My strongest memories of Pinnacles remains wandering through a wildflower meadow dominated by with brightly blooming California Poppies. Its vibrant orange blossoms were a show of delight against the dry chaparral vegetation, and egged me to go further on the trail on that warm spring day. I thought that was all there was to Pinnacles, but in my subsequent visits, I discovered that this park had far more to offer: I tracked breeding pairs of California Condors with a wildlife biologist, squeezed through narrow clefts and clambered over steep pinnacles, and watched the night skies above and the delicate under-canopy below.
It was perhaps this reason that Pinnacles was designated a National Park in 2013. While it may not carry the epic grandeur that is typical of National Parks, it preserves a rather unique part of California
Pinnacles National Park
CA USA
Spring in the Air
My normal travels during April would have taken me to seek out the bountiful spring blossoms across the state and country. But this is not a normal year. Most of my planned travels have taken a backseat to the ongoing pandemic. I just hope the beautiful blooms continue to happen, providing sustenance for the tiny pollinators that are responsible for this kaleidoscopic shows of color.
As for now, if the long road ahead seems daunting, pause to think how far we have come, and how much impact we have already had in containing this pandemic.
Southern California
Wildflowers of California
After the winter rains, the spring blossoms arrive like clockwork, covering the vast California plains with a colorful tapestry of yellows, oranges, blues, and whites. Against the backdrop of the rolling green hills, this nature's kaleidoscope of colors is a sight to behold.
Over time, such tracts of unprotected plains are few and far in-between, and these delicate plants are fickle-minded, requiring just the right amount of rain and sun at the right time. And I am hoping that this is one such year where nature puts on a unrivaled spectacle.
Central California