects and arthropods. Special thanks to Dr. Sue for bringing all of her buggy friends to the Nix and sharing them with all of us!

(For more information about the Nix Nature center, the Laguna Canyon Foundation, and the various activities at the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park / South Coast Wilderness (including the Aliso & Wood Canyon Trails), please visit www.lagunacanyon.org.)

>>> CLICK HERE for a short clip (video) of the whole group singing part of Laura's Insect song!<<<

"Imprints" by LCF Naturalist Gigi Logan

2009-06-02T22:40:00.000-07:00

The earth is so sensitive to touch that the slightest of things can leave an impressionable imprint. These imprints are there to tell us a story, for tracks and signs are the language the earth uses to speak to us. Once you learn its ABCs the stories become more detailed with intricacies of a day’s events. Events that are privy only to the natural world and its participants.

Dick Newell (www.octrackers.com) began teaching me about tracking by emphasizing that tracking is simply becoming aware of your surroundings. If you are not aware, you can hike for miles and miles and not see a thing. Because the mind seems to spend a good part of the time on past or future events, it blurs the only moment we have…the present. By leaving the past and future thoughts at the trailhead you can hike only a few steps and begin the first page of many captivating tales.

Finding the tracks of a flicker on a sandy, dry area can tell you the flicker more than likely found an ant hill to feast upon. And if you look around closer you may even find its scat filled with ant shells and sand that was consumed while pecking at its meal. The flattened grasses that carve out a light trail tell of a highway the local animals use on their daily travels throughout the land. Scat containing red berries can be that of a coyote that had foraged a Toyon shrub during winter when this shrub berries. The coyote must have had a poor hunting day for like other predators; meat would be its first choice.

These and other stories are left for each of us to read. Some are entertaining while others have meaning and lessons about life. As I hike I now look for tracks and signs of what the earth has for me and on one of my walks I spotted a leaf on moist ground and thought…hmm is there a story underneath? Of course… a story and much to my surprise a work of art!

In nature,
Gigi

Some Really Cool Crawlies (& Bugs/Butterflies) in Laguna Canyon

2009-06-01T22:23:00.000-07:00

We have been finding a bunch of really neat spiders, beetles and other crawly critters on the trails these days. Now equipped with a fabulous camera, we've been pretty pleased with the photos we've taken home.
Take a look at these and see for yourself!
(on left: rattlesnake near Nix Nature Center on 1 June 2009)

Spider on Bommer Ridge right at the entrance to Crystal Cove, 26 May 2009.

Striped racer on Old Emerald Falls trail, 26 May 2009.

Stunned Tarantula on Lower Laurel- had just been stung by the Tarantula Wasp. This was the first sight that we had of it on 1 June 2009 before we started filming the scene that just followed. Watch the video of the Tarantula hawk dragging the Tarantula back to the latter's burrow HERE!

Huge! On the fossil interpretive part of the Nix Nature Center outside, on 1 June 2009.

On Lower Laurel in the grassland areas on 1 June 2009 at 10:30 AM.

On Lower Laurel on 1 June 2009 at 1:15 PM.

Fall Color - California Style: An essay by Len Gardner

2009-06-01T18:55:00.000-07:00

Fall Color - California Style
by Len Gardner
June 1, 2009

What could be crazier than seeing fall foliage -- that blaze of reds, purples, yellows and oranges for which New England is justly famous -- in June? Well, you can. Just go out into our wild areas.

Right now, many Poison Oak plants are stopping photosynthesis and turning their leaves shades of scarlet, crimson and some tones that haven't been named yet. The same untimely fall madness was evident last month in the leaves of Fuschia-Flowered Gooseberry. Even the sedate and sensible Black Sage seems a little wacky. A lot of its leaves are turning yellow, even as its pale lavender blossoms hang on. (to left: Fuschia-Flowered Gooseberry on Lower Laurel Trail 01 June 2009, photo by Jennifer Wood)

What's happening here is that these plants are preparing themselves for the season of adversity. The difference between California and the northern and eastern states is that our adverse season is the summer, not the winter. Instead of freezing temperatures and ice, our plants have to contend with months of searing heat and parching dryness. Some are better prepared for this great annual stress than others. All have their adaptations.

One strategy many of our species have in common with those of northern latitudes is deciduousness, the seasonal dropping of some or all leaves. In the north, deciduousness saves tender tissues from frost and ice damage. In our semi-desert climate, it is a way to stop photosynthesis. This makes sense when you realize that photosynthesis consumes water, and water is in short supply. (to right and below: Black sage on Lower Laurel Trail 01 June 2009, photo by Jennifer Wood)

Plants stop doing photosynthesis before they drop their leaves. This means they stop producing chlorophyll in the soon-to-be cast off leaves. Chlorophyll is the pigment that gives healthy leaves their green color and is essential in doing the work of photosynthesis. Free of chlorphyll, other underlying pigments, such as carotenoids and anthocyanins, are now revealed. Thus, the leaves briefly turn red or yellow or some combination before dropping off. In no longer doing photosynthesis, these leaves are now nonfunctional. The plant cuts off their water supply and they soon fall away.

When we learn this, we understand that the "unseasonal" colors some of our plants show in May and June are not really unseasonal. They simply reflect a different meaning to the seasons. On the dry hillsides of our local wildlands, summer is not the season of exuberant growth. This is not the eastern or northern forest, where the heat and long days of summer combine with abundant rainfall to produce a frenzy of photosynthesis. On the contrary, the dry heat of summer we experience brings on the killing days, the time that tests each plant to the core.

Our summer, then, is not the season to grow; it is the season to survive. For our native plant communities, the living is not easy in the summertime, and relief is still months away. There are further trials and tribulations to come in the Santa Ana winds of October, November and sometimes December. Only after all these challenges do our plants get a break, when (hopefully) winter storms blow in once again.

It is only when you look at our California seasons with the eyes of an Easterner that you think they are off kilter. But they are not so senseless. There is a logic here. It is the grim logic of survival in the face of six or more months of relentless drought. So, we Californians enjoy our fall colors in June and when Easterners tell us we're crazy, we just smile.

For further reading:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorophyll

Easy: http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/leaves.html

Moderate: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autumn_leaf_color and
http://www.mtcubacenter.org/whats-new/FallColors101807.htm

Harder: http://chemistry.about.com/library/weekly/aa082602a.htm

Do you have an essay you'd like to contribute to the blog? Contact Jennifer at info@natureinorangecounty.com. We can't wait!

Deer at Willow, Western Toads at Barbara's Lake (+ important Petition to sign re: Closing of 200 CA State parks)

2009-05-29T09:23:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday 27 May 2009 I was briefly at the Willow Staging Area's parking lot and encountered a doe (see above photograph; there was another small deer about 500 feet behind her, however I did not photograph it). Here is a short video that I was able to take once I realized I had my camera on me, and after the doe moved quite a bit away from me. CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO.

I then went with a friend to the Dilley Preserve and walked to Barbara's Lake, taking Canyon Trail to Edison down to the Lake. The California Dodder was very dominant in the lower parts of the trail. No more Mariposa Lilies were in sight. The California Manroot / Cucumber plant has shriveled up and must have released its seeds a while ago - everything about that plant is yellow and dry. There are some lemonade berry shrubs along Edison that are simply not producing berries this year, juxtaposed with some that are, but whose berries are not ripe yet.

Halfway down the lake path there is a table where one can sit underneath the shade of Coast Live oaks. A few woodrat nests could be seen there:

And then continuing down The Lake Trail, the ground seemed to come alive, as Western Toads were hopping across the path towards the lake. Click on the photos below to see their larger versions and to check out the detail of this cool toad! CLICK HERE FOR A SHORT VIDEO WE TOOK OF A WESTERN TOAD on the trail.

More reports to follow shortly!

On a final note, to all of you who follow this blog, please take the time to read the following message and to sign the urgent petition as mentioned below. YOUR PARTICIPATION IS CRUCIAL!!! Thanks!

Hello all ~

California's in crisis, and budget cuts are being made everywhere. Among the drastic cuts being proposed right now is the closure of 200 of our state parks.

I cannot even begin to tell you how devastating the closure of our parks would be, not only to the public, but to the natural parks themselves. When you don't have enforcement (presence of staff, rangers, etc) trails and structures are degraded, people become frustrated and start sneaking in to the parks without proper equipment or knowledge of what the area requires, and everyone is put at risk.

Please sign the petition RIGHT NOW and forward the link to your friends and family. Our link and access to nature are vitally important. Making sure that our parks stay protected and respected is one of the biggest responsibilities we have right now.

LINK: http://ga3.org/campaign/budget_may09

Thanks, and take care!

Tarantula Hawk & Tarantula on Laurel Canyon Trail in Laguna Canyon, Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

2009-05-27T09:22:00.001-07:00

Yesterday with a friend I filmed a tarantula hawk dragging a stunned tarantula back into its burrow. Check out the video HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRlZS1El8WI

Tarantula Hawk & Tarantula on Laurel Canyon Trail in Laguna Canyon, Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. Taken just a few hundred feet south of signpost 10 on 26 May 2009. When we first stumbled upon the scene of the crime, the T Hawk seemed to have just stunned its victim, and went into its hole as we approached the tarantula. One of us poked the tarantula with a short stick to see if it was still alive - and then flipped the tarantula back onto its feet... and was going to place it off to the side of the trail so that it wouldn't get stepped on, if it was still alive and just stunned... but the T Hawk came back and wanted to finish its business, which we allowed.

Learn more about Tarantula Hawks here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarantula_hawk

Lower Laurel Trail, Monday 18 May 2009

2009-05-18T23:58:00.001-07:00

Today from 9 to 12:30, Len and I checked out the latest developments on Lower Laurel Trail. Here's my report:

Right above the exposed fault line, as we began our trek on Lower Laurel, some really beautiful Sticky Monkey flowers in reddish hues were putting on a show for us. They beautifully contrasted with orange colored Monkey flowers to their right (not shown in photograph - click HERE for the Sticky Monkey Flower Photo Album).

The curly dock also was displaying more color today:

The black sage has been doing phenomenally well in pleasing the busy bees of the canyon with its countless blooms. Below is a photo of Lower Laurel Trail leading to the oak woodlands habitat.

Right around the area shown in the above photograph, we noticed a wonderful display of this rosemary flat top buckwheat, shown below. Not in full bloom yet.

One of the biggest highlights of today was the opportunity to photograph the California False Indigo's flowers that Len had mentioned in his last report.

Hiking up Lower Laurel, the view today was breathtaking. It was pretty hot, though, as we walked up - was in the 80s.

The bedstraw was nearing the end of its blooming period and ready to disperse into the wind with its seed.

The English plantain that Len had been reporting was a pleasure to photograph, although it is a non-native to the canyon.

And how fun is a Cheese plant? Very fun! :) (named after the fruit that looks like a wheel of cheese)

Some cinquefoil in bloom, with a happy visitor.

Juncus.
Chinese Houses:

Hedge Nettle:
The lemonade berries along Lower Laurel are not ripe yet - they remain their greyish-greenish-yellowish color, in contrast to the berries on Little Sycamore trail that are delightful! To each plant its own timing & its own reasoning, I guess...

