scenery along the Trans Preserve Trail
Monday, March 15, 2010
Santa Rosa Ecological Plateau - Chocolate Lily
Fritillaria biflora var. biflora
found on the Trans Preserve Trail
Santa Rosa Ecological Plateau - Johnny Jump Ups (5)
Viola pedunculata
found on the Trans Preserve Trail
Monday, March 08, 2010
Road Trip - 3/7/10
I took a drive on Sunday, 3/7/10, that started from Hwy 58 going up to Santa Margarita. There were plenty of wildflowers blooming (including a nice patch of Tidy Tips right by the onramp to the I-5) along the way, including Tidy Tips, Goldfields and some Red Stemmed Filaree, which was turning the hillsides a lovely shade of lavender in some spots. I also spotted some Phacelia near McKittrick, but I guess it is too early for the Phacelia yet. I didn't check out Carrizo Plain this time. I heard it was still pretty green there yet. I also spotted some nice patches of Shooting Stars and Popcorn Flower along the 58. Shell Creek Road wasn't very showy yet, but there are a few Baby Blue Eyes, Tidy Tips and a few California Poppies hanging around. Gonna make a return trip there maybe in a week or two.
My next stop was the Los Osos State Natural Reserve in (you guessed it, Los Osos). It is a nice little park with a few hiking trails amongst the old oak trees. (watch out for the poison oak...it is abundant, but if you stick to the trails, it won't bug you). The trails branch off here and there, and it is easy to get turned around, but since the park is right next to the road, you can find your way back pretty easily. It was muddy in a few spots, but not overall, it was in pretty good shape. Not many wildflowers here. I spotted a few Pitcher Sage, Miner's Lettuce and Sun Cups though.
Next was Figueroa Mountain. It was pretty breezy and kind of cold and overcast that day, so I didn't get many photos (plus I REALLY had to use the bathroom.....no bathrooms there until you hit the campground - lol). I did spot Johnny Jump Ups, Pitcher Sage, Goldfields, Shooting Stars, Chocolate Lilies, Blue Dicks, to name a few. No huge blooms yet though.
I continued up the coast on the 101 and then out to Hwy 1 all the way up to Torrance, then I headed back home. This weekend, I plan on heading to Anza Borrego Desert State Park, Santa Rosa Ecological Plateau, Malibu Creek, Solstice Canyon and maybe even the Pinnacles National Monument (and hopefully maybe up Carmel Valley Road...such a nice drive!!).
Until then, happy trails!!
Links to check out:
Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve
Los Osos Oaks
US Forest Service - Figueroa Mountain
GORP - Figueroa Mountain
California Wildflower Hotline
Carol Leigh's California Wildflower Hotsheet
My next stop was the Los Osos State Natural Reserve in (you guessed it, Los Osos). It is a nice little park with a few hiking trails amongst the old oak trees. (watch out for the poison oak...it is abundant, but if you stick to the trails, it won't bug you). The trails branch off here and there, and it is easy to get turned around, but since the park is right next to the road, you can find your way back pretty easily. It was muddy in a few spots, but not overall, it was in pretty good shape. Not many wildflowers here. I spotted a few Pitcher Sage, Miner's Lettuce and Sun Cups though.
Next was Figueroa Mountain. It was pretty breezy and kind of cold and overcast that day, so I didn't get many photos (plus I REALLY had to use the bathroom.....no bathrooms there until you hit the campground - lol). I did spot Johnny Jump Ups, Pitcher Sage, Goldfields, Shooting Stars, Chocolate Lilies, Blue Dicks, to name a few. No huge blooms yet though.
I continued up the coast on the 101 and then out to Hwy 1 all the way up to Torrance, then I headed back home. This weekend, I plan on heading to Anza Borrego Desert State Park, Santa Rosa Ecological Plateau, Malibu Creek, Solstice Canyon and maybe even the Pinnacles National Monument (and hopefully maybe up Carmel Valley Road...such a nice drive!!).
Until then, happy trails!!
Links to check out:
Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve
Los Osos Oaks
US Forest Service - Figueroa Mountain
GORP - Figueroa Mountain
California Wildflower Hotline
Carol Leigh's California Wildflower Hotsheet
Shell Creek Rd - Poppy
Eschscholzia californica
There were a few poppies out on Shell Creek Road. It is still a tad early for peak bloom yet.
Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve
Love these old looking oak trees. They look like something out of a scary movie.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Bryce Canyon National Park - Utah 2/12/10
I took a day trip to Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah last Friday, and it was just a beautiful drive....once I got to Utah (hehe). I left Bakersfield around 1:30 am on Friday morning and arrived in Bryce Canyon just before 10:30 am. It was COLD....on some parts of the drive, it got down to 9 degrees, but when I got to Bryce, it had "warmed up" to a nice, toasty 32 degrees. Actually, it wasn't too bad. The sun was shining, and as long as the wind didn't pick up and blow snow off the trees into my face, it wasn't as cold as I thought it would be. I did try to make a lil snowman, but I didn't bring mittens, so my attempts at snowman making fell a tad short - lol.
I had never been to Bryce Canyon in the winter before. I have been several times in the late spring, but this was my first winter trip. It won't be my last. There is something so peaceful and serene about a field full of fresh, untrodden snow, blankets of white covering the fields and mountains as far as the eye can see. I think, even though it was a long drive, the trip refreshed me. Roadtrips always seem to lift my spirits.
Bryce Canyon is a relatively small national park in southwestern Utah, near the towns of Tropic and Panguitch. Bryce Canyon was named after Ebenezer Bryce, who homesteaded near the canyon in 1875. He said of the canyon, "It is a hell of a place to lose a cow." On June 8, 1923 it was declared a national monument by Warren G Harding, and on February 25, 1928, it was officially declared a national park.
Bryce Canyon really isn't a canyon in the true sense. Canyons are normally carved out by rivers, whereas Bryce Canyon is carved out by a freeze-thaw cycle, and the resulting erosion has carved out Bryce Canyon's ampitheater into a strange looking "forest" of limestone rock fins, windows, slot canyons and spires called "hoodoos." Bryce Canyon sits at a rather high elevation of 8000-9000 feet, and the weather is always changeable, sometimes even getting snow in the summer.
The park is also abundant with wildlife, including black bears, mule deer, prairie dogs, mountain lions, gray fox, marmots, coyotes, elk and pronghorn antelope. Often in the spring, one can see pronghorn antelope with their young in the park, as well as bustling prairie dog towns. When I went, however, not much wildlife was present, probably due to all of the snow ;) The park is also an excellent place to stargaze, as the air is clear and there are no large light sources near the park, so the skies are very dark at night. There are also an abundance of hiking trails in the park, ranging from an easy stroll along the canyon's edge to more strenuous treks down into the canyon, where you can walk amongst the hoodoos.
I ended up going thru Zion National Park on the way back home. There was some snow left up past the tunnel, but not a whole lot in the canyon itself. Still, there was abundant wildlife on the scenic drive. I saw at least 12 deer and several wild turkeys in the canyon. It was near sunset when I arrived there, so I wasn't able to take many pictures in Zion. But there is always next time!
I left St George, Utah around 6'ish and got back to Bakersfield around 12:40 am on Saturday morning, tired but happy that I went.
Til next time.........happy trails!
Links to check out:
Bryce Canyon - National Park Service site
Bryce Canyon - WikiTravel
Zion National Park - NPS site
Zion National Park - WikiTravel
Bryce Canyon - Wikipedia
Utah.com - Bryce Canyon
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
Grab my blinkie if you wanna
(Click on the links below to go there.)
Click the moose to sign my Guest Book
My "pet"
Visit CALM
