San Gabriel Mountains Heritage Association a California 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation

HIKES AND NATURE WALKS IN THE SAN GABRIELS Walks on the Wild Side, Fall-Winter, 2008-9 November 19, 2008 Marshall Canyon Directions: 210 Freeway to Fruit. North on Fruit to Baseline. Baseline to Esperanza. Right at Esperanza to Stephens Ranch Road. Right at Stephens Ranch Road toward Marshall Canyon Golf Course. Continue past GC to top of hill and around to where the road splits. Turn sharp right up an unpaved road to parking lot. Enjoy the views there. This is coastal sage scrub habitat on the south and west facing slopes, some remnant walnut woodland on the north and east facing slopes and low elevation riparian woodland in the canyon bottom. Quite a mosaic. The season is fall when it looks its worst, having gone a long time with no rainfall or fog drip; still we found beauty. Graham's photos made plants like tumbleweed in bloom look gorgeous. Tumbleweed also called Russian thistle, Salsola tragus, on the Marshall Canyon Trail. Photo by Graham. California aster, Lessingia filaginifolia, on the Marshall Canyon Trail. Photo by Graham. California walnut, Juglans californica var. californica, in fall color. Photo by Graham. Coast Live Oak, Quercus agrifolia, providing shade in the canyon bottom. Photo by Graham. Black sage, Salvia mellifera, got its name from the dark color of its flower stalks at this season. Photo by Graham. Our very own endemic, San Gabriel Mountains Leather Oak, Quercus durata var. gabrielensis. The dense golden hairs on the curved, toothed leaf pick up and hold the dust of this season. Photo by Graham. What we saw: 1. Three Black and White Birds; their sounds, their silhouettes 2. Three Eucalypts and their bark 3. Fall colors from members of the Anacardiaceae family with two sets of look-alikes Tail End pages created November 19, 2008 Walks on the Wild Side, Fall-Winter, 2008-9 Back to Index Page The mission of the San Gabriel Mountains Heritage Association is to provide support for environmental education, interpretive and heritage programs on the Angeles National Forest. For how you can help, please call the USFS Mt Baldy Visitor Center at 909 982 2829. In partnership with USDA Forest Service