Woodland Clarkia (Clarkia unguiculata)

Written by Diane Beauton

As beginner hikers we are discovering the hidden beauty of the back roads in our own community. What's most exciting is when you stumble across and are rewarded with a bit of nature that has a little more history behind it than most, such is the case with the Woodland Clarkia.

But keeping the reader in suspense let me tell you about the this needle in a haystack first.

This variety of Clarkia is cataloged as an annual herbaceous plant (simply put, it's an herb) that is native only to California. It is also known as Elegant Clarkia and Elegant Fairyfan for it's delicate and wispy petals.

This particular species name unguiculata means "little red claw or nail" and refers to the narrowing shape of the petals where they connect to the flower head.

Belonging to the Onagraceae (Evening Primrose Family), this plant is toxic,

so although this plant is cataloged as an herb, medical uses are unknown as is the possible hazards to your health. Naturalist consume at your own risk!

Its colorful, spidery-looking flowers showcase as a variety of colors, ranging from white to vibrant purple to soft pink to bold crimson. This wildflower would be a compliment in any garden.

Now for the 'needle in the haystack' of history. Its variety name Clarkia is named after Captain William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

The following excerpt is taken from one of there journals (original spelling) after making it to the Pacific Coast in 1805:

"I met with a singular plant today in blume," wrote Meriwether Lewis on June 1, 1806, "of which I preserved a specemine. It grows on the steep sides of the fertile hills near this place." He described the root, stem, branches and leaves, and finally the parts of the delicate flower:

...The corolla superior consists of four pale perple petals which are tripartite, the central lobe the largest and all terminate obtusely; they are inserted with a long and narrow claw on the top of the germ, are long, smooth & deciduous. There are two distinct sets of stamens the 1st or principal consists of four, the filaments of which are capillary, erect, inserted on the top of the germ alternately with the petals, equal short, membranous; the anthers are also four each being elivated with it's fillament, they are linear and reather flat, erect sessile, cohering at the base, membranous, longitudinally furrowed, twise as long as the fillament [and] naked, and of a pale perple color. the second set of stamens are very minute, are also four, and placed within and opposite to the petals. These are scarcely persceptable while the 1st are large and conspicuous; the filaments are capillary equal, very short, white and smooth. the anthers are four, oblong, beaked, erect, cohering at the base, membranous, shorter than the fillaments, white, naked and appear not to form pollen....This has the appearance of a monopetallous flower growing from the center of a four petalled corollar."

Above is the dried specimen of the "singular plant" that Lewis collected and was named in 1814 by botanist Frederick Pursh. named Clarkia pulchella.

We had a difficult time identifying this one so we requested the help from another plant lover who identified it for us. We want to thank Sharon Nixon a.k.a. 'Birdmom' for her assistance.

Bush Monkey Flower (Mimulus aurantiacus var. aurantiacus)

Written by Cindy Nunn

This little beauty was photographed while hiking the Corriganville Trails, located in Simi Valley, Ventura County, California. It is commonly called the Bush Monkey Plant, or Mimulus aurantiacus, and is considered a honey plant pollinated by bees and hummingbirds. Certain native American Indian tribes, like the Miwok and Pomo, used the flowers and roots of this plant for its medicinal purposes and it was particularly good for healing minor scrapes and burns.

Deerweed (Lotus scoparius)

Written by Diane Beauton

Deerweed is a perennial shrub in the family Fabaceae (pea family). It is also known as California Broom or Western Bird's-Foot Trefoil. Deerweed is very similar in appearance to the garden variety many of us have in our gardens, known as Witches Broom (Cytisus scoparius).

The plant thrives in dry areas of California, Arizona, and Mexico, but it is commonly found in many coastal sand roadsides.

This common stringy bush of green, yellow and reddish-orange has been sighted on every trail we have traveled, and made it's colorful show in most of our photographs.

The stems are erect and somewhat fork-like, with small leaves consisting of three to six leaflets. The yellow clustered blossoms appear between March and August. The fruit pods are curved and have two seeds.

Notice the bright array of colors of the Deerweed mingling with the other natural flora ~ it's beautiful in every appearing.

Click to enlarge to see all the radiant color.

Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)

Written by Diane Beauton

Milk Thistle is also known as Holy Thistle, Silybum, Blessed Milk Thistle, Carduus Marianum, Our Lady's Thistle, Wild Artichoke, Lady's Thistle, Marian Thistle, Shui Fei Ji, Mediterranean Thistle, St. Marys Thistle, just to name a few.

This plant was spotted during the Mothers Day hike in Las Llajas Canyon, Simi Valley, Ca. Characterized by sharp needle like leaves, it's best to admire from a distance or the lens of a camera. The leaves are very distinctive, with white marbling on the shiny green leaves. Botanists beware... Look but don't touch!