The bush mallow is simply beautiful with its pinkish-lavender colored blossoms. The flowers act almost like little flags, indicating where the bush mallow, otherwise rather inconspicuous, is to be found on the slopes. I definitely noticed more bush mallows today than those I was previously familiar with.

The Indian Fringed Pink was also beautiful on Lower Laurel trail. The blue dicks have had their day; most (if not all) are shriveled up and dry. A few poppies line the trail here and there; the white sage, much less abundant in the canyon than the black sage, is showing off its beautiful white and yellow hued flowers. The deerweed continues on, and in many areas is still thriving, contrary to an earlier report (deerweed has been in bloom in the canyon since December!). The sycamore leaves are becoming larger and filling out the trees, taking up more space along the slopes, pushing us towards the outer edges of the trail. Some of the poison oak in the beginning parts of the oak woodland habitat of Lower Laurel is beginning to look very much like coast live oak leaves (although still remain grouped in threes) - I wonder if they are playing copycat - and why. The California Everlasting is becoming more fragrant now, much like it is on Mary's Trail.

That is the report, folks!

Little Sycamore Trail on Monday, May 11th 2009

2009-05-11T19:48:00.000-07:00

Today, you have the unique fortune of having two detailed reports on Little Sycamore Trail! Both Len and I were able to take some time to really appreciate Little Sycamore's developments, and while we did this separately, we both came out of our hikes with the same level of appreciation and excitement for what is going on.

Len ventured out onto Little Sycamore this morning. This is what he reports:

I walked Mary's Trail this morning plus Little Sycamore a little ways past the 3rd bridge.

First, a couple of bird observations. I saw what appears to be a mated pair of Phainopeplas in the sycamores by the picnic tables. The male was chasing the female, who didn't appear to be trying very hard to get away. Looked like the kind of fooling around they do (birders quaintly call it "courtship behavior") before mating.

On the LS Tr., on the little knoll at the end of the old road (just before dropping down on the foot trail to the 1st bridge, I studied the Red-Tails' nesting ledge across the canyon. It was empty and quiet. The chicks have fledged. In other words, Elvis has left the building.

Now, for plants. I'm really glad you mentioned [...] the delicious fruit of the Lemonadeberry. They are at their best right now [...] having just turned orange but not yet dried out or covered with trail dust.

In addition to all the wonderful flowers you mentioned and took photos of, there are some new ones. I'll put them in italics. At Mary's Trail and in spots as far as I went on the Little Sycamore Trail, Slender Tarweed (Hemizonia fasciculata) has appeared. Note: in Oscar Clarke and Fred Roberts' latest edition, it is now called Deinandra fasciculata. An unfortunate and unnecessary change, in my view.

Also, between the 1st and 2nd trail bridges, there are some very good examples of Cobweb Thistle. Prime and ready for its portrait. In this stretch between bridges #1 and #2 are some wonderful stands of Fringed Pink and Golden Yarrow. The name "Fringed Pink" tickles me. It is as wackily redundant as Laguna Lake or Loma Ridge. As you know, "pink" started out as a verb. Its primary meaning was to cut into fringes. The color meaning is secondary, stemming from the fact that many of those fringed flowers were a light tone of red. That tone was called "pink" after the color of the pinked flowers.

Between the 2nd and 3rd bridges, Rush Rose, Helianthemum scoparium, appears as a single plant. It is more numerous on the little bare knoll after the 3rd bridge. That's about as far as I went today. Also, there is a good stand of Calif. Plantain, now totally in seed, there, as well as more rosinweed, tarweed, Splendid Mariposa Lily, and a few fading Owls Clover.

Finally, I realized this morning that I forgot to mention some things in yesterday's LC report. Deerweed is rapidly fading out, Calif. Buckwheat is coming on strong (many plants haven't popped their buds yet) and Splendid Mariposa Lily is hanging on.

All in all, a glorious time to visit the park.

Len also mentioned sighting more of the following plants: Golden Star, Bee Plant, Calif. Everlasting, and Mexican Elderberry, adding,

The everlasting and elder provided wonderful fragrances. The everlasting has the advantage of staying with you for hours after you've stroked its leaves and stem. Along with the delicious taste of ripe lemonadeberry, these plants illustrate an important aspect of the park that many visitors miss, the sensory delight.

And he finishes his report with a lesson that we all should take to heart:

Many people experience the park visually, and there is certainly plenty to see. Some are also attuned to bird calls. For most, though, that's it. They perceive nature as beautiful but fundamentally alien and threatening. They worry about falling, about foot or knee problems, about insect bites, ticks, poison oak, thorny plants, nettles, rattlesnakes, mountain lions, coyotes. In brief, they worry about everything, including what they have to do when they leave the park, making it hard to get past those thoughts to the peace and sensory delights that it offers to those who are receptive.

I think one fundamental difference between our view of nature and that of the Indians is that we no longer see it as a something that sustains us with its nutritious bounty. Granted that is a bit of a stretch in our food-poor, parched natural environment. But, with the right know-how, it could be a sustaining mother to its native peoples. That aspect has been almost totally lost for most visitors.

(Thank you, Len, for taking the time to share!)

My report is as follows:

This afternoon, for about two hours, I hung out on Little Sycamore trail, but did not go very far - I always stayed within viewing range of the Nix Nature Center (limiting thus my distance to the steep beginning sections of the trail). I did this for two reasons: first, I was exhausted from my 6.5 mile hike that I had done this morning (see post below), and secondly, I wanted to spend some time sitting down in one area, so that I might really "get to know it."

So, sitting in the middle of the trail, in the cool shade of a squeaky Laurel Sumac (the light wind blowing through the canyon pushed the wood branches of the laurel sumac against each other, creating a squeaking sound), and surrounded by black sage, California buckwheat, golden stars, and California sage brush, I focused on what was going on in my immediate surroundings. By immediate surroundings, I mean everything happening within a 20 foot radius or less, including up to the sky and down towards the earth.

Directing my attention to the ground, this is what I saw: There were two kinds of ants busily working on the trail. The first kind is the one I know: it is the harvester ant. I must have watched twenty or so harvester ants while they busily took both dried up Common fiddleneck flowers and nicer looking black sage purple flower petals to any of three entrances, about 25 feet behind my sitting spot. I actually followed one all the way to the entrance hole of his choice. It took him about 2.5 minutes to travel about 30 feet, as he attempted to find the line that would guide him to his destination - he got a little lost, traveled a bit more than he should have, and almost took a detour into some dried grasses, but luckily for him, another harvester ant, stronger and faster, ran into him and told him to turn around and follow his lead to the hole. I can only imagine what kind of stock they must have, of flower petals and other resources, down below the surface of the trail.
---> Which led me to wonder, do the bees and harvester ants ever end up in confrontation over the black sage's flowers, during this season? I saw a few harvester ants taking back to the hole some awfully fresh looking black sage flower petals. I began to imagine the race that must take place between the bees and the ants - who gets to the black sage's flowers first? Who gets to claim their rights first? And how does the black sage respond? Does she intentionally produce more flowers so that both ants and bees can benefit equally, all while ensuring her reproductive survival?
(The other ant had a black last section, and a red rest-of-the-body, and moved in a jolted, interrupted fashion, instead of a smooth, continuous movement. His sudden starts and stops disrupted the sand beneath him, sometimes so much so that entire groups of grains of sand would fall beneath him, creating an unstable walking surface.)

Directing my attention towards the sky: there were many various hummingbirds flittering around, along with a nice group of various sized flies and gnats, all rejoicing in the opportunity to try to annoy me (by the way, they failed).

Directing my attention to behind me, I was happy to see two quail spying on me - when they saw I had spotted them, they started down the trail and out of view.

Directing my attention to my sides: to my left hand side, the golden stars were beautiful. To both sides, bees were humming as they visited each black sage's inflorescence.

Directing my attention to ahead of me, upwards towards the rest of the trail - I noticed the abandon of a Monday afternoon. Not a footstep was to be heard - only tracks - mostly of humans - were left in the somewhat thicker sandy trail.

Coming back down from Little Sycamore, going towards the parking lot, I did see some fun roadrunner tracks... but alas, no roadrunner to be seen. I didn't leave disappointed, however, since two last quail made a final appearance as I made my way to the parking lot, and a squirrel showed off his beautiful tail and running skills as I walked back towards my car. All-in-all, it was another afternoon full of blessings and lessons in the canyon.

Willow - Bommer Ridge - Old Emerald Trail - Emerald Canyon Road - Old Emerald Falls - Moro Ridge - Bommer Ridge - Willow!

2009-05-11T19:36:00.000-07:00

This morning with the Park Ranger, I checked out the trails listed above. It was a very exhausting 6.5 mile hike, but the scenery was breathtaking, as usual. The cloud cover in the earlier parts of the morning helped make the hike more manageable, although the sun did start beating down on us as we climbed back up Old Emerald Falls to Moro Canyon and back down towards Willow.

Below are shots of our bush mallow in bloom, as well as a red Sticky Monkey flower, both found on Willow Trail.

Below are shots taken from the Emerald trails.
This first one is taken from Old Emerald Trail, looking north.

Another shot from Old Emerald Trail:

And finally, two shots from Old Emerald Falls:
(I really like the red color - it was a definite change of color from what we are seeing generally in the canyon - that beautiful creamy gold).

Plants in Bloom Update

2009-05-10T19:50:00.000-07:00

Out at the Willow Staging Area this morning, California Wild Rose was in full bloom. Right as you're heading towards Willow Trail from the sign-in table, behind the left large Mexican Elderberry, there is a giant bush of California Wild Rose. Check the roses out before it's too late! (Click here for a short little video clip taken today)

On Little Sycamore Trail this afternoon, the bees were joyfully collecting pollen in every flower they could find - they especially were loving the black sage flowers and the Prickly Pear Cactus flowers.

One of the most delightful surprises was the heart-leaved penstamon in bloom on Little Sycamore Trail today:

Of course, for someone who hasn't seen Lance-Leaved Dudleya in bloom before, this is a special treat! Also found on Little Sycamore trail this afternoon:

The harvester ants were hard at work on Little Sycamore trail today. Here's one carrying a dried-up common fiddleneck flower:

Special Thanks go to Len Gardner for identifying these flowers for me, also found on Little Sycamore Trail:

First, Sapphire Woolly Star (Eriastrum sapphirinum):

And then, Southern Rosinweed (aka "three spot") - Osmadenia tenella:

To wrap it up, here is Len's report of what he found today at Laurel Canyon:

I walked the LC Trail up to SP (signpost) 10 and then returned the same way.

Lance-leaf Dudleya is prime right now. Don't miss it! I looked at the plant that grows on the uphill side of the trail about 15 feet before you get to interpretive signpost "C." This is very early in the hike, while still close to the road and parking lot and before walking over the little spur ridge with the earthquake fault on its north side. The basal leaves have already dried up. After flowering and setting seed, which it will do in the next couple of weeks, the whole plant will dry up and go dormant until next winter.

At the very upper end of the trail, about 80 feet before you reach SP 10, Hedge Nettle is growing among the non-native grasses. It is obviously a member of the mint family and, at first, I thought it was a Salvia that I didn't know. After consulting Fred Roberts checklist and several other books and plant lists, I'm convinced it's a Hedge Nettle (Stachys sp.). Which one is a little hard to say.

