Thursday, February 3, 2011

Ruffin Canyon Open Space

Ruffin Canyon is Serra Mesa’s natural open space. With more than 84 acres, it extends from the south end of Ruffin Road to Mission Valley. Its native plants provide an example of the Coastal Sage Scrub plant community.

Ruffin Canyon offers primitive trails. Access is on the west and east sides of Taff Middle School 9191 Gramercy Drive. Get out and visit your local canyon open space areas!

Here are some pictures from a recent visit with my dog Rocky 'Bones.

Taft middle school children have made the canyon a wonderfully artful place

I have to admit I do not know the name of this plant

The kids have painted the names of many plant species on rocks for easy identification

Remnants of hard work by the local canyon volunteers

Really cool cactus

This canyon has a healthy coyote population

'Bones my dog checking out some birds

"wildlife" in the canyon

Pretty flowers

More Pretty flowers

--

2 comments:

  1. Daren,
    Nice pictures. The red hanging flowers are on a fuchsia-flowered gooseberry (no, not making it up!), Ribes speciosum. The leaves are nice, too, deep green and glossy. It has some mean thorns, by the way.

    http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/ribes-speciosum

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Doug! That sure looks like them. I wish I knew the names of all the plants I see when I am out hiking.

    ReplyDelete