Poppies! Poppies!

This past weekend we had our friend Mary at our place. It was great catching up with her and laughing all weekend long. On Sunday, Mary's last day, we decided to drive down to the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, which is minutes from our home, to take pictures. Due to the amount of rain and frost we received this year we are experiencing a gorgeous poppy and wildflower bloom. It would have been a shame not to have captured this on film so we didn't let the moment got to waste. This makes living out in the middle of the desert all worth while. Truly breathtaking...

California wildflowers Part I

On a recent hike with Kim and the naughties I took some pictures of local flora in the hills surrounding Elizabeth Lake. I cannot wait for sunnier days so the flowers will begin bloom and to be able to take better photographs. The hills are beginning to turn shades of yellow, orange and purple. I am looking forward to exploring the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve in the next few weeks, so be on the look out for more pictures of spring flowers.

A view of Elizabeth Lake through wildflowers

Nemophila menziesii or Baby blue-eyes

Lupinus polyphyllus or Lupine

Helianthella californica or Helianthella

Phacelia tanacetifolia or Purple Tancy

Ranunculus californicus or California buttercup

Clarkia purpurea or Purple Clarkia

Lupinus albifrons or Bush Lupine

A view from the car

Well now that I'm done with all of my summer excursions, I thought I'd catch everyone up with some of my goings-on. I won't bombard everyone with everything at once, but merely a daily dose and minor highlights.

Here are some photos of our drive out to Madison. I had a lot of fun with my new Cannon PowerShot SX110 IS camera.

Somewhere over the rainbow in Southern Utah

Starting the climb up the Colorado Rockies

Colorado river cut out

Anyone for a fluffy white cloud?

Green & lush Colorado

Perfect canvas for a great shot...Colorado Rockies

Flora of the Angeles National Forrest

Yesterday, whilst driving a different route home, I found these beautiful local wildflowers and got some great shots with my new Cannon SX110IS digital camera. The Angeles National Forrest surrounds the tiny communities of Elizabeth Lake, Lake Hughes, Green Valley, Leona Valley and Three Point.


Clarkia unguiculata or Woodland Clarkia on Bouquet Canyon Road in the Angeles National Forrest near Saugus.


Diplacus aurantiacus or Sticky Monkey Flower on Bouquet Canyon Road in the Angeles National Forrest near Saugus.


Campanula Medium or Canterbury Bells on Spunky Canyon Road in the Angeles National Forrest near Green Valley.


Cirsium neomexicanum or New Mexico Thistle on Spunky Canyon Road in the Angeles National Forrest near Green Valley.

Local flora of Elizabeth Lake

On the way home from an assignment, I decided to stop and smell the roses, so to speak. Here is what I encountered...

Blue Elderberry or Sambucus mexicana
Sandrock Drive, Elizabeth Lake, CA


California Poppy or Eschscholzia californica
Sandrock Drive, Elizabeth Lake, CA


Scarlet Larkspur or Delphinium cardinale
Lake Elizabeth Road, Green Valley, CA


Desert Candle or Yucca whipplei
San Francisquito Road, Green Valley, CA














Purple Nightshade or Solanum xanti
Sandrock Drive, Elizabeth Lake, CA

Out to get the mail

Don't I look purdy!










Snow and more snow









Hi honey bunney









Elizabeth Lake









Blankets of snow









Greenside Grill









Finally the mail!