The most likely is Stachys rigida. It could be either of two subspecies, S. rigida ssp. quercetorum (Hillside Hedge Nettle) or S. rigida ssp rigida (Rigid Hedge Nettle). Adding to the confusion, Jepson puts these two under Stachys ajugoides ssp rigida. The modest flowers are white with little purple dots and squiggles on the prominent lower lip. The upper petals have purple-pink on their backsides.

At the lower end of the trail, near the grandmother oak, the non-native Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) is in full blossom. It's copious flowers are hanging down luxuriantly right now.

At the first creek crossing, the California False Indigo is in full bloom with its decidedly underwhelming flowers in lax spikes. More noticeable than the blossoms is the plant's skunky smell, which is strangely pleasant (if you like skunk). Another False Indigo is found growing by the trail a short ways beyond the waterfall.

Other plants in full bloom today include: Common Horehound, Black Sage, Sticky Monkey Flower, Chinese Houses, California Wild Rose, Mexican Elderberry, California Blackberry, Vervain, Golden Yarrow, Blue-eyed Grass, Fringed Indian Pink, Golden Stars and the obnoxious Italian Thistle.

Sticky Cinquefoil is mostly past flowering, but some are still are showing good blossoms. So too for the Narrow-leaved Bedstraw. It's mostly in seed, but some late ones are still in flower.

The Heart-leaved Bush Penstemon is not in flower yet. A few plants were in bud, though. I'd give that one another couple of weeks. The non-native English Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) has its stalks up. Buds only, no flowers yet.

If you have observations that you'd like to share with us here on the blog, please email me at info@natureinorangecounty.com . Thank you!

Laguna Canyon's Insects =)

2009-05-10T19:42:00.001-07:00

Well, too much time has gone by without a little post about our awesome insects in the canyon. So here are a few of my favorite shots. To view more of my insect shots, click HERE. Enjoy!

Rattlesnake Crossing Bommer Ridge on 28th of April - cool video!

2009-05-04T00:06:00.000-07:00

Robert and Jason at the Nursery at Willow were able to film a rattlesnake crossing Bommer Ridge on the 28th of April, 2009.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE AWESOME VIDEO - WITH SOUND! :)

Read about their adventure HERE.

Laguna Canyon Foundation at Soka University's International Festival, May 2, 2009

2009-05-03T23:55:00.000-07:00

The Laguna Canyon Foundation was present at Soka University's International Festival in Aliso Viejo, CA on Saturday, May 2, 2009.
It was a total success! A dedicated team of LCF volunteers, along with LCF's fantastic Executive Director, Karl Warkomski, represented the foundation and its many programs. They also offered to the public an array of native plants, grown from seeds that LCF volunteers harvested and grown in LCF's nursery at Willow Canyon, for modest donations.
Check out the Nursery's blog, written by Nursery guru Robert Lawson, at http://hijoley.blogspot.com.

(Photo above taken before the event began, early in the morning. By 11 AM, the place was PACKED!)

Triple Value Passport to the Arts - the Laguna Beach Passport

2009-04-28T21:04:00.000-07:00

"one price, one pass, three art festivals"
is the name of the game for Laguna Beach's Art Festival Spectacular of Summer 2009.

As seen on the website: www.lagunabeachpassport.com, when you purchase a Laguna Beach Passport online, you will "receive unlimited admission all summer long to three famous Laguna Beach art festivals" - The Art-a-Fair, the Festival of Arts and the Sawdust Festival- "and everything they have to offer, all for only $19! (a $36 value!). That’s a $17 savings! And that’s not all! Each passport includes one-time free parking in the Act V parking lot on Laguna Canyon Road and FREE shuttle service."

Click HERE to Learn About and Purchase the Laguna Beach Passport

The three festivals take place at the southern entrance of Laguna Canyon (on the Laguna Beach side) and are always fun to visit with friends and visiting relatives or people you don't know that well but need an amusing place to break the ice. I recommend spending the early morning hiking our canyon's trails this summer, then heading on over to the festivals for lunch and an afternoon of art!

A special shout out and thanks to John Krill of www.lagunabeat.com for posting the news about this fun pass yesterday. CLICK HERE TO SEE HIS POST.

Update on Mary's Trail / Little Sycamore Canyon

2009-04-27T15:02:00.001-07:00

This morning was super quiet at Little Sycamore and the Nix Nature Center, making for a very peaceful trek up Little Sycamore to Serrano Ridge. A fun Roadrunner led the way as I followed the trail, surrounded by quail, rabbits, red-tailed hawks, towhees, hummingbirds, lizards, bees, etc.

Here were my observations:

The black sage was so beautiful, with its flowers being visited by the bees and other insects. It lined both sides of the trail sometimes, which was very special.
The Mariposa lilies were in abundance along the trail.

The native Morning Glory was also very beautiful, wrapping itself around black sage / other woody structures.
The buckwheat has newer, softer, thicker greens coming up. In some areas, the buckwheat is in full bloom (for example, along Serrano Ridge).
Along Serrano Ridge, the areas that once were covered in poppies and filaree have been taken over by the grasses which have turned that beautiful, creamy golden color. Too bad that they aren't native grasses!
The California Dodder is really prominent as you climb up the Serrano Ridge, on that last stretch.

Nuttall's Snapdragon is in bloom along Mary's Trail - near the entrance to Little Sycamore trail.

Beautiful interpretive signs have been placed on Mary's Trail, right behind the Nix Nature Center. Take a moment to go read them and learn about our surroundings! It's a lot of fun. There's even a "scented" sign. :)
California figwort/Bee Plant is finally blooming in abundance along Mary's Trail. We had reported flowerings of this plant last month? at the Dilley Preserve, right across the 133/ Laguna Canyon Rd.
Fringed Pink can be seen at at least one location along Little Sycamore Trail (before the last big climb up). Awesome!

Many special photos were taken today and will be added to the main website, www.NatureInOrangeCounty.com and to NIOC's Photo Albums online over the next few days. Make sure to check them out!

And no report would be complete without my friend Len Gardner's comments and latest observations:

Red-tail Hawks are nesting in Little Sycamore Canyon. Linda Davis discovered the nest when on a plant walk with Laura Cohen. Linda was able to point it out to me and a few others who followed her up the trail after Paul had finished his birding tour.

It's on a ledge on the other side of the canyon from the trail. It is occupied. It appears to have 4 chicks in it.

I guess the theme of today's bird walk could have been nesting. In addition to the Red-tailed Hawk nest [...], we also saw an occupied California Towhee nest, an occupied Anna's Hummingbird nest and an occupied House Wren nest. In addition, on Barbara's Lake, we saw a family of Pied-billed Grebes. There were three chick grebes swimming along with their mother. We could see chicks in the Towhee nest. Very cute.

It got me to thinking. I suppose the very essence of DNA life is reproduction, not only the ability to do it but the compulsion to. The birds did a good job today of demonstrating that inescapable fact of life.

Until next time! Thanks for following this blog!

Cooler Temperatures in the Canyon & LCF on Facebook!

2009-04-25T21:01:00.000-07:00

Well, after that heat spell of last weekend, temperatures have come back down into more reasonable figures for hikers, bikers and horseback riders in Laguna Canyon. (Temps were in the mid-60s this afternoon, for example). This afternoon I spent a few hours around the Nix Nature Center, enjoying the Mariposa Lilies on Mary's Trail and the adorable quail that didn't seem at all phased by my presence (or by my car at the entrance of the Nix Nature Center's parking lot). New scents are coming up along the trails - for example, how about that sweet, sugary, maple-syrupy smell along Mary's Trail??? (gotta be of California Everlasting)... MMMM!!! and there are some California Figwort (Bee plant) flowers now visible along Mary's Trail (although they may have been there for a while - I haven't been able to visit that trail for a few weeks?)

The green grasses are fading slowly into that beautiful pastel golden cream that will go so well with the more dominant purples and pinks we shall see in a few more weeks/months. As temperatures begin to rise and the earth begins to dry up, our coastal sage scrub, which is drought deciduous for the most part, will begin to drop its leaves and show their darker hues. There is always something happening in our precious canyon - every single day, the colors of the canyon are slightly different - you'll just have to wait an entire year for the specific colors of today to return again.

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Be Aware - Rattlesnake killers on the loose

2009-04-14T13:24:00.000-07:00

As a volunteer for the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, I received this notice today:

For your information Park visitors have reported several incidents of rattle-snake killing and the removal of the rattles at Aliso & Wood Canyon. Visitors have reported finding the snakes thrown to the side of trail with rattles removed.

Anyone who sees suspicious activity should immediately report it to our park rangers. It is our common duty to protect, preserve and enhance our natural surroundings - we are all connected, and our well-being is dependent on the well-being of everything else around us - and that includes the rattlesnakes!

The latest and greatest in Laguna Canyon

2009-04-13T17:58:00.001-07:00

Well, it's been a week since my last post. A lot more California Poppies and Mariposa Lilies are getting attention in the canyon from our hikers, bikers, and photographers. There currently is a wild flower contest going on online at the OC Register: Click HERE to see the photos. (To vote for my flower in particular, click HERE! :) )

Yesterday (Sunday April 12) I was out with a great friend selling our nursery's baby native plants at the head of Little Sycamore trail. We had Chalk Dudleya, California Rose, Fuschia Flowered Gooseberry and Mexican Elderberry out for sale, for $2 a pot. If you missed us but would like to have a few of these wonderful native plants, contact me at natureinorangecounty@gmail.com for more information.

It has been warming up the past few days - Make sure to take enough water with you, put on your sunscreen and wear a hat when hitting the trails! Until Next time! Jennifer

85 Degrees at Willow - a Lizard's Paradise! & New Photos!

2009-04-06T20:16:00.000-07:00

Today I decided to check on the plants and animals out at Willow. I started up Willow trail at roughly 11 AM - the sun was beating down on me already but I was fully equipped with water, my trusty hat, and determination.

About two minutes up Willow, I came across this fantastic lizard (most likely a Western Fence lizard - updated on April 7, 2009 at 8 PM), who was strategically placed next to an ant hole and was wondering when the heck I was going to let him go eat lunch. We spent about 3 minutes together, chatted about our lives, the heat of the morning, etc. I was even able to sit down next to him - he'd turn his head up at me to get a closer look at this human who cared to say hello.

Here's another view, where you can really see the ants - yum! I was just hoping that the lizard would eventually move out of the middle of the road - if he didn't move in time, he might have been spotted from the air and gobbled up for lunch as well!

I continued up Willow to then check on the various wildflowers in bloom right now, along with the general state of everything else. There are a few plants/flowers I would like to mention here - and I strongly recommend you check them out ASAP - for they are beautiful!

#1: The Paintbrush along Willow is just extraordinary right now.

#2: Check out the Dense-Flowered Chick Lupine (Lupinus microcarpus), it is exquisite!

