Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Caring for the land that cares for us. Inquiries: [email protected] Midpen is a single-purpose, independent special district.
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Preserving a greenbelt of more than 70,000 acres in perpetuity, protecting and restoring the natural environment, and provide opportunities for ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education. This site is intended as a limited public forum for information sharing between Midpen and the public. Comments posted to this page will be monitored during regular business hours. We reserve the right

to restrict or remove inappropriate comments including those that have obscene language or sexual content, threaten or defame any person or organization, violate intellectual property rights or the legal ownership interest of another party, support or oppose political candidates or ballot propositions, encourage illegal activity, promote commercial services or products or are not topically related to the particular posting.

One year ago, 10 volunteers and 2 staff members came together on National Trails Day to improve the Stevens Creek Nature...
06/04/2026

One year ago, 10 volunteers and 2 staff members came together on National Trails Day to improve the Stevens Creek Nature Trail at Monte Bello Open Space Preserve.

One year later…
✔️65 projects
✔️141 volunteers
✔️2,168 hours

What started as the first Trails and Infrastructure volunteer project has grown into a thriving community. Happy One Year Anniversary to Midpen’s volunteer Trails Stewardship program!

Want to be part of this year's celebration and the first anniversary of Midpen's Trails and Infrastructure volunteer program? Join us on Saturday, June 6, at Long Ridge Open Space Preserve on the Achistaca Trail.

Sign up here: https://bit.ly/4xd4hUI

….And all of a sudden, it’s June!🌞What does this time bridging spring and summer look like on the trails? How about lots...
06/02/2026

….And all of a sudden, it’s June!🌞

What does this time bridging spring and summer look like on the trails? How about lots of butterflies, the wonder of seeds, and history beneath the canopy or from a bike seat? Nature journaling, a solstice celebration, and a trivia hike?🦋

See the full list at https://bit.ly/3QheS02✨

We still have some spots left for our Sudden Oak Death Blitz this weekend! If you're interested in contributing to an im...
05/29/2026

We still have some spots left for our Sudden Oak Death Blitz this weekend!

If you're interested in contributing to an important community science project while hiking some Midpen trails, this is the opportunity for you.

Learn more about the project and register here: https://bit.ly/4ac05KL

Clarkia is a genus of wildflowers found throughout western North America. A genus refers to a grouping of related specie...
05/28/2026

Clarkia is a genus of wildflowers found throughout western North America. A genus refers to a grouping of related species that share a recent ancestor and many common traits. It is one step more specific than a « family » in taxonomic classification; clarkias are a genus within the evening primrose (Onagraceae) family.
 
All clarkias have four petals that are white to red (usually pink) and may have beautiful spotting or streaked patterns.
 
There are several kinds of clarkia that can be found in Midpen preserves:
❤️ One particularly striking species is red ribbons (Clarkia concinna) whose bright petals are narrow and thrice lobed, giving the flower a delicate yet alien appearance.
🩷 Another common species is ruby chalices (Clarkia rubicunda) which looks similar to farewell-to-spring (Clarkia amoena). Ruby chalices often have a red center.
💜 Winecup clarkias (Clarkia purpurea) are a deep pink or magenta color, and sometimes purple. They include a subspecies four-spot clarkia (Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera) which have a darker spot on each of its petals.
 
Clarkias, as their « farewell to spring » nickname suggests, bloom at the tail of wildflower season, from late spring into summer. They do well in the sun and don’t need much water to survive. If you spot a clarkia during your open space adventures, take it as an opportunity to thank the wildflowers for a beautiful season and wish them farewell!

What could be better than spending time in nature? Spending time in nature while helping support our local oaks!🌳Join Mi...
05/25/2026

What could be better than spending time in nature? Spending time in nature while helping support our local oaks!🌳

Join Midpen's Sudden Oak Death Blitz next Saturday (May 30) to help map where the disease is found, so Midpen and other agencies can better manage the spread of the disease.

Join us to learn how to identify SOD symptoms, sample symptomatic leaves and submit for testing: https://bit.ly/42U7YRa

You may have noticed while out on the trails, in your own backyard or even driving around in your car that there have be...
05/22/2026

You may have noticed while out on the trails, in your own backyard or even driving around in your car that there have been butterflies everywhere. Specifically, the brilliant orange and black California tortoiseshell butterfly (Nymphalis californica). Learn more about this fluttering phenomenon at https://bit.ly/42Mm4nI.
📸: Greg Hughes, Daniel Burney, Hannah Brown

05/22/2026

🔥 Midpen staff just completed their annual wildland fire training, refreshing critical skills to ensure they are certified and prepared to act as first responders when needed. Although fires rarely originate within the open space preserves, Midpen staff can sometimes be first on-scene.

Meet the flower crab spider... 🌻🦀🕷️These masters of disguise use wildflowers as their personal food delivery service! Th...
05/21/2026

Meet the flower crab spider... 🌻🦀🕷️

These masters of disguise use wildflowers as their personal food delivery service! The blooms draw a steady stream of pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, moths, hoverflies and more, as they search for nectar and pollen. The spiders sit motionless, blending in with the petals and waiting until an insect lands within reach. And then they strike, lunging forward to grab their prey and deliver a quick venomous bite.

This interaction reveals a layered ecological relationship. Wildflowers sustain pollinators through the exchange of nectar and pollen, and in turn, support a suite of predators like the flower crab spider.

So, the next time you find yourself drawn to a patch of wildflowers, take a moment to look beyond the beautiful colors. Hidden among the petals, perfectly still and nearly invisible, a small predator may be waiting – a reminder that even the most peaceful landscapes are alive with complex interactions.

Western columbine (Aquilegia formosa) is this week’s eye-catching wildflower! Wester columbine’s unique red sepals (leaf...
05/21/2026

Western columbine (Aquilegia formosa) is this week’s eye-catching wildflower! Wester columbine’s unique red sepals (leaf-like structures at the base of a flower) and bright yellow petals make it stand out against the forests and woodlands where it thrives.
 
Starting around May and through August, western columbine’s identifiable flowers begin to bloom in moist areas such as oak woodlands, redwood forests and along streambanks. This wildflower truly embodies « west coast, best coast »—it can be found from northern Baja California all the way into Alaska! The plant can sometimes grow taller than 3 feet, and the flower heads at the end of the stem tend to droop or hang downwards.
 
Parts of the western columbine plant can be applied towards a variety of uses, including many medicinal treatments. The flower’s nectar and fragrance are sweet, making it a favorite of hummingbirds, butterflies and some Indigenous populations who ate it as a sweet treat.
 
As spring turns to summer, keep an eye out for these vibrant blooms alongside the trail. They’re a pretty addition to the surrounding scenery!

📸: Karl Gohl, Junko Tanabe, R. Goldthwaite, Robert Gorman

Do you live in San Mateo County? We want to hear what worries you most about where you live. San Mateo County is asking...
05/20/2026

Do you live in San Mateo County? We want to hear what worries you most about where you live.

San Mateo County is asking for public input on the draft Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.

The plan was created by local governments, including cities, towns and special districts (like Midpen) to guide our response to potential natural and human-caused hazards in San Mateo County, like wildland fire, flood and extreme heat.

Your input will help the plan better reflect the community’s experiences and priorities.

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5050 El Camino Real
Los Altos, CA
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