That dark spot by the far shoreline is a swallow doing a fly-by

Lake Mendocino is just a short drive away from Clear Lake, and spring is a great time to explore this Northern California reservoir. I didn’t get to hike as much as I would have liked, but I did see some really beauitiful wildflowers and a number of birds. The green hillsides and trails look so inviting — but watch out for poison oak! You can just bet its growing like crazy along the most enticing paths.

Blue-eyed grass

Wild sweetpea

Red larkspur

Golden fairy lantern

Red larkspur