We drove to Mammoth via Hwys 88 and 395,
on the heels of a substantial spring storm. We dawdled to take pictures,
and to avoid having to put on chains. We didn't arrive at Mammoth until 2.
Not much skiing that day, but lots of lovely scenery.
It was a year of plenty of rain and an exceptional flower show at the desert. You couldn't find a place to put your foot that didn't crush a flower.
My mother loved the flowers above all. To mark her birthday this week I picked out 42 images, featuring the brothers Kenney, Eric, Mary, and Butch Smith, as well as Pat.
I've spent a couple of days cleaning up the mess in the site archives, which are
now easy to go through. After looking at every post (back to 1997) I nominate this as
hands-down the most interesting.
It covers two weeks of heavy construction in our yard, to strengthen the stream bank
after a disastrous flood early in the year. I had a camera on the roof, shooting
pictures every 30 seconds. After it was over I edited it down into this project diary.
Chance and Gloria are eight, both born in the summer of 2004, only a month apart in age but separated by a generation.
Chance is Aidan's youngest;
Gloria is Alex's daughter, Chris's granddaughter. They have hung out together at family gatherings since
they were three. 44 images taken over that time (1200x800 available)
Major surgery to the organization of this page.
Landscape Gallery presents
landscape photos, and includes the first of what will be several
technical articles about photography.
Family Album presents
albums of pictures of people.
9 April
Another harsh day for a bike ride
View from Highland Ave. Click for larger.
8 April Apple orchard, Corralitos
Pickings from a bike ride. Click for larger.
In a formal ceremony conducted at the conclusion of the annual Soquel Creek Hovercraft Festival, scientists
from the RWFHL, the prestigious Horticultural Labs of the Redwood Forest University, were awarded the coveted
Order of Horticultural Merit
for their astonishing development of this one-of-a-kind hybrid Oregon Grape Magnolia.
"Many problems remain to be solved,"
said Lab director Mary Hosler in an exclusive interview.
"For just one example, the hybrid is an irresistable attraction to the endangered Soquel Creek Miniature Weasel."
She added, however, that a final version of the hybrid should be available in stores within this year.