#3 Some beautiful Mariposa lilies were out, too:

#4: Check out the beautiful Owl's Clover (in the Paintbrush family):

#5: Got a photo of Woodland Star, a flower I haven't mentioned on this blog yet (it's a little blurry but it will do) - found on Lower Laurel:

The other lupines were out as well, along with the California poppies, blue dicks, common fiddleneck, deerweed, etc. etc. etc. :)
I've been updating/rearranging my photo albums online - if you haven't visited them for a while, I've got OVER 160 of them now - check them out HERE.
I'll have more news to report soon! Thanks for checking in! - Jennifer

Project BudBurst & the USA National Phenology Network

2009-04-01T19:55:00.000-07:00

Here are two exciting projects that all amateur and serious plant lovers in Orange County can participate in, on the scientific level, without having to join a formal scientific study/group:

The first one is called "Project BudBurst" - you can learn all about Project BudBurst HERE.

The second one is called the USA National Phenology Network - click HERE to learn about it.

Basically, you have the opportunity to record your observations about the plants that you regularly visit in Orange County, whether it be on the trails or in some other area. The data that you contribute will be used to better understand climate change and other aspects of nature that we have yet to fully understand.

I, personally, am participating in both, contributing my observations to both projects regarding the False Indigo (Amorpha fruticosa) that we have in Lower Laurel Canyon at Laguna Coast Wilderness Park - and will probably add a few other favorite plants to my list. It is fun to know that our observations count in the scientific world, even though we do not necessarily have a scientific background or degree!

(This post was also published on Nature In Orange County - The Blog)

Len's Update - Lower Laurel's Sanicle and Early Birds

2009-03-27T19:54:00.000-07:00

My good friend Len was once again so generous to share his field observations with me today. Here's what he writes about Lower Laurel Trail and the birds/plants of special note:

I did lower Laurel this morning with Paul. We were scoping out the birding for his bird walk on Sunday morning. Some spring migrants are there already, some of which are early. We saw Bullock's Oriole, Violet-green Swallow, Cassin's Vireo (early), Black-throated Gray Warbler (early). In addition, Paul heard Pacific Slope Flycatcher.

There is a lot of Sanicle coming up along the trail. It's probably Sanicula arguta (snakeroot or Sharp-toothed Sanicle) or Sanicula crassicaulis (Pacific Sanicle). It's a yellow-flowered herb, about a foot tall, with flowers in an umbel. It's in the carrot family (Apiaceae). We've been seeing the new foliage for the last couple of months. I didn't know what it was, though, without the flowers. There are some look-alikes in the genus, so identification to the species can be tricky.

Blue-eyed Grass is coming into bloom now, too.

Of course, when Len speaks of Paul's bird hike, he is referring to the following hike taking place this Sunday morning from 8-11 AM. Here is the description of the hike, from the Laguna Canyon Foundation's Website (www.lagunacanyon.org):

March 29, Sunday, 8:00-11:00 a.m., Birding Hike: Spot spring and migratory birds with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteer naturalists Paul Klahr and Len Gardner on this moderate, but steep, 3.5-mile hike through one of the most diverse plant communities in the United States. Bring binoculars. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Willow Canyon Staging Area (20101 Laguna Canyon Rd, just south of El Toro Rd intersection). Reservations required: 949-923-2235. Parking: $3

For more information on Laguna Canyon's activities (such as Paul Klahr's bird hikes and the like) visit Laguna Canyon Foundation at www.lagunacanyon.org. Reservations are required for most activities and we recommend you reserve in advance, so that you aren't put on a long waiting list! LCF's activities are very popular and in demand!

And make sure that you support the Laguna Canyon Foundation with your generous donations - in order to protect, preserve and enhance our beautiful South Coast Wilderness, we need your financial support! Thanks for all you do to help "KEEP IT WILD."

Lizard Love at the Nix Nature Center

2009-03-24T21:15:00.001-07:00

Ah, Spring is here again.
Only 3 days into Spring, and the Western Fence Lizards are at it! Check out the video that I took on 23 March 2009 of what I'm assuming is one manly Western Fence lizard attempting to woo two female Western Fence lizards :)

This video is also available on NIOC's general YouTube channel, HERE. Note the rhythmic set of push-ups that the male does when both females are on the little ledge to the right.

And since the video isn't the greatest in pixel quality, here are a few romantic photos to get you excited about Springtime. =)

Here in the photo to the left, we can see that blue color underneath the male's belly... that he's probably trying to show off!

Shot #2... oh the anticipation of love. Or baby lizards. Or Both :)

Shot #3. If plants are more your thing, don't worry, we'll have more updates on plants soon :)

Shot #4 - out in the sun, the male is trying to figure out what to do next. Note the interesting flattened out posture of the lizard behind him.

Some good links on the Western Fence Lizard:
http://www.sdnhm.org/fieldguide/herps/scel-occ.html
http://www.werc.usgs.gov/fieldguide/scoc.htm

On this webpage (a student's project), one notes:

"During the breeding season males will sit atop their territory to both fend off other males and to attract females. The lizards begin to mate their second year, the males will do what looks like a rhythmic set of pushups to attract mates. Females are usually closer to the ground and harder to spot than males. Once ready to mate she will appear and the male will vertically flatten his body to display his brilliant blue colors (Schwenkmeyer,2001). He then holds the females neck in his jaws while mating commences. If the female changes her mind during copulation she turns on her back and kicks the male off with all four legs (Angilletta,2001). During mating the normally tan to brown dorsal scales on the male will turn a brilliant blue (Brookshire,2001). At present it is unknown if the couple is monogamous during the breeding season."

Well, doesn't look too monogamous to me! :) ... Anyone want to comment?

Out at Dilley on a Rainy Day

2009-03-22T20:39:00.000-07:00

This morning, the newest group of LCF Volunteers were scheduled for their training and a hike at Dilley with Norris, however the rainy and windy weather dissuaded most in the group from actually starting up the trail. I had come to join the group to refamiliarize myself with the trail, and had my camera ready for some photos, as I was aware of the owl's clover that has popped up in bloom at the Nix Nature Center (pratically across the Laguna Canyon Road) and wanted to see what else I could photograph early in the morning.

I wasn't disappointed with what I shot today, although I do regret that my camera pooped out on me after 25 photos (low battery!). Here's what I was able to take (click on the names of the plants with links to see the photos in our main photo album collection):

- Owl's Clover
- Mariposa Lily
- Beautiful displays of Sticky Monkeyflower and California Manroot (Wild Cucumber)
- California Figwort (aka Bee Plant) - (Scrophularia californica) (updated 23 March 09)

What I wish I could have taken today in photo:
- Absolutely stunning & large Chalk Dudleyas with three stalks on each plant, coming upwards.
- A fun, new, yellow flower I believe to be desert gold (leptosiphon aureus) - we'll have to check
- The abundant dodder / witch's hair - prevalent on the California Buckwheat on the ridges
- The beautiful, ephemeral rainbows that came and went as the storm clouds and mist passed through and over the canyon.

The rain actually made for a nice addition to the scenery, with the beautiful raindrops gathered on the petals and stems of the plants in bloom. Walking through the wet plants allowed for a special connection to nature today - one which I was truly grateful for.

What's Neat about Ground Pink

2009-03-20T22:40:00.000-07:00

My good friend Len Gardner was kind enough to point out some particularities on Ground Pink, one of our canyon's wildflowers in bloom right now (can be seen, for example, on South Stagecoach right up the hill from the Nix Nature Center's Parking lot). Len writes,

There is something neat about the Ground Pink [...]. The petals are twirled when in bud. Botanists call this convolute buds. They unroll as the flower opens. This is a family characteristic for the Polemoniaceae, which includes Phlox and related species. Also, the pink of the young flower fades as it ages. This is very noticeable. When you look at a group of plants with flowers of different ages you might think at first that they were of two types.

The petal margins are lightly toothed. In all, a very lovely flower.

Take a look at these three photos I took on the 14th of March, showing these very particularities - the fading color and the darker color of the two different Ground Pinks, the twirled nature of the petals when the flower is closed up, and the toothed ends of the petals. Fun!

The Importance of Sharing Observations With Others - Retrieving Bird Band Numbers

2009-03-17T21:55:00.000-07:00

On 15 March 2009, at approximately 12:30 PM, I was exiting the 5 North at Jeffrey, when to the side of the road I noticed a very large bird, dead and lying on its side along the white painted line. Of course, my sighting was a quick one, as I was exiting the freeway at approximately 60 MPH, and so only got a quick glimpse of it through my windshield and then a backwards look in the rearview mirror.

My initial guess was that it was a red-tailed hawk, because we see so many of them on the large street and freeway lamps all along the 133, parts of the 5 and the 405. I also thought it was a hawk because every time I have tried to identify large birds otherwise, they have always ended up being red-tailed hawks! However, I was not sure.

In any event, during the afternoon I thought about whom I might contact, if anyone, to let them know of what I saw. I figured that Laura at the Nix Nature Center in Laguna Canyon would be an excellent person to start with – for she is quite knowledgeable about our surroundings, the birds, and is in touch with many fascinating people. So I sent her a quick email late in the afternoon and let her know where I saw the deceased bird.

The next day, 16 March 2009, I learned that Pete Bloom went out to retrieve the bird – it turned out to be a Great Horned Owl, banded as a nestling in Mason Park on 4-24-08, by Joe Papp and C. Thomas – Territory #GHO –OR-066. Its band number was 788 46681 with an auxiliary number of 067. I was then asked to report the band number on http://www.reportband.gov/, which I did- I am now expecting a “Certificate of Appreciation with additional information on the banded bird” in the mail.

Before I began volunteering for the Laguna Canyon Foundation, I would have never thought to contact anyone about a dead animal on the side of the road; without knowing that there are scientists and volunteers outdoors in Orange County studying the various animal and plant populations, I would have never thought that such an observation as mine even mattered that much. I write this post tonight, therefore, not only to share my little story with you all, but also to let you know how our observations of the natural world can be valuable to many more people than simply ourselves. As Pete Bloom wrote to me yesterday, the discovery was “maybe not a happy ending but a meaningful one” for this Great Horned Owl.

If you also have sightings that you would like to share, but don’t know whom to contact, feel free to contact me and we’ll see what we can do, together, to get your information into the right hands.
(This post was also posted on Nature In Orange County - The BLOG)

Good Bobcat Photos

2009-03-15T17:41:00.000-07:00

There's an older OC Register snippet online about the bobcats in our area with a good slideshow of photos of the cats that you might be interested in viewing, along with a link to a study on bobcats by the U.S. Geological Survey and Colorado State University.
See the snippet HERE: http://greenoc.freedomblogging.com/2009/03/06/orange-countys-bobcats-probing-the-urban-edge/5185/.
Of course, Dick Newell at www.octrackers.com is the gentleman to contact if you see any bobcats in our canyon - he'll want to know as much information about the sighting as possible - so keep your eyes open and note down as much as you can if you ever do cross paths with a cat!

Parrots & dogs, big & small - Not Allowed!

