Trip Recap

On Sunday 4/24/16, sevenhikers met at the parking area next to the Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary in Modjeska Canyon. The weather was nice as we walked a few minutes on the Harding Truck trail down to the wash which was historically part of the now dry Modjeska reservoir.

Following the rock-strewn stream as we went along, there were occasional times when the water pooled, allowing the group to see newts and tadpoles and even a garter snake. 

The area is highly diverse in plant life due to the merging of multiple habitat types including riparian, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and north-slop facing woodland.  The trip was a great opportunity to see many of the trees native to Orange County including live oaks, ashes, sycamores, California bay laurel and big leaf maple.  A variety of flowering shrubs were seen including Matilija Poppy (Romneyacoulteri), yellow bush penstemon (Keckiellaantirrhinoides var. antirrhinoides), and Fish’s milkwort (Polygala cornuta var. fishiae) .  A few interesting species of note were seen including a couple red skinned onion (Allium haematochiton) and Nevin’s bricklebush (Brickellianevinii)

Overall a great trip with a nice group of enthusiastic hikers.