Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Spring Light


Del Amigo Light, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Sunlight shining through the branches of a black oak on the Del Amigo trail in Las Trampas.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

A Spring Day in Danville


A Spring Day in Danville, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

A blue oak coming into leaf in Las Trampas Regional Park. It's hard to believe that in a few shorts months the green hills will be dry and golden.

Gold Field


Goldfields, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

More goldfields along Mines Road south of Livermore. These flowers literally carpet the ground and in many places are the only plant growing.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Cream Cups at Shell Creek Road

Cream cups wildflowers not usually seen in massive displays. The fields at Shell Creek Road, however, were very different. Blanketing the ground were millions of these cream cups, which are poppy relatives. Spring in California can really be incredible.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Color on Figueroa


Color on Figueroa, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Figueroa Mountain has got to be one of the most colorful mountains I've seen. The wildflower displays near the summit are incredible. I recommend you visit if you're ever in the area!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Santa Maria Grown


Santa Maria Grown, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Strawberries at the SLO Farmers' Market on Thursday night. Some of the produce they sell is amazing...really good stuff!

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Las Trampas Morning


Las Trampas Morning, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

This seems to be the spring for goldfields in California. They're everywhere. I found this pool of the flowers up in a remote part of Las Trampas Wilderness. How is spring coming along in your area?

Monday, March 22, 2010

Fields of Figueroa Mountain

Here's a wide-angle view of some of the flowering hillsides on Figueroa Mountain near Santa Barbara. What an incredible place...unbelievably colorful!

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Giant Oaks in Los Osos


Los Osos Forest, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Here's a view from within the forest at Los Osos Oaks State Reserve. What a cool park - the trees (coast live oaks) are huge and ancient, while nearby lies pygmy forest and chaparral. Some of the oaks were over 250 years old, and it's great to see they have been preserved so well.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Figueroa Flowers


Figueroa Flowers, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Sky lupine and California poppies mixed together on a steep slope of Figueroa Mountain. This mountain is truly incredible - the displays of wildflowers were awe-inspiring.

Goldfields on Figueroa


Goldfields on Figueroa, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Here are some goldfields up on the slopes of Figueroa Mountain in Santa Barbara County. The mountain is spectacular, with beautiful displays of wildflowers.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Shell Creek Blue


Shell Creek Blue, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Baby blue eyes carpet the ground at Shell Creek Road. The displays are very impressive this year, and, of course, spectacular.

Shell Creek View


Shell Creek View, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

The wildflowers at Shell Creek are starting to bloom...I hiked up this hillside of poppies to get a better view. Amazing color out there yesterday!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

California Cream Cups


California Cream Cups, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Earlier today a friend and I went out to Highway 58 and drove east towards the Carrizo Plains. On the way there, we stopped at Shell Creek Road, a famous wildflower location, where we saw vast fields of millions of these cream cups. I have never seen such massive displays of the cream cups, even at places like Bear Valley.

Spring is just getting started here in California - the wildflowers will put on quite a show in the coming weeks.

Pismo Beach


Pismo Beach, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Last night I watched the sunset over Pismo Beach, a community on California's Central Coast about 10 minutes away from San Luis Obispo. With offshore winds, the temperature was in the 70s even as the sun was setting, making for a great evening. Spring is here in California, what about your part of the world?

Monday, March 01, 2010

Longleaf Bush Lupine


Longleaf Bush Lupine, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Lupinus longifolius growing on the mountain above the Cal Poly campus in San Luis Obispo.