2009-03-15T17:00:00.000-07:00

Every now and then, people come to Laguna Canyon for a hike with their favorite furry/feathered friends. I've begun to tally up the times I pass by the Willow Parking Lot (right near the El Toro/Laguna Canyon Road intersection) and see ladies with their short, little dogs, getting ready to go on a nice little hike (and this despite the signs at the entrance that show that dogs are not allowed in the park). I've also come to marvel at the persistence of a certain gentleman who comes with his red parrot to Willow every so often, trying his luck with our different volunteers, thinking that he'll eventually get the go-ahead to access the trails, or be able to slip on by without anyone noticing he's there.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a cynic. For many pet owners who visit the parks for the first time with their furry/feathered friends, it comes as a disheartening surprise to learn that they must leave the latter at home before coming to our wilderness park, or take them to a specified pet-friendly area. But there are also those who resist the rules, who repeatedly come back with their animals, disregard the signs and the docents' explanations, and act as if they have every right to do as they wish, when and where they wish, on any trail, be it fire road or single track.

There are almost endless reasons why taking your pet to our beautiful trails is a no-no: disruption of wildlife (dogs can scare the birds away, leave scents and fecal waste that negatively affects the wildlife in a plethora of ways), risk of injury, disease or death to the pet (ticks, poison oak, snakes, hawks and other birds of prey, etc. all can pose a threat to your domestic animal), risk of injury, disease or death to the pet owner (imagine your dog getting into a confrontation with a bobcat, coyote, snake, etc., bringing home ticks or rubbing against some poison oak and then against you at home, leaving the toxic oils all over the house and your body)...

A good example of what can potentially happen when domestic animals are in uncontrolled, open air, natural settings has been recently observed in Laguna Beach, at Main Beach, and written about in the OC Register on the 10th of March, 2009. Here is a link to that article: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/turly-banana-beach-2330764-hawk-birds. Basically, a man lost one of his beloved parrots to a red-tailed hawk (the very same one, most likely, as the one that I photographed at the gazebo of Main Beach during that very same week, possibly day, see posts below), and is angry at Laguna Beach authorities for not killing the hawk (which, by the way, has EVERY RIGHT to be in Laguna Beach and the surrounding areas).

What we all need to understand is that when we are outdoors in a natural surrounding, there are forces of nature that surpass our own strengths, precautions and laws. Despite the damage that we have done to our natural resources (one which grows in gravity every second that passes), Mother Nature is still alive and will forever claim her right to exist. And every so often, whether we like it or not, we are (sometimes unpleasantly) reminded of our place in the world, of food chains, of natural instincts. The natural world has its own laws, its own timing, its own rythym - to coexist in harmony in natural settings, we have to put the ways of the natural world first.

So please, next time that you consider bringing a pet to Laguna Canyon, or see someone at our park's entrances with Fluffy or Polly, please help and make sure that our natural world is respected to the fullest degree. We have so much at stake here - it has taken the efforts of many thousands of people to preserve the beautiful canyon that we know today - let us not allow it to slip away through carelessness.

The new Wave of WAVs comes in for Laguna Canyon Foundation! Yay!

2009-03-15T13:31:00.001-07:00

This morning I had the absolute greatest privilege of showing Laurel Loop to our newest wave of LCF volunteers. We started out at the Willow Staging Area, took Lower Laurel all the way up to Willow (signpost #2) and around back down to WSA, a 3.9 mile hike. Along the way, we were graced by the presence of many beautiful wildflowers that have been popping up in Laguna Canyon over the past weeks. Of special interest to our group were:
- Parry's Phacelia
- Canyon Pea
- the many Lupines - including the Miniature Lupine
- California Plantain
- Common Fiddleneck
- Common Deerweed
- Fuschia-Flowered Gooseberry
- Blue Dicks
- California Buttercup
- Sticky Monkey Flower
- Wishbone Bush
- California Poppy
(list non-exhaustive!!!)

We also enjoyed the different habitats that one can see on the loop - the coastal sage scrub habitat, the riparian habitat, the oak woodlands, a small glimpse of grasslands, and the mixed chaparral environment.

Everyone was so positive and inquisitive about the canyon's plants and animals, and I am so excited to know that they soon will be out there, helping the public and making sure that we keep our wilderness park WILD! A big thank you to all of you who came!

For those of you who have not yet become a volunteer for the Laguna Canyon Foundation, but would like to, please visit the Laguna Canyon Foundation's Website at www.lagunacanyon.org, or contact:

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
18751 Laguna Canyon Road
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949)923-2235

lagunacoast@ocparks.com
More to follow.

More Flowers in Bloom - South Stagecoach

2009-03-14T23:41:00.001-07:00

Finally got around to taking those Ground Pinks at South Stagecoach, right up from the Nix Nature Center's main parking lot. Unfortunately, it was still overcast and most flowers were closed, (ok ok it also was only 8 AM) Photos of the Gr ound Pinks can be seen HERE.

Also, made an awesome discovery today! I learned about Lacepods! And look at how awesome the fruits of lacepods look! Photos of the lacepod can be seen HERE.

But that's not all. Check out the awesome, often overlooked MINIATURE LUPINE (lupinus bicolor) - Click HERE to see the Photo Album of Mini Lupine.

(Note: my finger is directly next to the blooms - not in front - check out that size!!!)

Got some photos of Blue-Eyed Grass right outside of the Nix Nature Center... Click HERE TO SEE ALBUM.

And took better photos of those Johnny Jump Ups on South Stagecoach trail... Click HERE for Album.
More information to come on all!

Red-Tailed Hawk it is :)

2009-03-10T13:21:00.001-07:00

Thanks to John Krill of www.lagunabeat.com for posting his latest photos of the red-tailed hawk that has been at Main Beach for quite some time now, viewable HERE.
So, after all, it is a red-tailed hawk! :)
John makes an interesting observation that the seagull and pigeon count is way down, and also that one of our locals lost a white parrot to the hawk about two weeks ago.

UPDATE on 15 March 2009: the OC Register printed this article on the 10th of March, regarding the lost parrot at Main Beach, due to the hawk: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/turly-banana-beach-2330764-hawk-birds

Out at Willow on a Sunday Afternoon

2009-03-09T10:58:00.000-07:00

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.

Please visit Laguna Canyon Foundation's website: www.lagunacanyon.org
In these tough economic times, our Non-Profits are Suffering... Please Support Laguna Canyon Foundation with Your Generous Donations. Thanks!

Village Laguna & No Plastic Bags in Laguna Beach!

2009-03-05T21:02:00.001-08:00

Over the weekend, I met two wonderful individuals belonging to the non-profit organization "Village Laguna" in front of Whole Foods Market on Ocean Ave, in Laguna Beach. They were holding petitions in their arms for residents and non-residents of Laguna alike to sign, to eliminate plastic bags from all of Laguna Beach's stores. Of course, I immediately went over to add my name to the ever-growing list of names - for about three years, now, I have become accustomed to bringing my own bags (I've even got a favorite canvas one that has transported everything from cilantro and toothpaste to clothes, books, and appliances) and over time, I have noticed, with amazement, how many bags I have actually kept out of our landfills.

For those of you who are forgetful and have difficulty in breaking routine, I will grant you that it does initially take a bit of effort to remember to put those reusable bags in your car trunk or in a visible spot by your front door so that you'll use them on your next outing, but after a few weeks and with enough motivation, I guarantee that you'll find using a re-useable bag to be an easy and beneficial new habit in your life.

Anyhoo, back to this weekend's encounter with Village Laguna. As I was signing the petition, one of the members of Village Laguna also spoke to me about their project against the Aliso Creek Area Redevelopment Plan, which is explained, on their website, HERE. Of considerable concern (among many troublesome issues that this said "redevelopment plan" would bring about) is the degradation and destruction of Laguna's natural wilderness from the construction of yet another completely unnecessary golf facility. With plans for "massive grading, [...] the construction of a golf facility on a ridge, the creation of artificial landforms both in the canyon and on the Hobo-Aliso Ridge, and the import of dirt from one to supply the other," this Aliso Creek Project promises no happy future for our natural environment - and MUST BE STOPPED ASAP.

The folks at Village Laguna are doing a fantastic job in preserving Laguna's natural interests, but they are looking for more members and voices. Visit their website today, at http://www.villagelaguna.com to learn more about them, and ask yourself what YOU can do to make a positive difference in Laguna Beach.

The South Coast Wilderness Educational Program - Laguna Canyon Foundation

2009-03-02T17:46:00.000-08:00

Click Here to Access Nature In Orange County's Website Page on Children's Educational Programs in the Natural World of OC

Laguna Canyon Foundation is a non-profit organization working to "preserve, protect, and enhance" the South Coast Wilderness. The last few years have been a time for incredible growth in the educational department of the Laguna Canyon Foundation, and their small grant-driven school programs have evolved into quality, standards-driven field studies.

Please click on the link above or below to access NIOC's page on Educational Programs for Children. At the bottom of the page, in the "Attachments" section, you will find a PDF Brochure on LCF's Educational Prgrams, including "Signs of Life" for 1st Graders, "Everybody Needs a Rock" for 2nd Graders, "Adapt to the Habitat" for 3rd Graders, "Connections" for 4th Graders, and "Rock, Rock, Rockity Rock" for 6th Graders. Program goals and descriptions are available on the PDF brochure. More information is available from Kimberly Leeds, Education Director for the Laguna Canyon Foundation, at education@lagunacanyon.org - 949-510-9341.

* Note: a $5 donation is requested for each participant of LCF's educational programs. Donations go directly into offsetting the foundation's costs. (Jennifer's note to readers: it's well worth it!!!!)

Click Here to Access Nature In Orange County's Website Page on Children's Educational Programs in the Natural World of OC

Also, in the News:

Laguna Canyon Foundation
Camp Sage
August 3- 7 and August 10-14

M-F 8:30- 1:00 PM
20 students per week ages 7-11
$ 150 Per camper per week

Monday - Nature Connections: Introduction to the Coastal Sage Scrub Community
Tuesday - Awareness and Senses: Opening our senses to increase awareness of the nature in our every day experiences.
Wednesday - Inspiration, Exploration, and Focus- A chance for each child to find a secret spot and to explore and deeply connect with the rhythms of nature (journaling, poetry, and sharing)
Thursday - Human Impact on the Environment- A day to examine our footprint on the planet and how we can preserve, protect, and enhance the wilderness
Friday - Integration and reflection- a final hike in the park exploring all of our new talents for understanding nature.

Overview: Each day will begin with a circle of gratefulness honoring each individual for his or her contribution to the whole group. Multiple explorations into the wilderness with inspiring activities adapted from the Leopold Education Program, Joseph Cornell, and John Taylor- "Coyote Mentoring"

Led by: Education Director, Kimberly Leeds, Education Coordinator Meghan Lockwood.

Plantago Erecta (California Plantain) also in bloom

2009-03-02T16:43:00.001-08:00

Update: Both Len Gardner and Dick Newell have signaled the blooming of Plantago erecta (Cal. Plantain) along Mary's Trail and Laurel Canyon. Len first announced it on the 25th of February. We'll try to get out and photograph it as soon as we can.

More Flowers in Bloom in the Canyon! :)

2009-03-02T15:34:00.000-08:00

Hello to all of you wonderful Laguna Canyon lovers!
We're having a party today! Well, it seems like it, at least, with all of the fun photos that we have now, that we took yesterday, March 1, 2009 on Lower Laurel Trail in Laguna Canyon (accessible only by foot from the Willow Staging Area / Parking Lot or Willow Trail or Upper Laurel Trail).

