A Sojourn into the Santa Monica Mtns (near the 210 at La Tuna Canyon)

so i'm watching this crazy murder she wrote in amish town right now! crazy! is all i'm saying. so these are a few pics from my sojourn into the mountains. the view and the dogs are from a previous hike but pretty much it was replicated today. with the exception that my dog didn't get a tick and my mom came along. also the wild cucumbers are ripening and the california dodder is all doddery. plus when the dogs got home they got a bath and then i took my laptop outside for a good 3+ hours and stayed until the shadows chased me in. it was a good day though not nearly long enough. mom said i shouldn't walk around the backyard in my underwear but i'm of a contrary belief. vile peepers be damned. now i'm reading clarissa and staring at the pile of laundry to put away. i've since dressed to come inside and have set about to identify for you, good reader, the curiosities before me.

the above golden podded plants in the corner are called "Black Mustard", so termed a "ubitquitous grain weed from the old world"- thats a fantastic phrase. this is actually the source of mustard. ce vrai. and to that i say, cool man. cool. below, is what mom believes to be 'clarkia'. i can't find the color in the guide book, thus i conclude she is wrong. also, i'm pretty sure we came across some 'poison hemlock'... which is fairly crazy. and old school. next time i will make sure to identify and photograph. since that's what did in socrates, and i'm all, we have that still, here and now? plants are as crazy as this murdershewrote i'm watching. crazy.well hello there: this is california dodder. it's a parasite! no roots, just messy growth. and is much like cornsilk., kind of cool and moist. it is a tangled suffocating mess. according to the guidebook its nicknames are: Love-vine, strangleweed, Devils/Witches Hair, and the Golden Thread. saweet!hello, my wild cucumber. CHILICOTHE. indians apparently used the seeds inside as marbles and beads for necklaces. i must investigate these claims further. totally not edible, this plant is part of the gourd family according the informative guide book. And it is known for its massive root system which tastes extremely bitter and can grow as large as a human body. they totally survive fires also. because of their awesome rootiness. excellent.
alright that's it. i almost twisted an ankle, fell on my ass and got dirty. i hope it was worth it. and that you enjoyed my photos. now i'm going back to silly jessica fletcher and those crazy amish people. theyre crazy. i'm right, right? i'm totally right. seriously.

ah nature. how i love thee!