The manzanitas are heavy with red berries. This one is unusually vertical. Most are like the one in the foreground, gray-green and shrubby.

The peaks of the coastal range can be seen. Why are these long sight lines so inspiring? Since we are located in the middle of the state, I have a sense of looking west to the Pacific. I wonder if the air was ever clear enough to see that far.

Yes, it's poison oak. Just looking at these deceptively innocuous leaves makes me itch.

Walking down the driveway drenched in sweat after a short walk. I can't get up early enough to beat the heat. During the heat wave it never cooled down at night.

A bright spot in the garden livens the summer palette of beige and green.

Stop eating my garden. He doesn't even run away from me.

The heat is making me feel somewhat less than fresh as a daisy. Please make it stop.

It's raining in the high country and we even got a few drops.

The slipper-like milkweed pod burst to reveal the seeds. Surrounded by cottony filaments, they are about to be borne away by the wind.

This buckeye tree has finished blooming and turns from green to golden.

A few mule's ears finish blooming in this week of sweltering heat.

This bull pine fell over last year. Still majestic even as it lies decomposing.

Whisker brush - the only new flower I've identified this year.

A few hardy canchalagua persist as the wildflowers dwindle.

This delicate lacy flower is difficult to photograph. It's always in motion and another one I have not been able to identify. It's suppsed to be 105-110 degrees this weekend.

This vine covers live oak clumps and then dies leaving a network of orange strings.

The largest wasplike insect I'd ever seen on this unidentified marsh plant.

The birds seem to have left some coffeeberries this year.

Here's my attempt to capture the sunset. The mountains to the north and east are also lit up with a faint pink glow.

Pearly Everlasting growing near the house. The flowers have a faintly sweet scent.

These sourberries are supposed to be edible. There seem to be more of them this year.

Close up of the candy cane palette of Farewell to Spring.

These purple clover-like flowers are springing up in the marshy areas.

Canchalagua thrives in dry sunny spots. Some of the flowers have a coral tint.

The bay trees start out as luxuriant shrubs.

A few hardy flowers still hang on despite the summer heat.