Trip Recap

On Sunday 5/29/16, nine hikers met trip leader Jonathan Frank at the parking area adjacent to the Torrey Pines Reserve Extension, just NE of Torrey Pines State Park. The weather was overcast but calm - great for hiking.

In addition to the iconic Torrey Pine, chaparral plants that are characteristic of maritime San Diego county were present, including Mission manzanita (Xyloccocus bicolor), wart-stem Ceanothus (Ceanothusverrucosus), and Del Mar manzanita (Arctostaphylosglandulosa ssp. crassifolia).

Late spring wildflowers included hooked Navarretia (Navarretia hamata ssp. hamata), Canchalagua (Zetneravenusta), Coast Wallflower (Erysimum ammophilium) and Wallace’s tobacco (Nicotianaquadrivalvis). Three other flowering plants were quite in abundance:  Purple snapdragon (Antirrhinum nuttallianum), bee plant (Scrophulariacalifornica), and bush mallow (Malacothamnus). Additionally, the always showy scarlet larkspur (Delphinium cardinale) and Cleveland sage (Salvia clevalandii) were present in various spots to the delight of the group.

The group had fun identifying the numerous bird species as well. Overall a great trip with a nice group of enthusiastic hikers.