From the Del Mar Times: Grand Del Mar group prepares for the Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve restoration project.

On March 24, 23 employees of The Grand Del Mar, a luxury hotel in the Carmel Valley area of San Diego, took the time to plant some native plants in an effort to help complete a large restoration project currently under way in the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve.

Per the Del Mar Times, “the resort employees had guidance from their on-site naturalist Dylan Jones, city rangers Gina Washington and John Garwood, and Mike Kelley from the Friends of Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve.”

The Grand Del Mar donated 250 native plants to be planted. Similar to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, however, the area has been inundated with non-native type of mustard plant, called black mustard. In Anza-Borrego, it’s the dreaded Sahara Mustard. The mustard plants have to be removed before any new planting can proceed.

The Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve has been a special place for me since I moved here to San Diego in 2000. I’ve always lived nearby and have used it for trail running (currently almost every Friday morning), hiking with my daughter, short strolls with my wife, and epic mountain biking. I even sometimes take my lunches and eat at picnic tables there. I can get behind any attempt to make the canyon a little better.

Black Mustard

Regarding The Grand Del Mar, I have heard that the upscale Addison restaurant has a tremendous wine cellar, but I haven’t eaten there. I have, however, dined several times at the Clubhouse Grille. It is a more casual restaurant with a bar which overlooks some of the golf course. It’s rarely busy and the breakfasts are delicious. Every time that I’ve eaten there, I’ve practically had the place to myself. It’s a little oasis in the middle of Carmel Valley.

Give it a try.