late November hike, part 2

This hike is in Santa Clarita, in Towsley and Wiley Canyons. The hike led us through a dramatic experience of the landscape, as the canyon walls narrowed and we walked through a small creek, then climbed up to an amazing view.

late November hike

This day, the colors and light were so distinctive of late fall. We saw some bright yellow leaves of walnut and poplar trees, but I loved the subtle compositions of more neutral tones and delicate textures just as much.

Temescal Canyon

Hiking two weeks ago in Temescal Canyon, we had wonderful weather and incredible views. This is one of those places you don't think could exist, until you see it: a canyon landscape with views to the Pacific, Santa Monica beach, and all the way west to downtown Los Angeles.

seedheads of Mountain Mahogany

seedheads of sage (purple sage?)

remnants of a yucca plant after flowering

fall color palette with California buckwheat

sunset, Joshua Tree

arriving, walking, making a home

As soon as we arrived, we reached for our cameras to capture a piece of this stunning landscape.

One of the highlights was a short hike through Hidden Valley, where the boulders came in close: this was the place most enclosed by the dramatic, rocky hills. A lot of people, apparently from all over the world, were rock climbing here.

Each evening we had to choose a new place to be home for one night. Off of the Boy Scout Trail, the flat desert stretched on and on. We were drawn to a place with a fallen yucca branch, which formed our "kitchen," and set up our tent nearby. This one element, the fallen branch, defined our living spaces for the evening and next morning.

high desert plants

morning walk

evening light in the high desert

near the Boy Scout Trail, looking south to the Indio Hills

backlit grass seedheads

this small shrub looked like one of those funny fiberoptic lamps

a cholla cactus

Ciclavia

At Ciclavia, people are in love with biking. They also seem to have more love for their city, and for each other. On this day, people are out on the streets, in the neighborhoods, the plazas, and on the subway, they are riding, talking, laughing, eating-- in public, together. It is like a more human, more fun, more friendly city, and everyone wants to be part of it.

autumn colors in Griffith Park

October is the right time for a long hike in Griffith Park. The sun is still strong, but the edge is off, and the rain brought some green back to the slopes.

(it's the TV version of the Batcave!)

gorgeous red seedheads of native buckwheat

Chorisia flower

For several weeks now, the chorisia trees in front of our building have been flowering. The flowers are stunning, like large showy orchids. It is hard to believe that these summer flowers eventually become the huge pods that ripen in spring, packed with fluffy white seeds.

Endeavour

Yes, I saw it!

Sunset, same place

shadow play

Bright morning sun shines through our glass doors everyday. Sometimes we see hummingbirds flitting about like skillfully-handled shadow puppets. And for a short while in the early morning, the plants on the patio are like a shadow stage set.

On this particular day, the house finches were doing their thing, eating the thai basil blossoms. Can you spot two finches to the right in the photo?

Can you see one flap its wings?