Although found in some gardens, it is illegal to sell or buy milk thistle in many states such as Washington State because it is highly toxic to livestock when consumed in large quantities. California reports up to 4 tons per acre in heavily infested areas.

Milk Thistle is also used as an herbal remedy for cleansing the liver and used to treat the effects of ingesting poisonous mushrooms.

Leaping Lizards! - Corriganville Hike

My sister and I chose Corriganville Trail for our hike this morning. This particular area has been a favorite location for filming movies since the 1920's. While heading back down the trail towards the trailhead we spied these two lizards on a fallen log. At first it looked like they were either preparing to fight or mate, but they are two different types of lizard. It soon became evident that the larger of the two was trying to avoid the smaller one and he began to HOP and JUMP to avoid him. Finally, he jumped completely over the little guy. It was the strangest thing we have ever seen a lizard do! Fortunately my camera also has a video feature. If anyone can identify this lizard we would be grateful.

California Mutual Benefit Colony of Chicago

Written by Diane Beauton

Cindy and I have started a new chapter in the book of our lives. What started out as a walk for health three times a week has metaporphosed into a new hobby for fun and fitness.

Exploring off the beaten paths, dirt trails and historical points of interest has led us to a more exciting journey down the corridors of history and a growing interest to capture it in the view of our lens.

Our first venture was the oldest cemetery in Simi Valley, where the last remnant of the 1889 settlement also know as 'Simiapolis' are laid to rest. A small graveyard with a portion of it fenced off to cradle some of the oldest citizens of Simi Valley. This group of adventurous pioneers headed West across prairie, mountains and desert to reach a promised paradise filled with honey, wild tobacco, wheat fields, lush farm land and artesian springs; a place in 1889 known by some as The Simi and The Tapo.

A group of business men and Doctors who called themselves the California Mutual Benefit Colony of Chicago was responsible for painting the picture of this western utopia into a promise land to which some heeded the call. The California Mutual Benefit Colony of Chicago moved 12 prefab houses by train to the Simiapolis. To this date one house has been restored, historically known as the Strathern House and another is still occupied bya local resident.

Back at the cemetery we found a lone Civil War Veteran belonging to the NYHA (New York Heavy Artillary Regime), who fought in the War of the Great Rebellion. But for now our interest was awakened for two women in the Old Pioneer part of the cemetery. While many families are scattered about, Jamima Vose and her daughter Hester lay side by side. Cindy being the awesome genealogist and relentless snope has already begun to dig up little to unknown morsels of information on mother and daughter.

Their story begins as a puzzle of a few pieces, yet we already have enough to give us a glimpse into the past lives of these two courages pioneer women.

Hester Sophia Vose and her daughter Edith left Pennsylvania and settled in the new Simiapolis circ. 1893, 4 years after the first settlers arrived. It appears Hester was a widow when she ventured out to make the treacherous journey West with her daughter. It's not yet known how she arrived here, but if anyone can find out it will be my sister.

We do know that Hester served as The Simi's postmistress and telephone operator in the little community from 1893 until 1903 in one of the oringal 'Colony Houses' railed in from Chicago in 1888.

As for Jamima, it looks as if she joined her daughter sometime circ. 1897 to 1900 after her husband F.D. Vose, high constable in the city of Wilkes-Barre, died.

As more information unfolds on Jamima Vose this article will up edited and updated.

Happy Camp Trail - Honey Bees and Mustard Flowers

Written by Cindy Nunn

On Friday our plans to hike the Brea Canyon area were stymied due to difficult access, so we changed plans and headed for the Happy Camp Trail, located in the hills about 3 miles north east of the little town of Moorpark, which is bordered by Simi Valley. Although not a particularly strenuous hike it was n enjoyable one. Unlike other canyons and trails in the area Happy Camp is fairly tame and level, with only a few gentle rising grades. The area is alive with Western Fence lizards, birds, squirrels and bees, LOTS of bees! Most of the flora consists of various types of sage, like white, button and blackball, as well as sumac, greasewood and wild buckwheat. The most prolific plant is the bright yellow flowered mustard plant. All of these plants together display a gorgeous riot of color to the wild landscape.

In 1890 Ninetta Eames visited the area and wrote an article about her impressions in Overland monthly and Out West magazine, entitling it Autumn Days in Ventura. She specifically mentions the thirteen hundred stands of bees at Happy Camp, and also shares with us the fact that the honey from the Simi Valley apiaries was considerest "the clearest and best honey in the world."

Is it any wonder that our hike on this trail was accompanied by the constant drone of bees busily working away at collecting honey? These, no doubt, are the descendants of those original bees mentioned in the article more than 120 years ago.