Short Takes Short Takes (May 25, 2005)

Holy carp!

If you thought that Oracle mogul Larry Ellison's Atherton estate has a steep asking price at $25 million, hold on to your abacuses! Assessor's records show that his fabulous 23-acre digs in Woodside have an assessed value of $79 million.
Prime time for blooms

Wildflower walks are as good as they get now on Russian Ridge, the MidPeninsula Open Space District preserve, off Skyline Boulevard.

The trail along Mindego Ridge vibrates with color: stands of blazing California poppies, blue lupine, yellow Johnny-Jump-ups, clumps of purple owl's flower, blue-eyed grass and California Buttercups. Wispy, lavender-pink "checker blooms" dance in the breeze. Blossoms on Mule-ears are as big as sunflowers.

For easy access to this wildflower wonderland, park at the Caltrans vista point on Skyline, south of the Fogarty Winery entrance, and walk across Skyline to the preserve entrance. Take the Ridge Trail a short distance and turn left for the Mindego Hill loop for a spectacular treat.
Please eat the daisies

As in years past, the city of Menlo Park has brought in several hundred goats to peacefully remove tall weeds and grass in city parks, taking the place of mechanical equipment.

"This time of year I receive a number of phone calls from people wanting to know when the goats are scheduled to arrive," parks and trees supervisor David Mooney said.

Visitors can catch a glimpse of the goats at Sharon Hills Parks off Valparaiso Avenue just west of Alameda de las Pulgas. They're expected to be there for about another week, before moving to the undeveloped section of Sharon Park at Sharon Park and Monte Rosa drives.

The goats are being controlled by shepherds, herding dogs, and a low-voltage electric fence, said Mr. Mooney. Residents who come to see the goats are asked to keep their own dogs leashed.

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