Buena Vista Park Hike (April 1, 2013)

Trail map of Buena Vista Park. We hiked around the perimeter, about 2-3 miles. It's a fairly small park but rich in chaparral and oak groves. Beware of poison oak, however, especially near the creek!

• Links:
• http://www.cityofvista.com/departments/parks/parks_and_facilities.cfm
• http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2012/dec/26/roam-buena-vista-park-arroyo-vista-trail/
• http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/mar/23/tp-get-closer-to-nature-with-buena-vista-park/

--Male red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus). 

Ah, spring is in the air. Red-winged blackbirds are permanent residents across much of the U.S. They love wetlands, which, as shown here, is where this guy is perched. The red bars on the male wings become brighter in spring to attract mates. 

• Links
• http://map.sdsu.edu/group2007spring/group2/New%20World%20Blackbirds%20and%20Orioles.htm
• http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-winged_blackbird/id

Scarlet Gilia, Scarlet Skyrocket, Scarlet Trumpet, Skunk Flower - Ipomopsis aggregata

This plant is in the phlox family. Hummingbirds love it, as do moths. Apparently, this plant emits a foul odor, which is why it's sometimes called "Skunk Flower". However, this gorgeous, scarlet-red flower with its trumpet base is breath-taking.

• Link: http://uswildflowers.com/detail.php?SName=Ipomopsis%20aggregata

--View of the park from the top, midst lots of thick, dense chaparral growth.

--View of the trails that extend around the park. 

--Any ideas what these are? Tiny, little yellow wildflowers, hiding low to the ground. Only 4 petals per flower. My best guess is: Sierra Suncup (Camissonia sierra). Member of the primrose family.

• Link: http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Camissonia+sierrae

--Prickly Pear Cactus in bloom. The flowers come in a variety of colors from red to white to yellow. I love cacti. It's amazing that they can survive in such harsh, hot, arid desert conditions.

--Oak tree (one of many) in Buena Vista Park (Coast Live Oak- Quercus agrifolia)

California oaks are one of our state's sacred trees. There are 8 different species in California. They form delightful oak groves among the grasses, providing homes for a myriad of wildlife. 

• Links:
• http://www.hastingsreserve.org/oakstory/OakID.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_oak_woodland
• http://www.laspilitas.com/groups/oaks/california_oak1.html
• http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/history/la-as-subject/the-oak-trees-of-southern-california-a-brief-history.html

--So many gorgeous views of oak trees, plants, rocks, NATURE!

--Juneau (foreground) and Travis--partners in crime--splashing in a creek after running through thick shrubs of poison oak. 

--Fuschia-Flowering Gooseberry (Ribes speciousum)

I actually thought this was some sort of strange, southern California species of bleeding hearts. Upon some research, I discovered that it's actually a flowering gooseberry shrub. This guy is native to California and Baja. Hummingbirds love this flower. 

• Links:
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribes_speciosum
• http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/fuchsiafloweredgooseberry.html?3e3ea140

--another spectacular oak tree

--grove of eucalyptus trees (definitely not a native Californian species). These trees, originally from Australia, were brought to southern California by settlers, who were looking for ways to shade the hot climate, as well as start a eucalyptus industry that never took off. 

• Link: http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/history/la-as-subject/who-eucalyptized-southern-california.html