A Saturday on Rattlesnake Creek

January 28, 2012

A Saturday with no obligations! I head off to the Ventana Wilderness with no particular destination in mind …

The parking lot for the trailhead at Los Padres Dam is gated for some reason these days, so it’s necessary to park down the hill at the Forest Service Station. Read the rest of this entry »

7 Comments | Carmel River, Fungus, On Foot, Plants, Santa Lucias, Wildflowers | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by xasauan

Wildflower of the Week: Shooting Stars

January 23, 2012

A shooting star (Dodecatheon clevelandii) near Garzas Creek in Garland Regional Park. Read the rest of this entry »

1 Comment | Plants, Santa Lucias, Wildflowers | Permalink
Posted by xasauan

Cycling the Arroyo Seco-Indians Road

January 15, 2012

Leaving the Arroyo Seco Campground. You know it’s mid-winter when the road is still shaded at 11:00 am. Read the rest of this entry »

15 Comments | Cycling, Santa Lucias, Wildflowers | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by xasauan

Wildflower of the Week: Cardamine californica

January 13, 2012

Cardamine californica on Blue Rock Ridge.

Cardamine californica, otherwise known as toothwort, milkmaids, or bittercress (which is what “cardamine” means), is a beautiful early season wildflower that has been quite prominent in our area so far this year. Read the rest of this entry »

1 Comment | Big Sur | Permalink
Posted by xasauan

Spectre of Drought

January 11, 2012

The sun sets over Soberanes Pt., bringing yet another week without rain to an end.

The ground is drying out, there’s no rain in sight, and the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center is calling for drought through at least the end of March. Read the rest of this entry »

4 Comments | Big Sur, Carmel River, Fire, Flood & Apocalypse, Politics, Santa Lucias, Water | Permalink
Posted by xasauan