The Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge for the week of April 1st 2016 is Landscape.

This week, it’s all about landscape photography. Show us your best establishing shot, out in nature or in an urban setting.

Landscape is a word with a number of definitions.  The American Heritage dictionary defines landscape as either a noun, i.e., “A view or vista of scenery on land”; or a verb, i.e., “To improve a section of ground by contouring and decorative planting.”  Of course photographers know of a third definition — landscape is a horizontally oriented image.

Wildflowers near Negro Bar State Park

On Friday the Big Guy and I visited Rattlesnake Bar for the first time in about 30 years — I can’t say why we waited so long to go back.  It’s a lovely spot along the North Fork of the American River which now forms part of Folsom Lake.  We wanted to hike the trail; I was determined to shoot some great wildflower pictures and, as usual, he was hoping to get in a little bass fishing.

We found both fish and wildflowers.  And while I admit I’m less than satisfied with some of my flower closeups,  my disappointment was eased by considering the bigger picture: the landscape was spectacular!

North Fork American River

Hiking along this section of the Pioneer Express Trail, you also feel a sense of history all around you.  Men from every walk of life searched for gold here in the mid 1800s.  The 33-mile long North Fork Ditch was completed in 1856.  Later there were farms and hydroelectric projects of various sizes.  And yet there is so much that is still unspoiled and beautiful.

Mormon’s Ravine

Traces of the North Fork Ditch

White Fairy Lanterns

All my images in this post were photographed in the landscape mode, and most of them show “a vista of scenery” — but the most beautiful landscaping here is that performed by nature.

North end of Avery’s Pond

Pond life

(Some information sourced from Kevin Knauss’s very excellent and informative blog post, Pioneer Express Trail:  Rattlesnake Bar to Birdsall Dam.)