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Castor Bean

by Melanie Schlotterbeck on March 21, 2020 with No Comments

Castor bean is a non-native plant that grows in disturbed areas and along roadways. Its leaves are easy to identify and its seeds (which are NOT actually beans) are used to make castor oil. Additionally, they contain ricin–a water soluble toxin–which in its purified form can kill an adult with just a few grams. Both the Puente Hills Habitat Preservation Authority and Chino Hills State Park are doing their best to remove plants like these (and others) to make the … Read More

Mule Deer

by Melanie Schlotterbeck on March 20, 2020 with No Comments

Mule deer are found throughout western North America. They are named for their large ears, which look ears that belong on a … you guessed it … mule. Mule deer are ruminants, which means they ferment plant material before digesting it. For the tail, those are blacktipped (see the photo), unlike the “white tailed” deer. Mule deer are found throughout the Puente-Chino Hills Wildlife Corridor. Please know that we are with you in spirit during this trying time and send … Read More

Fiddlenecks Delight

by Melanie Schlotterbeck on March 19, 2020 with No Comments

Named because their stem curls over the top of the plant resembling the head of a fiddle, fiddlenecks are found throughout California. The brightly colored yellow and orange(ish) annual flowers bloom in a curl. We’ve seen them across the Puente-Chino Hills Wildlife Corridor. May these photos continue to inspire you with beauty, peace, and calm. Remember to breathe deeply when you need to. One step at a time.

Aerial View of Poppy Bloom

by Melanie Schlotterbeck on March 18, 2020 with No Comments

Our comfort post for today is another super bloom photo of Chino Hills State Park. The airplane is flying near the 91 freeway heading toward 71 freeway. Among the green grasses you can see the numerous orange slopes and ridgelines of California Poppies. Many of the blooms were accessible by the road or by trail. (Remember always stay on designated trails otherwise park resources get ruined).

California Poppies

by Melanie Schlotterbeck on March 17, 2020 with No Comments

Our first request for photos was the mega-bloom from last year, so here is a photo from 2019 of the poppies and green hills in Chino Hills State Park. A little background: the California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) became the state flower in 1903–therefore it is protected. This means you can’t destroy, harm or pick the flower. (Which is actually true of all resources in our State Park system–rocks, feathers, branches, flowers, etc. are all protected.) The flower tends to be found … Read More