Spring - Santa Clara Divide

[Tom Kenney]

Did a quick ride up Magic Mountain (almost to the summit) this afternoon. Spring is making a nice showing up there.


View up Pacoima Canyon - Mount Gleason background-left, Mount McKinley center, Mount Lukens background-right.
"Everything's so f***ing GREEN!!!" (From the Brittish, and much funnier, version of 'Death at a Funeral')


Yellow Ceanothus at the cistern switchback west of Magic Mountain


Yellow Ceanothus close-up


Wallflower close-up


Paintbrush close-up


Coyote Mellon close-up; I noticed something odd when I looked at these flowers...some have 4 petals, some 5, and some 6.

[JeffH]

I like that yellow ceonothus, it grows all over Mt Baldy road too. Used to bloom in May but now seems like it's April every year.

[Tom Kenney]

Hi, Jeff...

I think I misidentified that one. My mom always told us it was 'yellow ceanothus', but when I look up 'ceanothus' I get the california lilac (purple). I'll try to find out exactly what this is and get it corrected.


Cheers!

Tom

[Huff and Puff]

The "yellow ceanothus" is Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum). It is commonly found along the side of the roads in disturbed areas and is in bloom this time of year.

[Huff and Puff]

The "Coyote Melon" is actually Wild Cucumber (Marah macrocarpus).

[mattmaxon]

The "yellow ceanothus" is Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum). It is commonly found along the side of the roads in disturbed areas this time of year.

Spanish Broom is an invasive non-native http://www.cal-ipc.org/ip/management/ip ... er=182.php

[Mike P]

Yup. Spanish Broom = bad deal.

[mattmaxon]

Yup. Spanish Broom = bad deal.

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74147.html

[Sean]

I've only seen white or blue/purple ceanothus. It's blooming all over the Barrett-Stoddard Road right now.