It is dodder http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/californiadodder.html a parasitic plant. Also known as witches' hair.
You can read more about it here http://waynesword.palomar.edu/plnov99.htm
Scroll down to where you see this beautiful girl.
It is a parasitic member of the morning glory family.
I thought it was something else all together, I was wrong. And you don't want it in your garden either. It is fond of ivies.
I am curious about naturalized california plants, always have been. When it dries it dries to a beautiful orange straw like substance. I dried some. I am not taking it out of the bag now. I thought I was going to make it in to some mixed media. LOL!!! I am so glad that I looked it up, for the internet, and for smart people.
