Blaisdell Ranch Preserve

This is a small, beautiful, peaceful park located in the foothills of Claremont, tucked in a quiet upscale residential area. From the street, it looks like a regular park with a big, well-​groomed lawn… But follow the dirt path behind a wooden gate & stone wall, and it feels like you stepped into a woodland wonderland.
There are tons of tall trees, and a huge, seemingly-​out-​of-​place pile of rocks and pebbles. And there are a few benches scattered throughout the woodland area as well.
In the autumn, all the leaves turn color, and it’s even more amazing to see.
The cons? It can get busy sometimes with people flocking here to take pictures… Speaking of pictures…
I came here one weekday, just to catch up with a couple friends and their toddler. It was quiet– just a couple people around with their dogs. I brought my little point-​and-​shoot camera (actually no bigger than my iphone) to capture some moments with old friends, and no more than 5 mins of taking out my camera did a lady seem to jump out of the bushes and scold us for taking pictures. She said there were no professional pictures allowed. I said i’m not a professional. (with my unassuming point-​and-​shoot raised).
Then she said there were no kind of pictures allowed!
I went to visit the signage, and it doesn’t state that all photography is prohibited. What about selfies? I’d like to think that the selfies taken on my phone look pretty professional… I have a plethora of filters available and i make sure they’re in focus… But i digress.
So, i’m not sure if this park is private or public now since my encounter with this power-​hungry individual.
Just beware if you decide to take pictures here. People may pop out of the bushes in a ridiculous rage.