Hillcrest Open Space in Thousand Oaks is Abloom in Mustard and Lupine

The hilly Hillcrest Open Space Preserve is covered yellow and purple in a display worthy of view. In fact, I’ve never seen this much lupine in one place in my 25+ years in the Conejo Valley. The Hillcrest Open Space main trailhead is not the easiest place to access due to the lack of any parking on Hillcrest Drive in that area, but there’s also another entry point highlighted in THIS POST. You will also enjoy the colors just driving by.

Not particularly the best trail for young kids as it is one of the hillier trails in the area. But not a problem for some. (On that note family and stroller-friendly local area trails at THIS LINK.

Lots of yellow going on around here (achoo!)

Just a small smattering of poppies in the Hillcrest Open Space.

Annual Flower Display off the Westlake Vista Trail at Triunfo Creek Park

Triunfo Creek Park was hit hard by the Woolsey Fire in November 2018. After several months of solid rains in February and March, color is making a reappearance at the park.

I was trying to identify specifically what these tiny little flowers are and I think Chris Rowell of Newbury Park correctly nailed it down to California Goldfields (Lasthenia californica). These ones are seen adjacent to the fence on the west side of the park that lies adjacent to the Las Virgenes Reservoir.

If you do visit, like with other wildflowers, please do your best to enjoy them without trampling on them. That way we can all enjoy them each year! :)

The Stagecoach Trail at Wildwood Park also has a patch of these pretty yellow flowers.

Beautiful Poppy Display on the East End of Corriganville Park in Simi Valley

Corriganville Park on the east end of Simi Valley suffered extensive damages in the Woolsey Fire of November 2018 and was closed for a couple months before reopening in mid-January. It is now mid-March, and while portions of the burnt area are clearly evident, there is a very special orange poppy display on the east hill of the park that is attracting many local residents.

In my visit on Saturday, March 16th, I encountered smiles on everyone’s faces. With the sights and sounds of the 118 up in the distance, these beautiful poppies brought a sense of community and joy to those present.

Corriganville Park is located at 7001 Smith Road in Simi Valley. From Thousand Oaks, take the 23 north to the 118 east. Take the Kuehner offramp and turn right to Smith Road and Corriganville Park.

The park is named after Ray “Crash” Corrigan, a stuntman/actor who owned the park from 1937 to 1965, when over 3,500 movies, TV shows and commercials were filmed there. In 1949, the Corrigan Movie Ranch opened as a Western-style amusement park with a train ride and stagecoach ride; in fact, in the late 1950s the Ranch had greater weekend attendance than Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm!

Annual Poppy Display in the North Ranch Open Space, Thousand Oaks, on March 16, 2019

Superbloom or no superbloom, this beautiful poppy patch off the Bowfield/Saddle Pass Trail in the North Ranch Open Space in Thousand Oaks has been blooming this time of year for years. The hills to get up here are not for everyone e.g. they are steep - but to me are worth it for this view orange beauty.

Annual Coreopsis Display at Point Dume Natural Preserve in Malibu in Full Bloom

The Coreopsis are in full bloom at Point Dume Natural Preserve and are worth going out of your way for. Sweetening the deal this week was the migration of Painted Lady butterflies, stopping for a snack.

Every year, March is the time to visit Point Dume to enjoy the peak blooming of the flowers, combined with beautiful blue skies and ocean, seals, dolphins, on occasional whale and other scenes. You’re really missing out if you’ve never visited this fantastic local destination.

To get to Point Dume State Beach, take Westward Beach Road southeast from PCH near Zuma Beach's south side to the paid parking area (or park on Westward Beach Road and walk the length of the parking lot, about half a mile, to the trailhead)

Point Dume Natural Preserve is protected land, so do stay on marked paths and enjoy your surroundings with your eyes only. The stairs/steps from the parking lot at Point Dume State Beach are a bit uneven and worn down, so do be careful with the little ones.

There’s a platform with seating on the southernmost side of the bluff where you can enjoy viewing the sea life.

The trailhead at the end of the parking lot at Point Dume State Beach

View from the top towards east side of Point Dume Cove

The view west towards Zuma Beach from the top of the bluff.

Painted Ladies getting in on the Coreopsis action.

Rare Snow Experienced in the Conejo Valley on Thursday, February 21, 2019

A rare appearance of snow was enjoyed in many sections of the Conejo Valley yesterday, fed very cold temperatures and a storm that migrated here from Canada. There were reports of brief snow encounters by folks in Agoura Hills, Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Newbury Park, Calabasas and other cities, including Malibu!

At my home, there was rain, there was sleet, and then there was snow. The snow appeared briefly before melting away.

Snow appeared on the mountain like magic, just a couple hours ago (facing Newbury Park, from Westlake Village) #socalsnow ❄️✨❄️✨ pic.twitter.com/MBVuYeWwyb

— Kristine Keller (@ScarletLark) February 22, 2019

According to the National Weather Services Forecast Office Los Angeles/Oxnard, “the last significant and widespread measurable snow in the Los Angeles and Ventura County valleys was on February 8, 1989, when up to five inches of snow fell in portions of the San Fernando Valley westward to Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley.”

It was a wonderful, memorable sight.

When There's Rain, There's Usually a Rainbow in the Conejo Valley

It’s been raining almost nonstop throughout Ventura County since last Thursday through today, Super Bowl Sunday and anticipated for another day or two. When there’s rain, there’s a rainbow awaiting. Here are some beauties.