Oleanders and Wildflowers
Spring Wildflowers may have largely dried up in most areas of San Diego County, but in the cooler coastal enclaves such as Cabrillo National Monument and Torrey Pines State Reserve, several kinds remain. Look for paintbrush, purple nightshade, coreopsis, sea …
Grunion on the Run
Grunion Runs are predicted to occur during the late evening hours (generally after 10pm and before 1am), following the nocturnal high tide, May 28 through 30. The small, silvery grunion tend to spawn on wide, gently sloping beaches such as …
May Tides, Merry Moon
Highest Tides this month, measuring +6.3 feet, occur on Wednesday, May 26 at 8:41pm, and also on Thursday, May 27 at 9:19pm. The lowest tides of the month, measuring -1.2 feet, occur on Thursday, May 27, at the inconvenient hour …
Rabbits, Rodents, and Blooming Flowers
Rabbit and Rodent population is peaking in the canyons and hillsides of coastal San Diego County. In many neighborhoods, car headlights illuminate the rear ends of scampering cottontail rabbits making raids on succulent garden vegetation. On the fringes of suburbia, …
Grunion Runs Under a Crescent Moon
Grunion Runs are predicted to occur during the late evening hours (generally after 10pm and before 1am), following the nocturnal high tide, May 14 through 16. The small, silvery grunion tend to spawn on wide, gently sloping beaches such as …
Wildflower Bloom
San Diego's Coastal Wildflower Bloom continues practically unabated this year owing to late-season rains in April. On north-facing slopes and in shady canyon bottoms, where the sun's drying effects have not yet taken hold, look for native red monkeyflower, blue-eyed …
Chamise, Buckwheat, and Wild Lilac
Chamise and Buckwheat, two of the most common native flowering plants in San Diego County's sage-scrub and chaparral plant communities, are in flower this month through June. Chamise, also known as greasewood, readily sprouts from root crowns after fire. Since …
Silk Oaks and Monkey-Flowers
The Silk Oak Tree, a fast-growing import from Australia, comes into short-lived glory this month. Golden flower clusters decorate the silvery-green branches, an effect that is particularly stunning when seen in contrast to the blue-blossoming jacaranda trees often planted nearby. …