We took an early stroll the day before Thanksgiving, 2015 in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area through a little 200 acre gem of a park.
Rocky Oaks Park is a short drive away from the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles.
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Sunlight in the early morning plays through the oaks, pines, and rocks of the park.
Rocky Oaks Park is located in the 31500 block of Mulholland Highway west of the Kanan Road
intersection. The entrance is on the north side of Mulholland Highway. Take the Ventura Freeway (U.S. 101) to Kanan Road. South on Kanan Road
to Mulholland Highway. Turn west (right) on Mulholland Highway and right
again into the parking lot.
GPS Coordinates: N 34.0967 W -118.8141
Nice, well maintained trails. Dogs allowed on leash. Water available. Meeting circle, ranger area under the oaks.
It's late spring in the mountains of Southern California.
On the way up to see Chilao Visitor Center off the Angeles Crest Highway (CA State Highway 2), we were struck by the sharp beauty of the native yucca plants in blossom.
See this Yucca plant right along the highway!!
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The light streams through the dense blooms putting many orchids to shame.
Without this bit of water flowing down to the ocean, many native plants and animal species would find it very hard to make it during a California drought season.
The park is located four miles south of Highway 101 on
Las Virgenes/Malibu Canyon Road.
Or 6.5 miles north up Malibu Canyon Road from Malibu and Pacific Coast Highway {California Highway 1}.
Native Oak Trees
From the Malibu Creek State Park website...
Campsites
Hiking Trails
Horseback Riding
Some Accessible trails
Dogs on a leash are allowed in the Park's day use areas and campground.
Dogs are not allowed on the backcountry trails or dirt roads.
DAY-USE ACTIVITIES & FACILITIES
Historical/Cultural Site
Picnic Areas
Environmental Learning/Visitor Center
Exhibits and Programs
Interpretive Exhibits
Excellent Nature & Wildlife Viewing
OTHER FACILITIES & VISITOR INFORMATION
Pay Parking
Restrooms / Showers
Drinking Water Available
The S. Mark Taper Foundation, Life Science Botanic Garden on the campus
of Pierce College in Woodland Hills is a gem of a Hidden Garden. Tucked between classroom buildings, it demonstrates how native plants and creative people can transform a barren lawn into habitat even in the middle of a college campus. HD
red mountain sage
I remember taking a class in the computer science building bordering, what was then, a large grassy area with a few trees. Now the two acres of land seem twice the size as planted landscaping and trees break-up the views. Anna's hummingbirds dive and swoop over bright blooms of red mountain sage (Salvia darcyi) and red-eared sliders lounge on water lilies.
The Pierce College Botanical Garden is a showcase of
plants from climates like our own that have hot dry summers and cool,
typically wetter, winters. It is a wonderful place to see the beauty of
California native plants and how important they are to wildlife. And, like any quality botanical garden, plant species are identified with signage so you can search out species for your own garden.
This garden in a living laboratory and classroom. Students wander in and out observing the dragonflies for a moment before continuing on to class. Some stop to talk in quiet alcoves or study on the numerous benches.
An extra attraction is the "Evolution Walk." The main walkway through the garden, the "Evolution Walk" measures out time from the Cambrian to the present. Each six inches represents a million years. Have a hard time remembering what plants and animals lived when? Here is a visual representation with the imprint of animal and plant life in the walkway for the period in which it lived. I love this walkway.
Definitely a Hidden Garden worth seeking out.
bog sage
Look For:
Native California and Channel Island plants, as well as additional drought tolerant species from other Mediterranean Climate Zones
Water features: a pond and sculpture with bog plants
Variety of mammals, birds, reptiles, dragonflies and butterflies (Including California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi); Anna's hummingbird (Calypte anna), western scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica), introduced red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans), western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis), multicolored darner (Aeshna multicolor), white checkered-skipper (Pyrgus albescens) and monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus).
"Evolution Walk" with fossil and other life form traces imprinted into the walkway for each time period
Special Opportunities: It surprised me, but I spotted California quail (Callipepla californica) in the garden. The pond and native plants create an island of abundant life despite the human activity. This is a place of discovery right off the Metro Orange Line, an opportunity for anyone to experience wildness in the San Fernando Valley. The Specifics:
Open - Daily, 8 AM to Sunset; Free to the public
Parking - Ample, but there is a fee weekdays: $3 for all day from the self-pay dispensers or $2 with a visitor pass obtained at the Sheriff's office on campus. Parking is Free on weekends or holidays. The Metro Orange Line runs just north of the campus. The Winnetka stop will put you closest to the Botanical Garden.
Restrooms - Adjacent in the public campus buildings
Kid Friendly - This is a wonderful outdoor classroom space. Visitors should keep in mind, however, that during the week classes are taking place in the surrounding buildings.
Accessibility - The main pathway is wheelchair friendly, however some unpaved areas may be a challenge to navigate.
Dogs - Dogs are not welcome on campus
Restrictions - Parking can be limited when semesters begin, especially in the morning. Ongoing construction can make it appear that entrance to the garden is fenced off. It is not. You can reach the garden by following the signs.
