Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve [Peak Lupine!]

Last year’s Lupine Superbloom peaked around June 1st (photo). This year is not a lupine superbloom, but there are still stunning pockets of mini and midi-blooms, and lots of other plants are going off now, as well, including a massive bloom of Yerba Santa. Sorry for the last minute post, but I did not expect the lupines to be so far along — join us this weekend or get out there yourselves ASAP! I’m posting a shorter hike Saturday afternoon and a longer hike for Sunday morning.

If you’ve ever wondered what a flower garden on the moon would look like, come find out within our local moonscape of the Sand Hills ecosystem. Even better, our lush moonscape also sports fields of aromatic herbs, rare endemic plants such as the Santa Cruz Wallflower, headwaters of Laguna Creek, and plenty of air to breathe.

Saturday, 4pm: 3-5 miles, 300-600’.
Sunday, 10am: 5-10 miles, 700-1,000’.
(Attendees decide, within these ranges.)
No bathrooms, minimal cell signal, no fees!

Carpools always recommended — arrange in Event Chat.

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The Reserve was badly burned during the CZU fire … which … fertilized the soil with ash, and triggered the so called “fire followers” to sprout. Tragedy, followed by bounty. The unique Sand Hill ecosystem hosts a variety of rare plant life, including the endangered Santa Cruz Wallflower, which we caught blooming wildly, here.

You can see many of the interesting plants we spotted on an earlier trip by clicking on Photos at the bottom of our event page, here.

If you use a plant ID app, or other reference work, please bring them. You can download iNaturalist, which has plant and animal ID tools, here.

For our approximate route (we will add a side trail or two), click here.

Event music: Chick Corea/Stanley Clarke/Airto Moreira et al.

Legal Disclaimer: The organizers and hosts in this group are not professional guides, and each person who signs up for a trip, meetup or outing is responsible for his or her own safety and the safety of his or her guests and property. Outdoor activities are inherently hazardous. By signing up for this hike, or any other event organized by this group, you are acknowledging that you are aware and have made your guests aware of the risks, dangers and hazards associated with vigorous outdoor activity and freely accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers and hazards, and further agree to release and discharge “Connect Outdoors”, the organizer, assistant organizers, event organizers and event hosts of this Meetup group from and against any and all liability arising from your and your guest's participation in the group activities. As always, this is a “Participate at your Own Risk” event.