Plants on Garcia Trail - 5-9-11

See Garcia Trail Description on Dan’s Hiking Pages

See Plants and Wildflowers in the San Gabriel Mountains at Dan's Hiking Pages

What plants might you find along Garcia Trail above Azusa? Since this trail is so close to my house, it’s a convenient venue for me to observe plant life. I’ve photographed plants on Garcia Trail for several years now throughout different seasons, but below is a snapshot of the plants from a single day in May. Some of these plants are in the middle of their blooming season and others are at the beginning or end.

I’ve not been on my local Garcia Trail since January, so I was eager to hit the trail for a little pre-vacation exercise and to scope out the plant life. The weather was cloudy and cool, making nice conditions and ideal lighting for plant photography. I started the hike at 11:34 and immediately starting photographing plants. Up the trail was a crew from LA County fire camp 16 performing much-need trail maintenance. I arrived at Azusa Peak at 1:22. Someone has attached a Christian flag to the cross and the mailbox that was used for a summit log is gone. Still cloudy and cool with some breeze. I continued to photograph plants on the way down and finished the hike at 2:54.

I’ve displayed the plants below in the order in which I photographed them, with the hollyleaf cherry starting the return trip just below Azusa Peak. For more information about any of these plants, simply copy the scientific name and Google it.


Fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum) / Grass family (Poaceae)
Non-native, invasive. / Annual grass. Blooms July to October.


Moth mullein (Verbascum blattaria) / Figwort family (Scrophulariaceae)
Non-native (Eurasia) / Perennial herb. Blooms May to September.


Deerweed (Lotus scoparius) / Pea family (Lamiaceae)
Native / Perennial herb (shrubby bush). Blooms March to August.


Prickly-pear cactus (Opuntia littoralis) / Cactus family (Cactaceae)
Native / Shurby, succulent. Blooms May to July.


Cliff aster (Malacothrix saxatilis) / Sunflower family (Asteraceae)
Native / Perennial herb. Blooms most of the year.


Golden yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum) / Sunflower family (Asteraceae)
Native / Small perennial shrub. Blooms April to August.


Blue elderberry (Sambucus Mexicana) / Honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae)
Native / deciduous tree or shrub. Blooms March to September.


Wild cucumber (Marah macrocarpus) / Gourd family (Cucurbitaceae)
Native / Perennial herb or vine. Blooms (tiny white flowers) January to April.


Western thistle (Cirsium occidentale) / Sunflower family (Asteraceae)
Native / Biennial herb. Blooms April to July.


Everlasting (Gnaphalium spp.) Sunflower family (Asteraceae)
Native / Annual or biennial herb. Blooms January to July.


Wild morning glory (Calystegia macrostegia) / Morning-glory family (Convolvulaceae)
Native / Perennial vine. Blooms March to June.


Showy penstemon (Penstemon spectabilis) / Figwort family (Scrophulariaceae)
Native / Perennial herb. Blooms April to July.


Common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) / Sunflower family (Asteraceae)
Navtive / Annual herb. Blooms most of the year.


Caterpillar phacelia (Phacelia cicutaria) / Waterleaf family (Hydrophyllaceae)
Native / Annual herb. Blooms March to May.


Southern honeysuckle (Lonicera subspicata) / Honeysuckle Family (Caprifoliaceae)
Native / Vining shrub. Blooms April to June.


Brittlebush (Encelia farinose) / Sunflower family (Asteraceae)
Native / Shrub. Blooms March to July.


Yucca (Yucca Whipplei) / Lily family (Liliaceae)
Native / Subshrub. Blooms March to June.


Blue dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum) / Lily family (Liliaceae)
Native / Perennial herb. Blooms February to May.


Hollyleaf cherry (Prunus ilicifolia) / Rose family (Rosaceae)
Native / Shrub or tree. Blooms February to May
Seeds and leaves are poisonous.


Douglas nightshade (Solanum douglasii) / Nightshade family (Solanaceae)
Native / Perennial herb. Blooms most of the year.


Clematis or Virgin’s bower (Clematis ligusticifolia) / Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae)
Native / Woody vine. Blooms January to June.


Wild Radish (Raphanus raphanistrum) / Mustard family (Brassicaceae)
Non-native / Annual herb.

Some of the other plants blooming along Garcia Trail today which are not included here are mustard (yellow), filaree (purple), California buckwheat (cream), and tree tobacco (yellow).

See Garcia Trail Description on Dan’s Hiking Pages

See Plants and Wildflowers in the San Gabriel Mountains at Dan's Hiking Pages
 

Colby Trail Hike - April 30, 2011

See Colby Trail Hike Description at Dan's Hiking Pages

Earth Day celebrations by the City of Glendora occasioned heading over to Colby Trail for a docent-led hike. I was eager to see what is in bloom and particularly get a look at the endangered thread-leaved brodiaea (Brodiaea filifolia). I had also received an email this week from a hiker who told me there were new trail signs with mileage notations that were different from what I have posted on my website. So of course I'd want to check that out. Since my wife had the car for the weekend, I rode my bike to nearby Glendora.

I arrive at the trailhead at the upper end of Loraine Avenue at 11:15 and immediately start photographing the beautiful stand of matilija poppy that graces the trailhead gateway. Just then my friend, Dr. Ann Croissant, who leads the Glendora Community Conservancy, drives up. They do a great job in stewarding the trail and surrounding open space. As we chatted, a group of hikers led by Bob Bennett finished a hike. Bob is on the conservancy board and is an ISA certified arborist. Shortly, two ladies join us and so the four of us began sauntering up the trail.

As an arborist, Bob has an immense knowledge about trees and was generous in pointing out various tree facts as we strolled along.

On the brodiaea reserve, Candy gets a close-up shot of the brodiaea in bloom. Thread-leaved brodiaea (Brodiaea filifolia) is an endangered plant protected by both federal and state governments. Its presence at this location is the reason this area was saved from the bulldozers and preserved as open space.

Now heading east toward the “berm.” Bob points out some trees that they planted a few years back.

Open space is a good thing! After Bob shows us the vernal poor and some other interesting things in this area, we head back. At the junction we part ways at 1:25 as they return to the trailhead and I continue up the main trail. The weather is gorgeous and the views out over the valley are striking. I enjoy strolling along and taking pictures. The non-native grasses are already turning yellow. I’m pleased with a beautiful stand of grape soda lupine to photograph. It really does smell like grape soda. I’m delighted to discover an occurrence of the tiny scarlet pimpernel. My first encounter with it was last week at Rancho Santa Ana, so it’s great to find it in the wild. I finally reach Glendora Mountain Road at 3:00, covering a whopping half mile since parting with the group at 1:25. It’s not a lot of mileage but I shot 290 pictures in that span. Love digital!



View south from Glendora Mountain Road

I turn around and head down. At the junction, 260 feet below GMR, I turn left and take Colby-Dalton Trail, which descends east .47 mile to Little Dalton Wash. It’s really a beautiful trial with rich vegetation. The down side is that once at the bottom, one has to climb a paved service road up to the berm trail. But I enjoy the scenery and exercise.

4:02 - Finish my hike. Glad to see my bike still chained up. I had originally hoped to check out more of the Earth Day festivities, but since they ended at 3:00, I’m out of luck. I enjoy a pleasant bike ride home.

See Colby Trail Hike Description at Dan's Hiking Pages