Hues of a Dry November

Santa Cruz Mountains

Autumn rain nourishes the garden. But lack of autumn rain prolongs blossoming, as plants make more seeds. This coreopsis blooms nearly year round in fair weather.

October Cheer

Santa Cruz Mountains

As October commences, so does chrysanthemum season. Newly minted spider mums change from burgundy to purple as the month rolls along.

17-Mile Anniversary Drive

Monterey County, CA

On our anniversary we approach Monterey’s 17-Mile Drive, looking back towards home. From Pacific Grove, the Santa Cruz Mountains loom dreamlike in the distance.

Fragrant Four O’Clocks

Santa Cruz Mountains

  

 

 

A strange plant appeared in my garden, uninvited but not unwelcomed. The flowers only open on warm and windless late summer afternoons. 

Central Coast Cruisin'

Santa Barbara, CA

Santa Barbara is a dreamy summer place: misty in the morning, hot and sunny in the afternoon. Majestic mountains frame the town and its seaside strolling path.

Rocky Mountain June High

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

 

Late May snow in Denver hint that  we’d find snowy slopes in the mountains in June. As we begin our hike, Longs Peak is displays snow as we’d anticipated.

Superbloom! The Close-up View

Carrizo Plain National Monument, CA

In my last post, California Goldfields blankets huge swaths of land with yellow. And yet they are tiny flowers. Some say the Golden State was named for great springtime blooms of Goldfields throughout California.