The last time I was in this part of Lake Berryessa, around Steele Canyon, was back in October 2004,when the Big Guy was fishing in a two-day bass tournament that launched here. Although I only have vague memories of how different everything looked back then, I do recall the date because his second-place trophy is hanging on our livingroom wall! […]
Neither of these two flowering shrubs are native to the areas where I found them; the snowbells originate in China, Korea, and Japan, so I can’t help wondering how this one came to be in bloom above the shores of Folsom Lake. The Pipevine Swallowtails don’t seem to mind the taste of something exotic! Although these shrubs are actually native […]
Here are a few more of my images from Doggy Day at Denio’s in late April. Nothing will convince me that these dogs do not take this event very seriously — well, most of them, that is! Why else would they be so eager to get a look at their winning trophies, and making sure their beloved masters don’t wind […]
A nesting pair of ospreys and a gaggle of acorn woodpeckers, seen at Lake Berryessa’s Steele Canyon Campground, April 2022.
Here are a few photos from the Dachsund races — part of the annual Doggy Day at Denio’s, held this year on April 23.
After having spent the majority of the morning going through my recent images of spring wildflowers, trying to firmly identify each of them, I can tell you without a doubt that I would have never amounted to anything as a botanist. I’ve been using three books and two computer apps, and I’m still not completely sure I’ve got all of […]
The vernal pools appear dry, but the wildflowers are popping up everywhere. On my visit the other day, I saw mostly purple Vetch, yellow Hawkbit, and White Hyacinth. But as I continued to look, I also spotted Vernal Pool Goldfields, Little Quaking Grass, Checkerbloom, Valley Tassels, and even Downingia. The signs of life are definitely there to see, if you […]
When I first noticed these yellow-and-white irises growing wild at Lake Berryessa’s Steele Canyon Campground, I had no idea that ladybugs had already moved in and were making themselves at home. It was difficult for me to get close enough to see precisely how many of these bright red insects were there; but I did also spot at least a […]
It’s been a few years since I was last able to attend the annual Doggy Day dachsund races at Denio’s in Roseville. My last time was back in 2017, and the event has been on hiatus for the past two years. This year’s festivities were actually pushed back from their originally scheduled date of March 19 to April 23. But […]