Once the fires began on January 7, stopping them was impossible. Hurricane-force winds and extreme dry conditions with single-digit humidity created a tsunami of flame, a towering wave of destruction that destroyed everything in its path and was carried...
Across the lonely beach we flit, One little sandpiper and I, And fast I gather, bit by bit, The scattered drift-wood, bleached and dry. The wild waves reach their hands for it, The wild wind raves, the tide runs...
The local stretch of Pacific Coast Highway was constantly in the news in 2024, as state and local officials, residents, commuters and other stakeholders grappled with safety on this increasingly deadly road. TNT Editor Suzanne Guldimann’s feature on the...
The Coastwatchers, TNT’s original fiction series set in Malibu during WWII, concludes in this issue. Our story began in December, 1941, just after the United States entered WWII, and ends on Christmas, 1942. Coastwatchers focuses on the experiences of...
The Chocolate lily, Fritillaria biflora, likes the same conditions preferred by shooting stars, and often grows nearby, but this wildflower is even rarer and more ephemeral. It’s just starting to bloom. We found one bloom and several plants just setting bud in our favorite lily location. Photo by Suzanne Guldimann
Wildflower season is just beginning in the Santa Monica Mountains, but it may be even more ephemeral than usual this year. Topanga received more rain than many neighboring areas, giving canyon plants a boost this season, and there will still be some flowers even in the places that received less rain, but this week’s Santa Ana winds and warm weather are already drying out the soil.
Hiking into the Santa Monica Mountains on a trail is the best way to fully experience spring in our mountains, but for those who can’t hike, a drive through the back roads offers a taste of spring beauty. Either way, this is the time to savor the winter green and look for the first spring flowers. But hurry, unless March brings more rain, this season will be over almost as soon as it begins! Look for wildflower updates as the season progresses at www.smmflowers.org. Desert USA is primarily focused on sites like the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve, but also has periodic updates on the coast ranges, including the Santa Monica Mountains. www.desertusa.com/wildflo/ca.html
Suzanne Guldimann is an author, artist, and musician who lives in Malibu and loves the Santa Monica Mountains. She has worked as a journalist reporting on local news and issues for more than a decade, and is the author of 11 books. Suzanne's newest book, "Life in Malibu II", explores local history and nature. She can be reached at suzanne@topanganewtimes.com