Suzanne Guldimann

Suzanne Guldimann is an author, artist, and musician who lives in Malibu and loves the Santa Monica Mountains. She has worked as a journalist reporting on local news and issues for more than a decade, and is the author of nine books of music for the harp. Suzanne's newest book, "Life in Malibu", explores local history and nature. She can be reached at suzanne@messengermountainnews.com

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Superbloom

The first wave of wildflowers is beginning to peak in the Santa Monica Mountains and across Southern California, as rainfall totals continue to grow. Large expanses of California poppies are being reported…

California’s Crazy Love Affair with Heirloom Tomatoes

Tomatomania is returning to the San Fernando Valley. On March 15-17, the tomato experts at Ojai-based Tomatomania will bring hundreds of tomato seedlings to the Tapia Brothers produce stand at 5251 Hayvenhurst…

Hiking Trails Re-Open Four Months After Woolsey Fire

More trails in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area have reopened following the Woolsey Fire, including two key segments of the Backbone Trail managed by the National Park Service. It took…

New Woolsey Fire Project Finds Beauty in Disaster

Topanga artist and designer Urs Baur provides a different perspective on the fire. His crowd-funded publishing project chronicles the experiences of eight survivors and seeks to raise funds for restoration and wildfire…

Caltrans Alert

Road closures continue as crews clean up mess left by winter storms and stabilize slopes. Topanga residents and Topanga Canyon Blvd. commuters faced more mudslides, road closures, and delays, while Caltrans mopped…

Topangan is Oscar Nominee for Best Visual Effects

This is visual effects veteran Matthew E. Butler’s second nomination since he was recognized for his work in Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon, in 2012. This time, Butler and his VFX team…

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The Wildflower Watch Is Underway

Wildflowers are on the way and abundant rain promises ideal conditions for a spectacular spring in the Santa Monica Mountains and throughout Southern California this year. The rain and cold weather have…

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Ceanothus Flowers Cover Canyon in Living Snow

Ceanothus has a lot of names—buckthorn, California lilac, and soap plant—but the name snow bush might fit best, because when the vast expanses of ceanothus in and around Topanga burst into bloom…

The Year When Pigs Fly

On February 5, local Asian communities celebrated the Lunar New Year, and welcomed the Year of the Pig. Every year in the Chinese zodiac is assigned one of 12 animals, and one…