Like the Star Lily, Large Flowered Phacelia (Phacelia grandiflora) appears to be a "fire follower," blooming in the Simi Hills in the aftermath of the Topanga Fire.

Tarantula Hawks are huge wasps that prey on tarantulas and trap door spiders. This one (a male) was on a narrow-leaf milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis Dcne.) at the start of the Chumash Trail in Simi Valley. Several good runs start at this trailhead, and many variations are possible. It's 2.6 miles up the trail to Rocky Peak Rd, and from there you can do out and backs north or south along the fire road, or loops via Las Llajas canyon, the Hummingbird Trail, or the Lower Stagecoach Trail. (Photo from a run on September 14, 2005.)

Star Lily (Zigadenus fremontii) at Sage Ranch. This species appears to be a "fire follower." In recent weeks it has been very common in some parts of the Topanga Fire area.