Category Archives: trails|topanga state park

drought, nature, nature|wildflowers, photography, photography|wildflowers, running, trails, trails|malibu creek state park, trails|smmc open space, trails|topanga state park, weather, weather|southern california

Finally — a Few Wildflowers!

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Bush sunflower

As of March 1, Downtown Los Angeles had recorded only 1.99 inches rain over the past eight months. Most of that was recorded in one storm in early January. It was the second driest July 1 – February 28 on record.

Following the January storm, temperatures warmed up and stayed relatively warm for much of the next 30 days. In the West San Fernando Valley the high temperature hit 89 °F at Pierce College on February 4, and was over 80 °F for 12 consecutive days. Some plants (and some rattlesnakes) responded as if it was Spring.

In mid February Winter returned, with cool daytime temperatures and cold nights. There were Frost and Freeze Warnings on several nights.

In March the ridiculously resilient ridge of high pressure over the West Coast finally relented, resulting in above normal rainfall. It took awhile, but the March rain and April sun eventually produced an assortment of wildflowers.

Here are some wildflower photos from recent runs at Ahmanson Ranch, Malibu Creek State Park and Topanga State Park.

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nature, nature|clouds, nature|weather, photography, photography|landscape, running, running|adventures, trails, trails|topanga state park, weather, weather|southern california

Sunrise and Clouds – Santa Monica Mountains

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The first rays of sunlight illuminate the ridge tops, fog and clouds in the Santa Monica Mountains.

The first rays of sunlight illuminate the ridgetops, fog and clouds in the Santa Monica Mountains, following an overnight rainstorm.

From Saturday’s run to Temescal Peak and through a very wet Garapito Canyon.

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nature, nature|wildflowers, photography, running, running|adventures, trails, trails|topanga state park, weather, weather|southern california

Tall Grasses, Wet Trails

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Water droplets on grass near Temescal Peak

When I emerged from Garapito Canyon my shoes, socks, shorts and shirt were soaking wet. A group of hikers were nearby and one asked if it rained while I was down in the canyon. It hadn’t, but it might as well have.

Our wetter than normal rain season has produced a lush crop of annual grasses — some as tall as waist high — that have overgrown sections of many local trails.

Water droplets from overnight rain on the feathery styles of Chaparral Clematis
Water droplets on the feathery styles of Chaparral Clematis.

Overnight, light rain had coated every blade of grass and every leaf and limb of brush along the Garapito Trail with water droplets. Running through the wet grass was like passing through the wet brushes of a refrigerated car wash.

I happened to be wearing Gortex-lined running shoes, which was laughable considering the amount of water that had run down my legs and into the shoes. They were just as wet as if I had waded through a creek. Well-fitting gaiters might have helped, and at least would have kept the foxtails out of my saturated socks.

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