Here are the magnificent flowers we observed yesterday on Lower Laurel:

Blue Dicks
California buttercup
Canyon Pea
Chickweed
Common Deerweed
Milkmaids were doing well and just developing in some areas of Lower Laurel, while we had spotted them in December at the Aliso and Wood Canyon park.
Miner's Lettuce (bigger flowers now)
Mulefat
Rattlesnake Spurge
Shortpod Mustard (non-native invasive)
Sycamore in bloom! :)

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS OF GREAT EXCITEMENT:

The Lance-leaved Dudleya was shooting up its stalks! :)
The California False Indigo was leafing out... slowly :)
The Poison Oak is leafing out!
Bush Mallow had some new leaves as well...

Going back to the Flowers in Bloom, At the Nix Nature Center, one could also see:

Also, how about the FUN INSECTS we saw on Lower Laurel :) ? We saw a few butterflies (too fast to photograph), a caterpillar on common fiddleneck, and a lovely ladybug on grass! :)

There were no California Poppies on Lower Laurel yet. We have had reports of them up on the ridges. We saw them last week on Serrano Ridge.

There are still lots of Toyon berries on the Toyon trees on Lower Laurel.

It was super-hot this weekend, reaching at least 87 degrees F in the canyon (when I was there!). Now we are being blessed with a little bit more rainfall - as I write this post it is raining in Irvine, CA, about 6 miles from the Lower Laurel Trail. Check the status of Park Closures in Orange County before you go out hiking: www.ocparks.com.

More soon!

Still doubts on the bird seen Wednesday

2009-02-27T11:46:00.000-08:00

See post below with the photos of the bird:
We need all of your opinions! What is this bird exactly?
Someone else "in the know" thinks it's a large, young female red-tail hawk...
So I ask all of you, what is this bird?

More plants in bloom

2009-02-27T10:15:00.002-08:00

Hello all ~
Just a note to mention that we are aware that there are a lot more plants in bloom in the canyon than what we have been able to post thus far. Thanks for your patience as we get all of the data together. ~ Jennifer

Correction : it's a juvenile osprey! :)

2009-02-27T10:09:00.000-08:00

Well, in the midst of my excitement about the wonderful bird I saw the other day (see previous post), I immediately assumed that it was a peregrine falcon. Laura at the Nix was kind enough to let me know that it actually looks more like a juvenile osprey. I'll be correcting the previous post for search purposes.
Thanks, Laura, for the information!

Peregrine Falcon in Laguna

2009-02-25T14:37:00.001-08:00

Hello to all!
On Sunday, Laura at the Nix Nature Center had spotted a Peregrine falcon in the early morning. Today, Wednesday 25 February, at roughly 2:20 PM, I spotted it at the Laguna Beach Gazebo right above Main Beach, while taking a break from work. When I first saw the falcon, it was majestically flying over my head (about 30 feet above me), its beautiful wings stretched wide and far; I ran to get my camera, and when I came back, I found it on a tree overlooking the ocean, resting, while the countless crows were cawing at it from the nearby palm trees.

If only you could have been there to hear all the commotion, and to see this magical bird!!! It was So COOL! :)

*** Note on 27 February 2009: According to Laura at the Nix Nature Center, this looks to be a juvenile osprey, not a peregrine falcon. It is so awesome, nonetheless!

*** Note on 13 March 2009: We have come to the conclusion that it is a red-tail hawk. See later posts for more discussion about it. Obviously, I'm going to have to spend some time learning about my birds! But for now, I'm sticking to the plants. :)

Little Sycamore / Serrano Ridge Update

2009-02-22T23:12:00.000-08:00

Hello All!

Well, FINALLY I was able to get out and hike Laguna Canyon's trails a bit today. I spent a good 3 hours 30 minutes up on Little Sycamore & Serrano Ridge (Went all the way to the 73 underpass leading to Upper Laurel Trail). A lot of flowers were in bloom... so exciting. Tomorrow (Monday) I will be uploading all my photos to the Picasa Web Albums so that you can view them (by plant name).

At the Nix Nature Center, there was a list of flowers in bloom on the Daily Wildlife Sightings white board. Here is what was listed:
- Fiddleneck
- Blue Dicks
- Wild Cucumber
- Popcorn Flower
- Wishbone Bush
- Fuchsia Flowered Gooseberry
- Monkey Flower
- Milkmaids
- CA Poppy
- Tidy Tips
- Goldfields
- Johnny Jump-Ups
- Ground Pink
- Miner's Lettuce

On top of that, I found:
- California Butterweed
- Chaparral Nightshade
- Other Nightshade
- Chia
- Encelia Californica
- Indian Paintbrush
- Menzie's Red Maids
- Canyon Pea

Check Back with us tomorrow (in the evening) on both this blog and our main website, www.natureinorangecounty.com, along with the Photo Albums for more photos.

Final update, from my good friend Len Gardner: According to Ranger Barbara of the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, "rainfall since July 1 now stands at a little less than 11 inches. She didn't have an exact figure but that is a very healthy number for this time of year. They are expecting a big wildflower year, lots of publicity and lots of visitors."

See you on the trails! Keep them safe and clean!

Update on Laurel Canyon's Plants in Bloom

2009-02-15T21:52:00.000-08:00

With all of this rain and cold weather, along with the recent busyness of my life, I have been unable to get back out on the trails in Laguna Canyon to see what's coming out in bloom. Luckily for all of us, Len Gardner has been hitting the trails and has been kind enough to inform us of the excitement that's going on recently:

The number of types of plants in bloom has increased considerably since last month. In the stretch above the waterfall, we now have California Buttercup along with the Milkmaid, which have become noticeably "long in the tooth." They are now more like dowagers than maidens. There are far more of them than the buttercups. In the lower canyon, poison oak is just coming into leaf. Some individual plants are fully leafed out.

A pleasant surprise on Bommer Ridge was Johnny Jump-up in full bloom in its little swale near signpost 2.

Other things in bloom, which I didn't see last month, are Rattlesnake Weed, paintbrush (don't know which one), White Nightshade and Redberry, which has a very inconspicuous flower. It's so inconspicuous that I have to wonder how it gets pollinated.

There is continued blooming of Wild Hyacinth, Common Fiddleneck, Canyon Pea, California Poppy, Wild Cucumber and Fuschia-flowered Gooseberry. Some of the Wild Cucumbers (on the lower Willow Road) are already well into fruit.

A young scrub oak growing near the Willow Road had lots of catkins hanging down and quite a bit of new foliage. It was doing well.

Speaking of catkins, some willow catkins are out too.

Thanks, Len, for sharing this information!
If all goes well, I might be able to hit the trails tomorrow with my camera and notepad.
More soon.
Jennifer

With the Rain, More Blooms

2009-02-07T11:01:00.000-08:00

Right before the heavy rains began, Dick Newell of www.octrackers.com led a group through Laurel Canyon and notes the following plants sighted in bloom:

Fiddleneck, Blue Dicks, California Poppies, Fuchsia Flowering Gooseberry,
Chaparral Pea and lots of Milk Maids. All the willows are showing off
their catkins.

Reading about all of these plants makes it tempting to go out on the trails and see them in person - but remember, patience is key! Please wait until the parks are officially re-opened before you go out hiking/biking - trampling around in the mud worsens trail conditions and negatively affects the wildlife.

What's In Bloom : Feb 1, 2009

2009-02-01T10:52:00.000-08:00

Len Gardner was kind enough to note the following plants in bloom today, Feb 1, 2009. He writes:

Just to summarize what our group saw today in the way of new blossoms on
Serrano Ridge, Popcorn Flower, California Poppy and Wishbone Bush are all
flowering.
Some Deerweed on the ridge are also also putting out their very
first flowers of the season. I know we saw some at lower elevations in bloom a
month ago, but they were outliers. The main group is coming in now.

Plants in Bloom: January 29, 2009

2009-01-29T10:57:00.000-08:00

Dick Newell, Tracker and Naturalist Extraordinaire, was kind enough to share the following information with me today:

Two more for your list of locals Jennifer. During our wildlife camera tour of Laguna yesterday we found Blue Dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum) in bloom in the grasslands and some California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) growing along the roadside.Blooms are starting to appear...

You can check out Dick Newell's site on tracking at http://www.octrackers.com/.

Fiddleneck in bloom at Willow

2009-01-26T21:11:00.001-08:00

Going up Willow to Bommer, I came across some Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia (A. intermedia, Common Fiddleneck) in bloom. We can now add that to the list of flowers in bloom in Laguna Canyon.

The California Manroot is doing quite well, growing and forming its gourds (slowly but surely!). Compare below the two photos to see the progression of the manroot on Willow trail (first photo taken 29 December 2008, second photo taken today, 26 January 2009 - about a month has elapsed)...

There are also many milkmaids on Willow, on the shady slopes facing north...

Lastly, the Lemonade Berry trees are flowering more and more on Willow, although it's taking some time, especially on those shady slopes.

Hope to see you on the trails! ~ Jennifer W.

Milkmaids (Cardamine californica) are in bloom at Aliso and Wood Canyon

2009-01-19T14:57:00.000-08:00

Walking along Wood Creek Trail yesterday, 18 January 2009, we came across some beautiful Milkmaids in bloom... however, as we had forgotten our cameras, we decided to return today, 19 January 2009 to give them their 15 minutes of fame online.

CLICK HERE to view the Milkmaids in NIOC's Photo Albums.

Also of particular interest were the various mushrooms scattered about here and there. Below we're including a few of them, along with a quick shot of a milkmaid for those so eager to see them, at last, in bloom.

CLICK HERE to view the entire mushroom photo album in NIOC's Photo Albums.

Gooseberry Beauty & Lemonade Berry Delight

2009-01-12T16:40:00.000-08:00

Out on Little Sycamore Trail this morning (in the 83 degree weather - at 10 AM!) we came across a beautiful Lemonade Berry in bloom, as well as some beautiful Gooseberry flowers. Both can be seen below.
The California Manroot plants continue to grow, the flowers and leaves are becoming bigger.
We also came across some non-native shortpod mustard in bloom.
There were still many Twiggy Wreath Plant flowers to be seen scattered in the hills, along the trail.
Conclusion: Keep your eyes open for any new flowers in the canyon! :)

Fuschia-Flowered Gooseberry is in bloom

2009-01-05T15:28:00.000-08:00

Today I was able to spot a flowering Gooseberry on Willow - here's a few photos, enjoy! (Note the dried up California Manroot / Cucumber plant stems).

It was an exceptionally beautiful day out in the canyon today... :)

More soon!

Plants in Bloom at Laurel

2009-01-01T21:40:00.001-08:00

This morning, a bunch of us plant lovers hiked Lower Laurel in search of beauty and wonder... and were not disappointed!

Here is a short list of plants in bloom that we saw today:

- Shortpod mustard
- California Buckwheat
- Coyote bush (nearing the end)
- CA fuchsia colored Gooseberry (the very beginnings!)
- Cudweed aster
- Twiggy wreath plant (nearing its end)
- Deerweed (somewhat early for this plant)

Another great highlight of the day was finding out that two extremely rude mountain bikers who pushed their way illegally through us on Lower Laurel were both ticketed at Post 10 by our fantastic ranger. Here's three cheers for justice!

More soon! Happy New Year!

