Mulholland Miracle
California sycamore, Mulholland Highway, Santa Monica Mountains (10/6/18) Peter Asco
California sycamore, Mulholland Highway, Santa Monica Mountains (10/6/18) Peter Asco
California sycamore, Mulholland Highway, Santa Monica Mountains (10/6/18) Peter Asco
“Following the black walnut’s fall wake up call, come the majestic sycamore … showcasing colors rarely seen in So Cal native flora,” Peter Asco reported.
As Peter scouted Mulholland Highway, in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, on a “perfect, partially cloudy day” this past weekend, he “came upon a scenery alien to our landscape, a grove of imposing 100 foot high sycamore.”
They were, “… no longer displaying their usual drab mud-brown seasonal shift, but dressed instead in orange, yellow, green, and red, definitely a miracle!”
“The native California sycamore (Platanus racemosa) is a true beauty at maturity.
Along the coast the gnarled, twisted, flaking trunks of ancient California sycamore are often distorted into Seussian shapes. I like to think they were what inspired Southern California’s Dr. Seuss to draw trees that way. Certainly, they are one of the most sculpturally fascinating trees in a state full of them.
Not all California sycamore bend and twist in this way, though all are beautiful and Peter scores a First Report for his photographs of Near Peak California sycamore along the Mulholland Highway.
Will miracles never cease. 
Mulholland Highway, Santa Monica Mountains NRA, Malibu – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!
I drove along this highway on 10/14/2018 hoping to see some colors but most leaves are green. Where to spot those colorful trees?
They’re in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. I’ve asked the photographer to provide the specific location and will post here, when received.
Any response back from the photographer? I’d like to check it out this weekend. Let me know, thanks!
None so far. I would drive Mullholland Highway in Santa Monica Mountains NRA to find Sycamore. They are bright red-orange now.