Parks & Hiking Galleries

Sibley Spring 2005 : 2005 was a spectacular year for wildflowers everywhere in California due to the unusual winter rainfall. Unix and I took the camera on a walk in mid-March and saw these in Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve ((http://www.ebparks.org/parks/sibley.htm).

Sibley Spring 2005

2005 was a spectacular year for wildflowers everywhere in California due to the unusual winter rainfall. Unix and I took the camera on a walk in mid-March and saw these in Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve ((http://www.ebparks.org/parks/sibley.htm).

Updated: Apr 02, 2005 12:37am PST

Yosemite 2006 : The unusual late-season snow mid-March seemed made a great excuse for a quick trip. The full moon peeked out shyly for a while on the evening of our arrival, and never was there a lovelier winter night. The next day (the 13th) was beautiful -- a high overcast, but calm and serene. We hiked up to the bridge below Vernal Falls and stopped by Inspiration Point on the way out. (John took these fabulous pix.)

Yosemite 2006

The unusual late-season snow mid-March seemed made a great excuse for a quick trip. The full moon peeked out shyly for a while on the evening of our arrival, and never was there a lovelier winter night. The next day (the 13th) was beautiful -- a high overcast, but calm and serene. We hiked up to the bridge below Vernal Falls and stopped b ...

Updated: Mar 14, 2006 6:10pm PST

Sibley Summer 2006 : Walking in the same park several times a year over several years is a cool thing. I've learned every corner of the park, and know just about all the wildflowers that grow there; I've come to know when things will bloom and where. This year was a surprise, though. After last year's explosion of wildflowers and last winter's endless rains, I thought we'd have another bumper crop of wildflowers in Sibley. A few (like the coastal thistle and the poison hemlock) are indeed prolific. But this time last year the park was covered in red clover, which hardly bloomed this year. Our short spring, due to the lingering chilly weather, meant the poppies and bush lupine bloomed sparsely and went away. Last year the north side of Round Top Loop was the big attraction for wildflowers; this year it's the meadows on the south side of the loop. What a great history to be making!

Sibley Summer 2006

Walking in the same park several times a year over several years is a cool thing. I've learned every corner of the park, and know just about all the wildflowers that grow there; I've come to know when things will bloom and where. This year was a surprise, though. After last year's explosion of wildflowers and last winter's endless rains, ...

Updated: Jun 04, 2006 10:46pm PST