Tadpoles on Display at Seasonal Pond at Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa in Newbury Park

The seasonal pond next to the parking lot at Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa in Newbury Park is still looking good after several months of solid rainstorms this winter. We discovered there are tadpoles galore in the pond and the kids were just mesmerized by them. In the latter part of this footage, the kids decided to "save the tadpoles" that were stuck in mud pit cut off from the main pond. We also discovered tiny frogs, the same size as the tadpoles. 

GREAT TRAILS AND HIKING IN AND AROUND VENTURA COUNTY

Turtles Enjoying a Fine Spring Day at The Commons at Calabasas

There must be hundreds of turtles hanging out at the pond area of The Commons at Calabasas, enjoying the spring weather, swimming, sunning and bantering with their koi friends. Quite amusing!

The only other place that comes to mind with this many turtles is Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens in Santa Barbara.

Let us hope the teenage turtles in this bunch do not become mutant and ninja-like in nature.

All this talk about turtles makes me think about tortoises too, including the 90+ year old Galapagos Tortoise, "Clarence," at America's Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College.

Compilation of Conejo Valley Scenes Before and After the 2017 Rains

Here is an updated compilation of scenes around the Conejo Valley from before and after the 2017 winter rainstorms.  More on local hikes and trails throughout Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Newbury Park and Greater Ventura County at THIS LINK.

Here are the scenes in this compilation:

• Dos Vientos towards Boney Peak
• Mountclef Ridge above Wildwood Park
• Picnic table near Hawk Canyon Trail
• Wendy Trail behind Satwiwa Center at Rancho Sierra Vista
• Boney Peak from Rancho Sierra Vista
• Wildwood Park towards Lizard Rock
• Los Robles Trail towards central Thousand Oaks
• Angel Vista Peak towards Newbury Park
• Dos Vientos from Potrero Ridge Trail
• Olympia Farms in Rancho Potrero
• Western Plateau towards Oxnard Plain
• On horseback in Rancho Potrero
• Hawk Canyon/Western Plateau Trail Sign
• Mountclef Ridge from Tarantula Hill
• Tarantula Hill from Los Robles Trail East
• Hidden Valley Overlook in Rancho Sierra Vista
• Autumn Ridge Trail in Lang Ranch Open Space
• Los Robles Trail looking east
• Lone Oak in Rancho Sierra Vista

Green Meadows and Hills and Wildflowers on Display in La Jolla Valley, Point Mugu State Park

The La Jolla Valley Natural Preserve is located in Point Mugu State Park, in the west end of the Santa Monica Mountains. The La Jolla Valley was acquired by the State of California in 1966 and was established as a Natural Preserve in 1972.

The area can be accessed via the .7 mile, but very steep Chumash Trail in Point Mugu (strenuous but the quickest approach), via the La Jolla Canyon Trail (which has been closed since January 2015 due to mudslides), or in a roundabout way, via the Ray Miller Trail. Or you can hike there from Rancho Sierra Vista in Newbury Park, which would be something in the neighborhood of 6 to 8 miles, depending on route.

In any case, the area is spectacularly beautiful right now in March 2017 after the winter rainstorms. If you are looking for peace and quiet, green hills and wildflowers, this is the place for you right now.

Spring Flowers and Green Hills at Charmlee Wilderness Park in Malibu

View of Zuma Beach to Point Dume State Beach from Charmlee Wilderness Park.

Charmlee Wilderness Park, a 532 acre park at 2577 Encinal Canyon Road in Malibu, is a "must visit" for anyone who lives in the local area. Located in the Santa Monica Mountains, its eight miles of trails dispersed through 532 acres of land provide unbelievable spectacular views of Zuma Beach to Point Dume in particular.

The Park is also blossoming with wildflowers and is green as can be in March 2017 after our significant winter rainstorms.

Park hours are 8 a.m. to sunset and the nature center is open on weekends from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (or dark, whichever comes first). Parking is $4.

Green envelopes the trains here in early March 2017.

From Charmlee, I noticed this beautiful flower display on a hilltop home and had to take a pic and post it to Instagram. Little did I know that this is apparently Caitlyn Jenner's hilltop home.

Wildflowers in Full Bloom at the Ray Miller Trail in La Jolla Canyon, Point Mugu State Park

Note: This was posted in March 2017. We stopped by in 2018 and 2019 and there was not an abundance of flowers on the trail these years.

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We knew this was coming. A sea of orange and purple wildflowers in La Jolla Canyon at Pt. Mugu State Park in northwest of Malibu. It may take you about a half an hour to get there from Thousand Oaks, but it is well worth stopping by the Ray Miller Trail in La Jolla Canyon to catch a glimpse of these colors. More on the Ray Miller Trail at THIS LINK. Directions from Thousand Oaks at THIS LINK.