Mount Rubidoux: Inland Chapparal with a historic flavor

I live in the Wood Streets neighborhood just south of Downtown Riverside.  The foot of the mountain, by way of Tequesquite Park is just over 1 mile from my front door so I run the mountain several days a week when I’m unable to get over to my favorite trail in the Box Springs, called Two Trees.  This post is simply to share a few pictures I took this morning.  I’ve been running the mountain lately and have been in awe of the bursting wildflowers and fragrant desert chapparal.  When I get home my clothes are covered in pollen and it’s really an enjoyable experience to run through the hills with the smell of sage and other fragrant plants filling the air.  The wild grasses are already dry and their little spiky ends are all over the trail and get stuck in my socks.  I’ve noticed in the last few weeks more and more lizards are out and about and I’ve been careful to be vigilant for snakes.  You’ll notice in these images the cross on the top of the mountain and also the Peace Tower.  There are many monuments on the mountain representing the storied history of this city and the more you learn about them the more enjoyable your experience becomes!  My favorite monuments are the Peace Bridge and Tower with plaque from the previous Japanese Garden and of course the Cross.  I find solitude on this mountain on a weekly basis and am so thankful to live in the middle of a fairly big city (by U.S standards) but be able to get into some nature, soak in the thoughts that monuments produce and of course the views of our valley and surrounding mountains.  Anyway, hope you enjoy the photos, it was a little hazy this morning but I’m sure I’ll add more as the summer rolls around.