What's blooming in Laguna Canyon?

2008-12-29T21:53:00.000-08:00

Out on Willow with a new good friend this morning, I came across some flowers belonging to the Cucumber Plant (Marah fabaceus; California Manroot). These are among the first flowers in sight on the Willow/Laurel loop as of yet (previously, I mentioned the Deerweed sightings and the Sticky Monkeyflower sightings, both at the Nix center/ Little Sycamore Canyon). We also saw some Deerweed in early bloom at the very beginning of Lower Laurel, right before the faultline. And if we're really going to be specific and include every single flower we saw, there was a bit of California fuschia still in bloom today, also on Willow.

Here are two photos of the Cucumber flowers. To view more photos from other, previous dates, please click HERE.

Fire in Laguna Beach

2008-12-18T18:31:00.000-08:00

For those of us who love our canyon dearly, seeing a Laguna home on fire up on the hillside brings back flashbacks of pain and sorrow. Tonight, our hearts go out to the family that lost their home this afternoon, at 650 Mystic View.

An article by the OC Register online can be found HERE.

This is also a good moment to be reminded of the absolute necessity of making sure that our appliances, holiday decorations, and all other potential fire hazards are properly secured in our homes. Watch out for those Christmas trees, and check on those space heaters during this chilly, wet week.

Though we are grateful for the rain and cooler temperatures which decrease the risks of fire out in the canyon, one should never forget how quickly our homes and canyon can go up in flames. Please take all precautions possible in your efforts to preserve our beautiful Laguna Beach.

The Gall of it All! ...at Little Sycamore Canyon

2008-12-15T14:09:00.000-08:00

Found a neat gall on Little Sycamore Canyon trail yesterday, 14 December 2008. Research has led me to believe that this is a Disholcaspis plumbella; Beaked Twig Gall Wasp, On a Scrub Oak (Quercus berberidifolia).

Laura Cohen at the Nix Nature Center wrote a lovely word document on galls back in October 2008, AVAILABLE HERE.

Trails will be closed until the rain and muddy conditions subside. Keep checking www.ocparks.com for park news and reopenings.

Early Blooming for Common Deerweed (CA Broom / Broom Lotus, Lotus scoparius)

2008-12-14T23:14:00.000-08:00

Early Blooming for Common Deerweed on Little Sycamore Canyon Trail today, 14 December 2008. Read article here: http://natureinorangecounty.blogspot.com/2008/12/early-blooming-for-common-deerweed-ca.html.

Stagecoach North Trail is Open

2008-12-14T22:29:00.000-08:00

NEWS! Stagecoach North Trail is finally open to the public. What does this mean?

A loop is now possible for hikers who want to start at the Nix Nature Center and go up Little Sycamore, up and along Serrano Ridge, down to Stagecoach North Trail, around to the lake, under the 133 back to the Nix. Bikers can now access the opened trail, probably making it possible to go further than before.

However, while this opening is great news to us who love to be outside, I am sadly disappointed... For today, while hiking along Serrano Ridge with the intention of going on this newly opened trail, I couldn't help but notice how noisy it all was - the cars whizzing by on the 133, the distant grumbling from the 5 and 405, plus all the side street traffic - I simply could not "get away from it all." In fact, with all of our urban conglomerations monopolizing the view, plus the newly ravaged section of the hills now bulldozed down to flat nothingness in preparation for new homes, there was little for the naturalist, the nature lover to get excited about.

So, before going any further towards Stagecoach North trail, yet after having passed up the entrance for "Rabbit Run," (an Irvine trail that is closed to the public), I decided to turn around and go back towards Little Sycamore, where the noise of our civilization faded back out into oblivion. As I looked down over the edge of the trail onto Stagecoach, which parallels for a long while the 133 as a large fire road, I was happy to be returning to the vantage points from which I could look out onto rolling hills and our sage scrub habitat.

Although I will say one thing in Stagecoach North's defense - or rather, the part of Serrano Ridge that leads to it - it gives the Southern OC native a nice overview of the area, from a new perspective. And it definitely leaves a lasting mark on your conscience - with all of that urbanization out there, and with so little wild land around it, it makes one wonder just where we are going with all of our new construction, and how much we are damaging our natural resources...

So, if you see me on the trails and want my advice on where to go, I will probably suggest you take Serrano Ridge to Camarillo Canyon, to Stagecoach South, or that you go to the Willow Staging Area on Laguna Canyon Road right after the stoplight at El Toro (heading south) and take Willow to any of the multiple trails up at the top. Those are the trails where, in my opinion, you'll find you can connect to nature the best.

To View All Serrano Ridge photographs, Please Visit Nature In Orange County's Photo Albums online - Serrano Ridge Photographs

Western Patch-Nosed Snake (Salvadora Hexalepis)

2008-12-14T17:29:00.000-08:00

Today on top of Serrano Ridge, at 1:45 PM, about 300 feet north from the intersection of Little Sycamore Canyon Trail and Serrano Ridge, a Western Patch-Nosed Snake crossed the road. It was no warmer than 58 degrees Fahrenheit, and with a little breeze, it felt a lot colder!

Estimated size was approximately 24 inches long at full extension.

Here is a bit of information about the Western Patch-Nosed Snake, taken from CaliforniaHerps.com (http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/s.h.hexalepis.html):

Nonvenomous

Considered harmless to humans.

Size

Salvadora hexalepis ranges in size from 10 - 46 inches long (25 - 117 cm). Most snakes seen will be around 26 - 36 inches (66 - 91 cm).

Appearance

A fast, moderately-sized slender striped snake with smooth scales, large eyes, and a large scale over the tip of the snout. Well-camouflaged, this snake is pale gray with a broad yellow or tan stripe down the middle of the back, and dark stripes on the sides. The top of the head is gray. The underside is cream, sometimes shading to pale orange at the tail end.

Behavior

Little is known about the natural history of this species. Active during daylight, even in times of extreme heat. Terrestrial, but may climb shrubs in pursuit of prey. Burrows into loose soil. Able to move very quickly. Their acute vision allows them to escape quickly when they feel threatened, making this snake sometimes difficult to capture during the heat of the day. When cornered, they will inflate the body and strike.

Diet

Eats mostly lizards, along with small mammals, and possibly small snakes, nestling birds, and amphibians.

Reproduction

Lays eggs, probably May to August.

Range

Occurs in California in the southeast, from the desert slopes of the mountains north to roughly Riverside County, south into Baja California and Sonora, Mexico, and east into southeastern Arizona.

Habitat

Inhabits open arid and semi-arid areas - deserts, brushland, grassland, and scrub in canyons, rocky hillsides, sandy plains.

Taxonomic Notes

There are four subspecies of Salvadora hexalepis, with three occuring in California: S. h. hexalepis - Desert Patch-nosed Snake, S. h. mojavensis - Mohave Patch-nosed Snake, and S. h. virgultea - Coast Patch-nosed Snake. S. h. deserticola - Big Bend Patch-nosed Snake, which occurs in the Southwest, is recognized by many taxonomists as a unique species, Salvadora deserticola, leaving them to recognize only three subspecies of Salvadora hexalepis.

Conservation Issues (Conservation Status)

None.

Jepsonia, Nightshade, Bees and Scat Beetles

2008-12-09T19:48:00.000-08:00

This morning I just could not resist stopping by the Nix Nature Center to take pictures of the Jepsonia, Nightshade and Scat Beetles that I had noticed on Monday (yesterday). Many of us LCF volunteers were put on alert for the Jepsonia sighting - for it is quite a rare flower for the canyon - Click on this link HERE to see the photos of Coast Jepsonia!

HERE are the new photos of nightshade, now forever in the NIOC Photo Database!

HERE are some photos of bees on beautiful California Encelia, right out in front of the Nix Nature Center.

And, to top things off, HERE are some lovely scat beetles, enjoying a yummy breakfast. They've been working at that piece of scat for quite a while now.

Tracks at Emerald Canyon Road

2008-12-01T14:56:00.000-08:00

Hiking Down Emerald Canyon Road this morning was a blast! So many fun tracks to see! :)

Click on this link to access Nature In Orange County's Tracks Photo Album.
Click on this link to access Dick Newell's website, OC Trackers.

Friendly Lizard Photo Shoot

2008-11-30T19:19:00.000-08:00

At the Willow Staging Area today, a friendly Fence lizard allowed me to do a photo shoot of him!

Where's the lizard?

Here he is! (Click on the Photo Below to Access Our Lizard Photo Album!)

Birding Hike at Willow

2008-11-30T19:07:00.000-08:00

This morning at 8 AM, a lovely group of people met at the Willow Staging Area in Laguna Canyon for a Birding Hike led by Paul Klahr and John Heussenstamm, as was advertised on Laguna Canyon Foundation's Events Page at: http://www.lagunacanyon.org/events.html

Sunday, November 30
8:00-10:30 a.m.

Birding Hike
Spot fall and migratory birds with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteer naturalist Paul Klahr and bird expert John Heussenstamm on this hike through one of the most diverse plant communities in the United States. Bring binoculars. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Willow Canyon Staging Area (20101 Laguna Canyon Road, just south of El Toro Road intersection). Reservations required: 949-923-2235. Parking: $3.

They went up Laurel Canyon and down Willow, and had a great time! By the end of the hike, John and Paul said that they had seen about 22 different birds!

Of particular note were the Canadian geese that flew overhead at 9 AM!

To check the upcoming Laguna Canyon hikes, click HERE.

With A Month's Rain in 6 Hours, Laguna Canyon Trails are Closed

2008-11-26T08:38:00.000-08:00

What rain we got last night! All OC Wilderness parks close down for anywhere from 48-72 hours following 0.25 inches of rain ~ you can expect the Laguna Coast Wilderness to be closed for a few days, with more than 1.54 inches falling down last night.

Take a look at the amount of rain that poured onto Orange County from 9 pm on 25 November to 5 am 26 November, as seen in THIS ARTICLE:

Yorba Linda: 1.93 inches

Huntington Beach: 1.81 inches

Corona del Mar: 1.81 inches

Costa Mesa: 1.85 inches

Westminster: 1.69 inches

Newport Coast: 1.65 inches

Brea-Olinda: 1.57 inches

Laguna Canyon: 1.57 inches

Laguna Beach: 1.54 inches

Irvine: 1.38 inches

Laguna Niguel Lake: 1.38 inches

Villa Park Dam: 1.34 inches

Garden Grove: 1.26 inches

Santa Ana: 1.28 inches

Anaheim: 1.22 inches

San Juan Capistrano: 1.22 inches

El Toro: 1.22 inches

Upper Oso Creek: 1.22 inches

Upper Harding Canyon: 01.10 inches

Upper Silverado Canyon: 1.02 inches

Coto de Caza: 0.91 inches

---> Keep in mind that OC's November Rainfall Average is 1.31 inches!

OC Parks Are Closed Due to Muddy Conditions today. You can check the status of OC Parks Closures at: www.ocparks.com

Laguna Canyon Foundation is on Facebook!

2008-11-16T22:26:00.000-08:00

Want to know what's going on in Laguna Canyon? (Of Course!)

Want to meet some really fun people, and join a community of volunteers, docents and naturalists? (YES! YES! YES!)

