Gearing Up for Waterfall Season: '08-'09

This winter, hunts for waterfalls will include further exploring in Las Trampas and Mt. Diablo. I will also attempt to find the elusive, little-known Tehan Falls, which is supposedly 60 feet tall. If we're lucky, we'll get a lot of rain this year, as it is both necessary (to combat fires) and enjoyable (for waterfall hunters).

Verbena Bonariensis

My blooming Verbena bonariensis.

Union

Venus and the Moon close to each other last night.

First Papaver

The first bloom on my Papaver commutatum 'Ladybird' from Annie's Annuals.

New Bloom

A new bloom on my Agrostemma githago plant.

Royal Ensign

The true-blue flower of Convolvulus tricolor 'Royal Ensign'.

Sun-Soaked Poppy

A golden California poppy.

Wind Poppy

The small and rare wind poppy, Stylomecon heterophylla.

Pipevine Swallowtail

A pipevine swallowtail nectaring on thistle.

Twilight Duo

A chalcedon checkerspot butterfly rests next to a California poppy as the day comes to a close.

Blue Lupine

A blue lupine illuminated in the light of sunset.

Gilia Clusters

My Gilia tricolor plant is really doing well.

Rain!

Finally, after weeks of "unbearable" sunny weather, we are getting needed rain. The grass on the hills is being given a few more days of life before the hot sun bakes it to a crisp. The garden seems to be responding well to the rain, as things have been a little too dry for comfort this past month.

Update:

There was a super heavy downpour today as showers blew through the area. It was sunny and literally 1 minute later the streets had turned into flooded rivers. The rain was coming down in drenching sheets, so hard that waterfalls were pouring off of the roofs of houses. Almost as soon as the downpour began, it stopped, and the sun came out again.

Red Angel's Trumpet

A bright red angel's trumpet, Brugmansia sanguinea, at the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden.

Owl's Clover

An owl's clover flower, Castilleja exserta, growing alongside a trail.

Native Clematis

This is a California native clematis, Clematis lasiantha.

New Nasturtium

The first bloom on my new nasturtium plant.

Lush Landscape

A picturesque trail winds through an oak forest on Mt. Diablo.

Another Gilia Tricolor

A bird's eye flower that opened just after a rainstorm.

Freshwater Spring

Cool, clear water emits from the ground at this spring. The water comes out from under the rocks in the top right-hand portion of the photo.