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!!
HD
The light streams through the dense blooms putting many orchids to shame.
Looking for easy hiking terrain and great views of Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley?
Mulholland Drive / Hwy is a famous road in Los Angeles. It winds its way from the Hollywood Hills overlooking downtown, along the ridge of the Santa Monica Mountains and eventually to the sea near Leo Carrillo Beach. But a section has never been paved and is maintained as a fire-fighting access road. The wide dirt road is closed to vehicles and makes for easy walking with fantastic views.
HD
Walk the southern end of Mulholland's unpaved section with us in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
Take in the colors of the chaparral hillsides. Keep your eyes open for wildlife, especially birds. And be amazed by the spring wildflowers even in a drought year.
Golden stars (Boomeria crocea) are a native California chaparral wildflower, most closely related to lilies. The small amount of rain we had this spring was enough to encourage these ephemeral blooms to send up a flower stalk.
Other chaparral wildflowers: coyote mint, buckwheat, bush monkey flower, and more. The manroot or wild cucumber (Marah fabaceus) is one of California's few native vines. It produces lemon-sized prickly seed pods that dry and burst open to spread the seed. The entire vine dies back, but the root lives on underground. Sometimes reaching the size of a person. It's a perfect adaptation for survival in a land of summer drought.
The dirt road is open to people, dogs, and horses.
Rattlesnakes can be present. For the safety of dogs and wildlife, PLEASE
keep dogs on a leash.
Take a hike into a California riparian habitat: Limekiln Canyon on the north edge of the San Fernando Valley. My friend Kerry introduced me to this oak glen and creek-side trail. In moments you leave the traffic behind and enter a peaceful edge of wildness.
native sunflower species
Especially in spring there are wildflowers–lupine, sage, and native sunflowers–and a variety of wildlife.
HP
Preserved between housing tracts, Limekiln Canyon has a scattering of introduced plant species, but still there are stately sycamores and coast live oaks helping to provide homes for resident species and migratory visitors.
western fence lizard
We spotted four species of native lizards–including scads of western fence lizards, nineteen bird species–including Bewick's wrens and a varied thrush. We watched a cottontail cross the old-road pathway and saw ten species of native butterflies.
Perhaps most exciting was the small Pacific tree frog or Pacific chorus frog (Pseudacris regilla) that we caught on video. Listen for their loud call that seems much too big for a frog about the size of the end of your thumb. Keep an eye open for the European honey bees that have taken up residence in an old oak tree. Most of all enjoy a walk through habitat shared by wildlife and humans.
Open Dawn to Dusk.
No drinking water or restrooms, but picnic tables available.
Trails unimproved, but old roads provide wide walking areas.
Dogs welcome on leash. Rattlesnakes can be present. Respect the safety of wildlife, keep dogs leashed.
