Blog Archives

Fun, Free Outdoor Spring Break Activities

3/28/2014

Spend time outdoors with your kids while they enjoy spring break.

Right about now, you’re checking out your kids’ school calendar and wondering how to transform their week of vacation into fun for the whole family. On behalf of the OC Parks and the City of Irvine, Irvine Ranch Conservancy will be hosting several family-friendly programs in April that are perfect for a spring break outing.

Most programs require pre-registration and an adult to accompany the kids, so use the links provided to find out more about these opportunities.

All About Bobcats

3/21/2014

Getting to know the most common cat in our local wilderness.

You’ve just seen a wildcat leap out of view along the trail. Was it a mountain lion? Probably not. While mountain lion sightings do make the headlines, the chances of seeing a mountain lion are incredibly rare. Scientists estimate that there are fewer than 20 mountain lions in the entire Santa Ana Mountain Range, so you have most likely seen its smaller feline cousin, the bobcat. Bobcats (Lynx rufus) are the most abundant wildcat in the United States and have the greatest range of all native North American cats. This elusive animal can adapt to almost any habitat, and is found throughout the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks.

Help Restore Bommer Pass Trail

3/14/2014

Volunteers needed to help restore trailside habitat in Bommer Canyon.

Volunteers are needed to help restore trailside habitat in the City of Irvine’s Bommer Canyon. On Tuesday, March 18, the Bommer Pass Stewardship activity will focus on the popular Bommer Pass Trail that has been closed since January. Irvine Ranch Conservancy, which manages the City’s Open Space Preserve, has been monitoring regrowth in the area and wants to take advantage of recent rains.

Where to See Early Wildflowers

3/7/2014

Spring is the season for wildflowers on the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. With the lack of rainfall, the amount of wildflowers may not be as good as in previous years. However, there is plenty of color to be spotted along trails. Many varieties have been seen recently, and with the recent rain more will bloom.

Indian Paintbrush, Castilleja affinis
Indian paintbrush is named for the top of the plant looking like it has been dipped into a can of paint. The tubular flowers are slender and clustered near the stem tips and are hidden among the colorful bracts. The bracts, or modified leaves, are usually scarlet-colored or occasionally yellow and are often mistaken as the flowers. Stems are woody and purplish in color, and like the flowers and leaves, are hairy. Indian paintbrush is able to produce its own food, but often supplements its diet by tapping into the roots of adjacent plants. Normal blooming time is February through May. This wildflower can be found growing on hills and is pollinated by hummingbirds and bees.

Fun, Free Outdoor Spring Break Activities

All About Bobcats

Help Restore Bommer Pass Trail

Where to See Early Wildflowers

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