Hellebore in Bloom



Adding an elegant touch to the garden. These are one of the success stories of the first planting. Five out of six lived and flourished. Three years later a few new plants have been propagated by the original five.

Storm



Looking south to the Central Valley at the gathering clouds.

Gooseberry



Starting to leaf out, but not yet flowering, a lacy addition to the winter landscape.

Rain Means Snow



How exciting to wander about yesterday and see the fresh snow in the Sierras. Clean air, much needed rainfall, and the clouds racing up to the high country.

The Most Popular dog in America



She's a lab mix. She's the one who's always up for a walk, over rocks and through water.

Under Ice



The barrel in our backyard with six inches of water is frozen solid.

Looking North



My daily late afternoon walk to the end of the road.

Most of the manzanitas remain shrubs. Very few attain this height and tree-esque grandeur. This one is on my next door neighbor's property. With this sunny, dry weather, their red bark stands out in a sea of gray and brown.

Grinding Hole Iced Over



One of the coldest weekends ever with ice everywhere.

Smog at Sunset



All bare trees and haze.

Pastel Bells in January



Not all of the manazanitas are in bloom, but this one is leading the charge.

Oak Grove



The white oaks are denuded and ghostly awaiting some rain. Dry and dreary today, though warmer.

Fungi Hang On



Despite the dryness this year, the fungi form on stumps. The scallops are a welcome sign of life in the dead of winter. They flourish in the shady, dewy places.

Cloud Lake



Clouds fill the central valley creating a bowl of cloud soup. They linger for days in the winter. Imagine being trapped inside them, a special type of Seasonal Affective Disorder, not of the arctic circle perpetual night variety but a gray purgatory.

In the mountains, the clouds are in constant motion, here lifting right at sunset, to afford this view.

Natural Bonsai



This is the only natural occurring ponderosa pine I've found on the ranch, growing in a boulder crevice on the northeastern side of the ranch. The bull pine nearby are have greener and longer needles. So many plants cling to the granite and hard life of limited soil and water.

The Long View



These mountains look so far away. I'm always aware of the high country, a wilder, colder place, accessible and beckoning. I get the urge to start walking and walk until I'm in the Sierras.

Drinking Pool



The storm creates a place to drink in the granite.

West With the Night



The storm blew away the pollution leaving the coastal range visible.

More Snow, Please



The sierra snow pack is 60% of normal for this time. The strongest evidence is lots of granite and little snow on this Yosemite peak. It's still early in the season, so hopefully there's time to catch up.

Under the Mistletoe



An enormous mistletoe ball thrives in the oak.

Coming Home



Back from walking Phoebe, trying to make it by dark. What a great time to be out and see the sky lit up as the sun sets.

Frost



Lingering in the morning until the full sunshine hits.

Last of the Sunset



The finale or least the last moment that my camera is able to capture.

A Hint of Green



The gooseberry begins to leaf out. A hopeful sign for the new year?