Oh hey there, little valley oak! It’s been a while since I sketched you. Previously here and here.
Tag: malibu creek state park
Chrysocus cobaltinus
This iridescent little beetle (about 8mm long) was on a milkweed plant at the Park yesterday. So bright and metallic!
Both adult and larvae C. cobaltinus life stages eat dogbane and milkweed species. These plants contain toxic molecules known as cardenolides, which the beetle is resistant to. In fact, it stores the cardenolides in its glands, and uses them against predators.
Cobalt Mikweed Beetles are similar to click beetles in being able to launch themselves a couple of times the length of their body. Little but mighty!
Lilium humboldtii
This week in the PerpJo: Humboldt’s Lily. We SMM hikers look forward to these all year, and exchange notes on where they are blooming. So nice to see some today!
junior rangers
No sketching today, because I’ve spent all day on the Junior Ranger Adventure Guide. Nearly ready to go to print!
field ecology weekend
Every year, the Malibu Creek and Topanga Canyon Docents gather for a weekend of camping, outdoor education, and camaraderie, known as Field Ecology Weekend. I’m just home from the 38th Annual FEW. Speaking as one of the organisers, it was everything we hoped it would be.
Lost Cabin Trail
I created this page a few weeks ago for our Park docents’ newsletter. Now that it’s been published, I can post it here. A rattlesnake and a mountain lion on the same hike, that was pretty exciting!
Quercus lobata
I spent all day indoors at the Park, in a first aid class. It was so nice to emerge into the late afternoon sunshine, and notice the new leaves on the valley oaks.
Coast live oak
Superfast (maybe 2 minutes) paint-only sketch.
creek/paddle
There’s so much water flowing in our mountains at the moment. It’s such a joy to poke around in it and get a little (or a lot!) wet.
lion talk
Notes from a presentation by the Cougar Conservancy, part of our continuing education as docents at Malibu Creek State Park.
