Mother Nature treated us well on the club's 15 May field trip. Pleasant, sunny weather prevailed. Steve, Sasha, Andy, Kenny, Les, Donna, Mickey, Vonne, Stephen, Maynard & I met to car pool in the morning. We drove to Highway 33 to begin our journey. Rock outcroppings, upthrusts and the drainage patterns were all beautiful in the morning light. The Cuyama Valley was attractive with planted fields and farmhouses. We saw many interesting species of plants, some blooming especially at the higher elevations (summit 5048'). Prickly poppy, Matilija poppy, indigenous large cone Douglas fir, Wooly Blue Curls, Bush Poppy and many others were observed. Even the reviled tamarisk gave a hint of it's feathery pink bloom. A recent fire area was noted. We made a stop to gather some shale-like top dressing. There were many bicyclists to see & avoid as they made their way uphill north on a ride/race.

We arrived at Desert Images nursery to find Rosemarie & Joe. They had tried to buy all the good stuff, but we managed to find a few nice plants, thank goodness! The Bogarts treated the club to a tax-free day, iced tea & cookies. There were many plants in bloom, which was a treat -- our last visit there was in the autumn.

Our visit to Rancho Camulos in Piru was begun with a picnic before the docent-led tour:

The Rancho Camulos Museum is a 40 acre National Historic Landmark, situated within an 1800 acre working ranch known as the Camulos Ranch Company. The 1800 acre ranch is bounded by low hills on the north, Piru Creek to the west, the Santa Clara River and the Oak Ridge Mountains to the south and the Newhall Ranch on the east. The museum comprises 15 structures, the most significant of these are (in chronological order): The Main Adobe, c. 1853-1880, The Fountain, c. 1853, The Chapel, c. 1867, The Bell Structure, The Winery, c. 1867, The Barn, Gas Station and Bunkhouse, c. 1910-1915, The Small Adobe, c. 1920, The Schoolhouse, c. 1930.

Beyond the formal lawn is the family orchard where dozens of varieties of fruit trees are grown. Additional features include an aviary, a partial reconstruction of the once 150 foot long grape arbor (covered in mission grapes), an herb garden, fishpond, and a barbecue area with brick oven. Compacted earth, mature California pepper trees and cork oak trees characterize the working area of the ranch headquarters north of the del Valle adobe. At the entrance to the ranch is a row of Eucalyptus trees, a long arbor with mature wisteria vines and a stone historical marker bearing a bronze plaque denoting the State Landmark status of Rancho Camulos. Directly across from the ranch, north of Highway 126 and the railroad right-of-way, are two railroad-related residences and three farm labor cottages. Located to the northeast of these buildings, outside of the boundaries of the museum, is the del Valle family cemetery.

Of special interest is the California Black Walnut Tree, "El Rey Nogal," the only survivor of four "Black Eagle" seedlings planted by Juventino del Valle sometime during the 1860s. The tree has been noted by Maunsell Van Rensselaer in his publication Trees of Santa Barbara as the "Camulos Black Walnut." The author noted that it might be the largest California Black Walnut in the region. When it was measured for this book in 1940, its circumference was eighteen feet with a branch spread of 129 feet. Today, the trunk measures approximately twenty-five feet in circumference with a branch span of approximately half an acre.

More information can be obtained at www.ranchocamulos.org

The day was complete with a trip back to Filmore to the Cactus Mart. What a great place to browse & buy (good prices).

Thanks again for all who were able to come & make this an excellent day trip.

Possible upcoming club field trips include: