On the Hunt For Wildflowers in the Conejo Canyons Open Space in Thousand Oaks

As of today, March 9, 2019, rain totals in Thousand Oaks for the 2018-2019 rain season stand at 14.64 inches. This is 22.7% higher than “normal” rainfall to date, driven largely by 6.2 inches of rain in the month of February. Rainfall in October through December 2018 was only half of normal rainfall totals for that time frame. (1)

With all that recent rain soaked into the ground, we’ll be on the lookout for wildflowers in the local mountains. The Conejo Canyons Open Space, also referred to as the Western Plateau, represents 1,430 acres of open space and trails in the northwest portion of Thousand Oaks.

To get to the area from Newbury Park, the trailhead to the Western Plateau Trail is located on Conejo Center Drive, to the left of the City of Thousand Oaks Hazardous Waste Facility south of Rancho Conejo Boulevard.

There’s plenty of parking in a dirt lot at the trailhead. This first mile to mile and a half is hilly and generally not the most interesting part of the trail, but during this Ireland-like green time frame, its not so bad. About .6 mile down is, or for the time being I should say was, the turnoff for the Hawk Canyon Trail - the trail was closed due to the Woolsey Fire and now is overrun by water. But at some point I’m sure the trail will be back.

The Hawk Canyon Trail marks the low point of the initial section of the hike, and it is uphill another .7 mile to the main Conejo Canyons area. Here, you can either turn off to the right to walk through the upper canyon or continue west towards an overlook with views towards the Conejo Grade, Oxnard Plain and Channel Islands.

You can also take the fire road up, and up, and up, another mile or so , to a peak where you’ll find the entry sign to the Lichen Trail. From here, you can continue down the other direction down the Lichen Trail or head back the way you came.

These trails can also usually be accessed from the Santa Rosa Road/Hill Canyon area via the Conejo Canyons Bridge - but the bridge was severely damaged in the Woolsey Fire and needs to be repaired. More details and maps on the Conejo Open Space Foundation website at cosf.org/trails/conejo-canyons.

(1) Ventura County Watershed Protection District

Hiking in the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve in Calabasas

Trailhead at northern end of Las Virgenes Road in Calabasas

The Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space is owned and maintained by the Mountains Recreation Conservation Authority. The 2,983 acres of open space was part of the Ahmanson Ranch in the Simi Hills of eastern Ventura County and western Los Angeles County, bordering the cities of Calabasas, Hidden Hills, West Hills, Bell Canyon, Simi Valley and Agoura Hills.  The land, purchased in 2003, is contiguous with the existing 2,650 acres of open space in the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon.

This is a vast space of rolling hills, native perennial grasslands, oak trees and woodlands. Two plant communities, Southern Coast Live Oaks Riparian Forest and Southern Willow Scrub, make up over 20 miles of riparian corridors in the park.

The Victory Trailhead at the eastern end of Victory Boulevard is the main entrance into the Preserve, with a large gravel parking lot (there is a fee).

There are two main trailheads into the area. The Las Virgenes Canyon Road Trailhead is accessed at the northern terminus of Las Virgenes Road. Offstreet parking is available here; there is no official parking lot or facilities. The Victory Trailhead is the main trailhead for the preserve, located at the western terminus of Victory Boulevard in West Hills. There is a large gravel parking lot at the Victory Trailhead, where parking (as of February 2019) is $3.

Excerpt of map posted at the Victory Trailhead

If you are looking for a hike of roughly 4 to 5 miles round trip, take the East Las Virgenes Canyon Trail that links the Las Virgenes Road and Victory trailheads. To explore more within the Preserve, check out the Lasky Mesa area southwest of the Victory Trailhead via the Mary Weisbrock Loop Trail. Or from the Las Virgenes Road trailhead, instead of heading east, continue north, where you can veer off into to the adjacent Cheeseboro Canyon area or find a loop that connects you back to the main trail. (See map for details.)

Peaceful and serene back here, albeit a bit dry.

While it can be quite dry during much of the year - particularly during times of drought - it sure greens up nicely after the winter rains (shown here in February 2019).

From a historical perspective, the Preserve was part of the 113,000 acre Rancho San Jose de Gracias de Simi tract granted to Javier, Miguel and Particio Pico by the King of Spain in 1795, later transferred to Jose de la Guerra y Noriega and sold in the late 1800s to Thomas R. Bard. Bard divided the Rancho into tracts to build homes.

The property was later owned by a William Randolph Hearst company, which unsuccessfully drilled for oil in the 1930s and later sold it to George E. Barrett, Jr. Barrett built a ranch here in the late 1930s. R. E. Crummer bought the property in 1949. H. F. Ahmanson Company bought the land in 1963 and failed in the 1960s in its attempt to develop the land.

In 1986, Ahmanson initiated a new attempt at a master-planned community centered atop Lasky Mesa and stretching across the surrounding hills and valleys. The Ventura County Board of Supervisors approved the project in 1992, but there were numerous opponents that ultimately led to the sale of the property to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy tin 2003. The public parkland was dedicated on April 10, 2004.

More information at mrca.ca.gov/parks/park-listing/upper-las-virgenes-canyon-open-space-preserve-formerly-ahmanson-ranch.

Another shot after lots of rain in February 2019.

