Cherry Springs

It was a stroke of good fortune that I learned of, and was able to join, today's hike. As we would be visiting a closed area of the Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve, participation was limited—by reservation only. As the date grew closer and spots remained open, I alerted two cycling friends (who eagerly joined). One, in particular, has biked up the road we'd take to reach our starting point more times than she could count. Having often wondered what lay beyond the locked gate, today we'd all get to explore it!

We carpooled up the hill and began our trek near a pond related to the eponymous spring, which flows perennially.

We learned that a developer had planned to build estate homes on this land over a decade ago, but backed out when the economy soured. Now it's protected: A conservation organization snapped it up when it returned to the market.

Escorted by volunteer docents and one open space district ranger, we learned about the land and (of course) the plants, both native and invasive. [Yes, even here, some invaders have taken root. As I did my best to obliterate some star thistle, I wished I'd added a pair of small clippers to my hiking kit.]

When I mentioned that I planned to hike the Kennedy Trail with some friends tomorrow, one of the docents told me that I would be able see the pond from there.

It was a short loop (about 2 miles)—but exciting to trek in a place where few have gone before us, to be treated to new perspectives in all directions.

Not to mention doing our part to curb the spread of an invasive plant by consuming as many ripe blackberries (and their seeds) as we could tug free, near the pond!

We were reminded that the mission of the open space district is to preserve the land (and thus the health of the ecosystem); their objective is not to make it all available for people to visit, as much as we might like that to be so.