Check out Laguna Canyon Foundation on Facebook, HERE:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Laguna-Canyon-Foundation/31600053858

Don't throw your cigarettes out the window!!!

2008-10-21T18:28:00.000-07:00

There must come a point in time when people, young and old alike, will start to take care of their surroundings.

When they will stop littering and look for a trashcan.
When they will stop spilling their oil into the ocean.
When they will do everything that they can to convince lawmakers to approve of and enforce clean energy laws.
When they will realize that we don't inherit the earth from our ancestors, but borrow it from our children (old Indian proverb).

We are the only ones who can take care of this land. Stewardship must be on our minds at all times - simply because our happiness and well-being depends on the happiness and well-being of the earth!

So, tonight, I address myself to the young brunette driving the Silver Toyota Corolla S, with the Laguna Beach parking sticker in the left corner of her tinted back window, CA license plate 5RFA827, who threw her burning cigarette out of her window while driving north on Laguna Canyon road right after turning around Big Bend, just one week after the big Fire Alerts in the canyon.

Miss, I do acknowledge that using the ashtray in your car might stink your car up a bit. It might mean having to clean out the ashtray once you're back home. Or getting on some kind of smoking schedule where you don't smoke in the car but before/after your trips. But chucking your well-lit cigarette out the window in the canyon isn't worth it - you're putting an entire community of people, plants and animals at risk of death, destruction, and long-lived negative consequences. And frankly, that's a situation that I don't appreciate being put in.

Which is why I tried my best to extinguish your cigarette under my car's two left tires, why I wrote down your license plate, and why I am writing this post tonight.

Let us truly answer the call of responsibility - think before acting - and protect to our best ability the natural resources that we are so blessed to have.

All OC Parks Reopened; Red Flag Warning Remains

2008-10-14T20:43:00.000-07:00

From the www.ocparks.com website: http://www.ocparks.com/newsroom/default.asp?Show=1001885&subshow=A

All Parks Reopened; Red Flag Warning Remains

Four parks closed due to high winds on Monday.

by Marisa O'Neil, Public Affairs Manager on 10/14/2008

Four OC Parks facilities that closed due to high winds reopened to the public on Tuesday morning.

Rangers on Monday closed Laguna Coast and Aliso & Wood Canyons wilderness parks and Irvine and Santiago Oaks regional parks as a fierce Santa Ana windstorm blew across Orange County. Though the parks reopened on Tuesday morning, the County remains under a red flag warning, meaning a high fire danger, until 6 p.m. Tuesday night.

Park visitors are asked to exercise caution and to remain aware of their surroundings. Report any wind damage, smoke or fire to the Park Ranger.

Rangers will be keeping a close eye on areas of dry brush.

Monday's windstorm damaged trees and signs in some OC Parks.

Check your park of choice's page on this site for the most up-to-date information on conditions and closures.

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park CLOSED - RED FLAG WEATHER

2008-10-13T09:33:00.000-07:00

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park is closed until further notice due to adverse weather and red flag warning conditions. For more information: http://ocparks.com/lagunacoast/

Please be vigilant when driving through the canyon - there is a high risk of Fire - no throwing your cigarettes out of your car window! (Why would you throw anything out your window, anyway?)

How many cars drive through Laguna Canyon daily?

2008-10-08T22:15:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered just how many cars pass through Laguna Canyon daily, on Laguna Canyon Road?

CAHighways.org says the following:

"There are 29,000 cars that use the road each day in 2006; in 2020, that number will swell to 32,000 to 56,000 cars a day. The road was originally a stagecoach route."

(http://www.cahighways.org/129-136.html#133)

A PDF showing data from 1990 to 1998 shows daily averages of around 39,000 cars... as we can see here: www.lagunabeachcity.net/community/visionlaguna/ataglance/vlgl-pg13b.pdf

While these numbers shouldn't surprise me (considering all those cars that I see in the canyon) THEY DO...

Who wants to carpool?

How to Get Involved - Adopt-A-Park Program

2008-10-01T09:21:00.000-07:00

Ok, so you're driving past the parks of Orange County, walking on the beaches, or just watching the grass grow in your front yard, and then it hits you - you feel the need to get involved in the natural community! You're not sure when, where, or how... but you know that it would feel great to meet new people, discover the natural history of your surroundings, and help promote an increased awareness of OC's resources.

If you turn to the internet for guidance, I suggest visiting Adopt-A-Park, OC Parks' Volunteer Program, which serves over 30 OC Parks facilities in Orange County. Here are a few Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Adopt-A-Park, taken directly from the Adopt-A-Park Volunteer Manual:

What does it mean to Adopt-A-Park?
As an Adopt-A-Park volunteer, you can assist with beautification of over 39,000 acres of spectacular resources. We want you to help in preserving and maintaining the natural beauty and allure of these distinct landscapes and facilities, striving to maximize the outdoor experience for locals and visitors alike.

What can I do as an Adopt-A-Park Volunteer?
There are many ways you can be a part of our Adopt-A-Park Volunteer Team. From being a trail monitor, to creating a new trail; Planting gardens to maintaining present ones; Staffing an interpretive center to leading nature walks for visitors, the possibilities are endless.

There are many perks in being an Adopt-A-Park Volunteer - besides the obvious joy in working in/for nature with other like-minded individuals, you often get free access to the parks (no parking fees), expense reimbursement, formal and informal recognition - and the Adopt-A-Park program carries Volunteer insurance.

If you are looking to make a difference in your community, to add more joy into your life, and to connect with nature in Orange County, this is an excellent way to go!

(All information has been taken from the Adopt-A-Park Volunteer Manual; the author of this post is, as of the posting date of 1 Oct 2008, not affiliated with Adopt-A-Park in any way. Please contact Adopt-A-Park directly for more information on their program. Thanks!)

Rain and Photos from Wood Canyon

2008-09-29T17:49:00.001-07:00

Well, looks like we got our first real rain in a long time here today in Southern Orange County!

Yesterday, Sept 28th, I went to Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park and took some more photographs of the plants along the trail... I also got some nice insect and snake shots!

After taking about 80 high-resolution shots from that little walk, my photo albums on Picasa have increased in size (and there are a lot of plants that I still need to identify... bear with me, it's a lot of work!) You can see the increase in volume here: Nature In Orange County's Photos.

On September 27th, the Laguna Canyon Foundation had their Volunteer Orientation from 9-1:30 at the Nix Nature Center. What a wonderful group of volunteers, rangers and staff! Everyone had a great time learning about the various volunteer possibilities - from trail maintenance and native plant restoration, to participating in the various hikes, tours, and events, there was something for everyone to get excited about! For more information on the next orientation, visit: http://www.lagunacanyon.org/

Make sure to check out www.natureinorangecounty.com to access Nature In Orange County's BLOG and WEBSITE! And thanks for checking in with us here, too!

Laguna Canyon - The Blog

Following the Rains: New Volunteers, Flowers, and Spring

Aspire to An Awe Filled Life - by Bette Lee

New observations at the Park

More Poetry Contributions!

Dat Guy is at it again! :)

New Poetry Contributions!

Jim von Tungeln

Patricia Minassian

Naturalist Training Course Starts January 13, 2010

"Asphalt Jungle to the Back Country – A Journey" by Dat Guy

Update at the Dilley Preserve - 30 October 2009

"In All Her Glory" - Acrylic on Canvas by W. Bradley Elsberry

Volunteer Voices: Chuck Wright

Laurel Loop Update: 24 October 2009

We are Back on the Blog - and So Are You!

California Coffeeberry, Stinking Gourd, and Mysteries at Aliso and Wood Canyons Park

Natural History Lecture Series at the Orange County Great Park

October 8 and 22, 20097:00 PM, at Second HarvestFree Parking & Admission

Lecture Schedule

Destruction of Wildliife Habitat Next to Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

The Results are in for Laguna Beach's Coastal Cleanup Day (9-19-09)

CPR and Wilderness First Aid Training at Willow Staging Area, 09-19-09

Volunteer Orientation A Success!

Become a Volunteer for the Laguna Canyon Foundation

Laguna Canyon Foundation's Volunteer Orientation

Full Moon Hike at Willow

California Coastal Cleanup Day : September 19th

Our Canyon Inspires! Cardoons by Candice Bohannon

Local Artist: Rachel Uchizono

Laurel Sumac's Developments and More

The latest observations from Len Gardner

Quarterly California Coastal Commission Adopt-A-Beach Cleanup in Laguna Beach: Saturday June 20th

Full Moon Hike at Willow, Laguna Canyon

Weekends at the Nix Nature Center Insect and Arthropod Day, June 7, 2009

"Imprints" by LCF Naturalist Gigi Logan

Some Really Cool Crawlies (& Bugs/Butterflies) in Laguna Canyon

Fall Color - California Style: An essay by Len Gardner

Deer at Willow, Western Toads at Barbara's Lake (+ important Petition to sign re: Closing of 200 CA State parks)

Tarantula Hawk & Tarantula on Laurel Canyon Trail in Laguna Canyon, Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

Lower Laurel Trail, Monday 18 May 2009

Little Sycamore Trail on Monday, May 11th 2009

Willow - Bommer Ridge - Old Emerald Trail - Emerald Canyon Road - Old Emerald Falls - Moro Ridge - Bommer Ridge - Willow!

Plants in Bloom Update

Laguna Canyon's Insects =)

Rattlesnake Crossing Bommer Ridge on 28th of April - cool video!

Laguna Canyon Foundation at Soka University's International Festival, May 2, 2009

Triple Value Passport to the Arts - the Laguna Beach Passport

Update on Mary's Trail / Little Sycamore Canyon

Cooler Temperatures in the Canyon & LCF on Facebook!

Be Aware - Rattlesnake killers on the loose

The latest and greatest in Laguna Canyon

85 Degrees at Willow - a Lizard's Paradise! & New Photos!

Project BudBurst & the USA National Phenology Network

Len's Update - Lower Laurel's Sanicle and Early Birds

Lizard Love at the Nix Nature Center

Out at Dilley on a Rainy Day

What's Neat about Ground Pink

The Importance of Sharing Observations With Others - Retrieving Bird Band Numbers

Good Bobcat Photos

Parrots & dogs, big & small - Not Allowed!

The new Wave of WAVs comes in for Laguna Canyon Foundation! Yay!

More Flowers in Bloom - South Stagecoach

Red-Tailed Hawk it is :)

Out at Willow on a Sunday Afternoon

Village Laguna & No Plastic Bags in Laguna Beach!

The South Coast Wilderness Educational Program - Laguna Canyon Foundation

Plantago Erecta (California Plantain) also in bloom

More Flowers in Bloom in the Canyon! :)

Still doubts on the bird seen Wednesday

More plants in bloom

Correction : it's a juvenile osprey! :)

Peregrine Falcon in Laguna

Little Sycamore / Serrano Ridge Update

Update on Laurel Canyon's Plants in Bloom

With the Rain, More Blooms

What's In Bloom : Feb 1, 2009

Plants in Bloom: January 29, 2009

Fiddleneck in bloom at Willow

Milkmaids (Cardamine californica) are in bloom at Aliso and Wood Canyon

October 8 and 22, 2009
7:00 PM, at Second Harvest
Free Parking & Admission