Natural History Wanderings

Santa Monica Mountain National Recreation Area just published a new wildflower report. .  The posting is for the Sandstone Peak Trail at the Circle X Ranch.
Circle X Ranch       Sandstone Peak Trail       Date: 12/10/2011

“We hiked to the peak yesterday with a group who came to hear Ranger Mike’s presentation on the geology of the area. Along the way we of course watched for and chatted about flowers. We still are not seeing many of the new season’s annuals in bloom but there was a nice scattering of chaparral currant and up near the top there were a few manzanita in bloom. It might be still too early to recommend this trail for flower watching but the vista of the ocean and the valley behind was well worth the trip (to say nothing of Mike’s excellent presentation.) It is worth noting that we saw a few stray shooting stars in bloom near the Mishe Mokwa trailhead.  – ed.”

Go to their website to see all of their reports: http://www.researchlearningcenter.org/bloom/