Twelve Interesting Clubs in Ventura County That You May Not Be Aware Of

If you've clicked through this site you already know there are thousands of things to see and do throughout Ventura County, including over 100 local area clubs and organizations, service organizations, moms' clubs and charities of all types. Let's take a look at a dozen of local clubs that you may not have been aware of.

The Hawaii Club of Ventura County is comprised of members from Hawaii and people who want to perpetuate the spirit and culture of the Hawaiian Islands. The groups meets regularly. The next best thing to a trip to Hawaii.

Founded in 1992, the Camarillo White Horse Association records and maintains the lineage of the historic breed of famous Camarillo White Horses dating back to those bred and developed by Adolfo Camarillo.

Conejo Quiet Flyers is a club founded in 2008 for pilots of electric remote-controlled aircraft to get together and enjoy flying in the Thousand Oaks area.

The Conejo Valley Bonsai Society meets the 3rd Thursday of each month at Westlake Village City Hall. This is the only bonsai society in Ventura County.

The Marine Aquarium Society of Ventura County is a group of local reef hobbyists and enthusiasts who are dedicated to the support of reef keeping in the Ventura County area.

Stitch 'n Bitch Ventura County is for those who like to knit or crochet and live in Ventura County and nearby areas. Meetings in Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley.

The Ventura County Chess Club meets Tuesdays in Ventura and is open to all skill levels. Check it out, mate!

The Indian Friends Association is a non-profit organization of Indian Americans and others dedicated to fostering grassroots development in India. Is based in Ventura County.

The Ventura County Writers Club was founded in 1933 by four writers in the Ojai area. Since then the club has grown to more than 150 members, meets regularly and hosts annual contests.

The Ventura County Go Club provides a place for people to learn, play, or just watch the game of Go. Meetings in Camarillo are FREE and open to the public.

The National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors has a Ventura County chapter that meets monthly at Ventura College.

The Ventura County Comets Radio Control Flying Club has been around since 1965. All members must also be members of the Academy of Model Aeronautics.

Camarillo Ranch House in Oil Paint by Artist Linda Dark

Long-time resident and artist Linda Dark enjoys capturing local Camarillo scenes in oil paint. 

Built in 1892, the Camarillo Ranch House is a grand, three-story, 15-room home built by Adolfo Camarillo in the Queen Anne Victorian style. It was named to the National Register of Historic Places in February 2003.  Dark captures this local icon on a partly cloudy day.

I had taken this photo of the Camarillo Ranch House, independent of Linda, on another, conveniently partially-cloudy day.

To reach Linda, contact us.

Roadrunners in the Conejo Valley

The roadrunner is a chaparral bird that is a member of the cuckoo (Cuculidae) family of birds. They are found in the southwest U.S. and Mexico. These non-migratory birds live in mountainous shrubland, which is why you may seen them from time to time here in the Conejo Valley. These are great birds to have around, dining on insects (including tarantulas), snails, lizards and even rattlesnakes (because of their quickness, roadrunners are one of the few animals that dine on rattlesnakes).

Seen above is some brief footage of a roadrunner seen yesterday on Tarantula Hill and some other footage from Rancho Sierra Vista from last year.

Clear View of Anacapa Island from Newbury Park this Final Friday of January 2019

The coast was clear tonight as we viewed several of the Channel Islands from the Rancho Potrero Open Space this final Friday of January 2019. Perhaps the coast IS clear now that the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history ended today, January 25th. Or perhaps not. We will monitor the situation from one of our many perches with a view here in the beautiful Conejo Valley.

Old Mission Santa Barbara is a Cultural and Historic Local Landmark

The Santa Barbara Mission was established on the Feast of Saint Barbara, December 4, 1786 and was the 10th of 21 California Missions to be founded by the Spanish Franciscans. The Mission continues to be the chief cultural and historic landmark in the city of Santa Barbara. Home to a community of Franciscan friars, the Mission also has a retreat center with guest rooms, conference rooms, a fully equipped commercial kitchen and dining room, a beautiful church with a large and active parish, a museum and gift shop, a cemetery and mausoleum and ten acres of beautifully landscaped gardens.

The Santa Barbara Mission in July 2013

Old Mission Church, Santa Barbara (1876), by Carleton Watkins, via Wikimedia Commons

Mission Santa Barbara is California Historical Landmark No. 309. According to the California State Parks Office of Historic Preservation website: Portions of five units of its extensive waterworks, built by Indian labor and preserved in this part, are a filter house, Spanish gristmill, sections of aqueducts, and two reservoirs, the larger of which, built in 1806, is used today as part of the city water system. The fountain and lavadero are nearby, in front of the mission, and a dam built in 1807 is located in the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, one and one-half miles up Mission Canyon. Only ruins remain of the mission's pottery kiln, guard house, and tanning vats.

The Mission, located at 2201 Laguna Street, is open daily from 9am to 5pm. Admission for self-guided tours as of January 2019 is $9 for adults (18-64) $7 for seniors (65+) and active military (with ID) and $4 for youth ages 5-17. Parking is free.

Docent-led tours (approximately 60 minutes) on most Mondays through Fridays at 11 am and Saturdays at 10:30 am. Cost for docent-led tours is $13 adults, $11 seniors, active military and $8 for youth ages 5-17. Visit www.santabarbaramission.org or call 805.682.4713 to learn more.