Cascading Creek

Cascading Creek, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Another creek shot from last weekend in Las Trampas.

Right now California is being pounded by yet another strong rainstorm, and this one has dropped a few inches of rain in places. As the storm heads inland tomorrow, it will leave behind showery weather for what appears to be the remainder of the week.

All the while, the rain has caused the wildflowers to start growing and budding with high intensity, as evidenced by the poppies coming up all over the hillsides. On a recent hike, you could see that the poppies had flower buds...yes!

In the Forest

In the Forest, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

A small, lacy waterfall on a creek in Las Trampas Regional Park. The heavy rains brought water back to the creeks - and mud to the trails - in most of the parks in the Bay Area.

Las Trampas Cascade

Cascade, Las Trampas, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

One of the multiple cascades to be found along an unnamed creek in Las Trampas. There are still colorful red leaves on the ground from fall...and spring is here!

Falling in the Woods

Falling in the Woods, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

The recent heavy rains have filled up the creeks with water. This small waterfall is in Las Trampas Regional Park, a 5300-acre wilderness close by. It's amazing how green and lush it is up in the wooded canyons of the park...ferns and mosses coat every surface!

The Rain Returns...

The rain has returned here in northern California, with nearly constant precipitation for the past week. To the south, the Santa Cruz Mountains have received over 8 inches of rain in the past 24 hours in some places! Creeks are flowing (in fact, flooding) and the rain just keeps coming. And as for the drought, at least in some places: busted.

Drought Busters

It looks like our drought is about to get busted...

...as a powerful Pacific storm is going to make its way into California and dump several inches of rain over a 12-hour period. It seems that our dry waterfalls may actually show up this year!

The Last Day

The Morning World, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Well, it seems the end of the year has crept up on us again...

I want to thank all my great blogger friends out there for stopping by regularly and checking out my blog. I really appreciate it :)

Happy New Year!

Cascade on McWay Creek

A cascade upstream from the famous McWay Falls.

Alamere Falls

Alamere Falls in Point Reyes National Seashore.

More Rain on the Way...

It looks like the rainy season is finally starting up here in northern California. Tomorrow's forecast predicts up to half an inch of rain in the area!

It's Raining..In July!

Incredibly, rain is falling outside my window right now even though we're in the driest part of the year. This may sound kind of odd to you folks not in California, but it's a rarity to have any sort of precipitation here during the summer.

Tahoe Lupine

A lupine growing next to Ward Creek.

Ward Creek Falls

Ward Creek drops over a cliff near Lake Tahoe.

Van Trump Falls

Van Trump Falls is very close to Comet Falls.

Comet Falls Video

I took this video of Comet Falls last summer.

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.

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.

Cascade

A small cascade pours into a clear pool.

First Rain in Weeks

Today, we got our first rain in several weeks here in the Bay Area. Rainfall at this time last year was almost 4 times the amount of what it has been this winter. I hope rain comes soon, or else the garden may be history...

Garden Waterfall

A small waterfall at the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden.