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Ridgetop Tank, Santa Ynez Mountains
The ephemeral pool forms on the bedrockhigh on a sandstone ridgehundreds of feet above the creek, otherwise filling the canyon with the sound of its rushing water,but for the displaced croak of...
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Otter Point, Gaviota Coast
A cellphone snapshot from shore. I combed the beach for over an hour before sitting to rest in the hook of the arroyo mouth. The narrow, deep drainage chute cuts the shalestone sheets underlying the...
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Parks Management Co’s Selective Fee Enforcement
A valley of mixed woods, Condor National Forest, Santa Barbara County. RULE 4: “Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules.” If the rule is that every letter gets a reply, send 30,000 letters....
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Fire Poppy, Baron Ranch Corridor
Fire poppies blooming along Baron Ranch Corridor. An extraordinary flush of canyon sunflowers now covers many places likely to hold fire poppies. The curvaceous winding slopes under thickening oak...
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Sea Cave Sanctuary
A wisp of Santa Cruz Island floats on the horizon in Channel Islands National Park. The excerpt below details an island sea cave in neighboring Ventura County, not the cave above on the mainland coast...
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Chief Matilija’s Poppy
We grew up hearing about Chief Matilija and his group of warriors who tried to fight off the ever-present armies. In the myth, the story goes on to tell of Chief Matilija’s daughter, Amatil, who was...
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Fitzgerald’s Fit: Man Leads Work Crew To Wreck Montecito Hot Springs
Who’s watching? Tell me, who’s watching? Who’s watching me? — Rockwell, Somebody’s Watching Me Brian D. Fitzgerald from 999 Hot Springs Lane was caught in Los Padres National Forest leading a work...
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Dissecting Docherty: Eagle Demo & the Hot Springs Wrecking Crew
Somehow, we’re supposed to believe that the men missed seeing this sign. Somebody’s not telling the truth. In response to the previous post, Fitzgerald’s Fit: Man Leads Work Crew To Wreck Montecito...
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Red-tailed Hawk Fledgling, Hot Springs Canyon Trail
A sycamore tree with a hawk nest as seen from the trail/public easement/private asphalt drive, just above the cement Arizona-style vehicle crossing, along Hot Springs Canyon Trail. The tall tree...
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Wild Strawberries, Santa Ynez Mountains
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the forest, the wild mountain strawberries ripened. Strawberries and poison oak. Santa Barbara strawberries. The sweet depth of flavor is among the richest, if only but a bit.
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