tylerrathod's Journal

These observations were wildflowers on the Tequepi Trail, an 8 mile out-and-back 3,500 foot elevation trail near Lake Cachuma, which is about an hour outside of Santa Barbara.

Tree 1 - 1:41PM
1' 2' 3' 5' 8' 9' 13. (Group 8) 1. 2.
Bottlebrush Tree

Tree 2 - 1:45PM
1' 2' 3' 5' 8. (Group 7) 1' 2. 3' 4.
Macademia Nut

Tree 1 - 11:45AM
1' 2' 3' 5' 8' 9' 13' 14' 15' (not sure about this one) (Group 11) 1' 2. 3' 4' 5'
Elm

Tree 2- 11:49AM
1' 2' 3. 4. (Group 2) 1' 4. 5.
Cook Pine

Tree 1 (5:49PM)
1' 2' 3' 5' 8. (Group 7) 1' 2' 3' 4'
Oleander

Tree 2 (5:50PM)
1' 2' 5. 6. (Group 4) 1' 5. 6'
Umbrella Tree

Today I went to MDO again for observations, but I hiked along a trail that was farther from the ocean and much more forest-like. I was on a dirt trail surrounded by tall trees, with lots of short green grass-like plants surrounding their bases. I found a lot of the plant I observed had interesting textures, namely really soft/fuzzy leaves. As the trail made its way towards the ocean, I observed a few new plants there as well, and these were markedly different from the ones in the forest. I found the plants that resided in the sun near the ocean to be drier and more colorful than the green, moist, soft plants I observed prior.

As instructed, I am keying 2 trees from my iNaturalist observation. One has been identified already so I can verify that I am keying correctly, and the second is unknown.

1. Mexican Fan Palm
   Keying Process: 1' 2. (Palm Key) 1' 2' 11. 12' 13 '14'

2. Narrow-Leaf Peppermint
   Keying Process: 1' 2' 3' 5' 8' 9' 13. (Group 8) 1' 3' 4. 5' 7' 8' 9. 10' 11' 12.

Today, I observed a variety of plants and trees while on the Bloody Nose Trail at Montana De Oro. The trail runs inland away from the ocean, and the plants observed were on flat, sandy parts of the trail. I noticed that this trail didn't have as much variety as others in the area, as I mainly saw small, thin green weeds and eucalyptus trees. Finding more colorful and "interesting" plants proved difficult in this particular area.

I did 5 plant observations today in a sandy area bordering a long stretch of beach at MDO.

Here are my most recent observations