Wasteland Wakened~

The Sonoran Desert in Southern California,

is bursting in bloom!

Rains continue into May in the desert which is unheard of.

Note the people midway up the mountain to give you perspective on the scope of of the superbloom which cover many mountains.

Blooming Brittlebush carpet the foothills in vibrant yellow blankets.

This bloom in Whitewater Wildlands Conservancy is ‘Off the Beaten Path.’ Most superbloom areas in Southern California are mobbed with crowds, but even on the weekend, there are very few people here. You hike by yourself in the wilderness.

The river for which the conservancy is named is full of snow melt cascading into the desert from the surrounding mountains,

filling natural resevoirs to capacity with overflow.

Southern California mountains and deserts are happy!

Cheers to you from the desert in May.

Note: I am traveling now and continuing my ‘Off the Beaten Path’ travel destination series as I go.

Do These Potheads~

Seem high to you?

The Holler is a bloomin’ glory!

The fruits are flowering,

the narcissus are self centering,

the daisies are dancing,

the iris are iridescent,

and the coco locos are yet to turn lavender!

Cheers to you from The Bloomin’ Holler~

Note: Those potheads are not in my garden! 🤣

A Riot of Spring~

In rain soaked (tap to enlarge),

Southern California.

The Carlsbad Ranuculus Fields,

are a blooming,

glory.

Spring is dancing,

blooms are bursting,

plants are happy,

and birds are singing!

Sending California’s blooming beauties to you,

with Cheers and Hopes for Happy Spring ~

Romneya~

These gorgeous huge poppies are bloomin’ up The Holler!

Also known as the Matilija Poppy, these are the largest flowers in the poppy family,

and they are the largest native California flower.

The blooms are 8 inches in diameter,

and the bushes grow to about 10 feet in height,

They are a challenge to grow, but so worth the effort!

Cheers to you & Happy Mother’s Day from The Holler’s Romneya~

Wild Iris & Lily~

We all need images of peaceful natural beauty these violent and cruel days.

Native California White Iris grow along The Rhododendron Trail in Redwood National Park in Northern California.

Douglas Iris bloom in profusion here as well.

The trail is named for the wild rhododendron that are everywhere.

Asiatic Lilies thrive in abundance.

Since these are wild flowers growing in the forest, there are lots of bugs. These are the eggs of spittlebugs, which seem quite accurately named!

Icelandic poppies are not native,

but were planted by our Innkeeper, north of Klamath California.

Do you see the face on the ancient redwood tree, of the old man in the forest, telling us peace is the only way?

“Love is the flower you’ve got to let grow.” John Lennon

Cheers to you from the wise and peaceful forest~

For info on the Rhododendron Trail See: http://www.redwoodhikes.com/PrairieCreek/Foothill.html