Elderberry Flowers



High country elderberry still blooming in August.

Fresno Dome



Peeking out behind the forest.

Gooseberries of the High Country



Lush specimens compared to the defoliated ones with spiky raisins for berries in the foothills.

Close Up



In the high country, summer is really spring.

Wildflowers



Unidentified, growing near a creek.

Standing at the Edge of the Forest



Enjoying this meadow and relief from the heat.

It's Still Spring in the High Country



A visit is like turning the clock back four months, a welcome escape from the hot dry foothills.

High Country Daisies



More blossoms from the Sierra Scenic Byway.

Summer Lupine



Along the Sierra Scenic Byway, flowers still bloom.

Manzanita Red



The color of the wood exposed by a broken branch. Dog watches for signs of life down the hill.

Ghostly Manzanita



Cut back after our control burn and suffering from the drought, this elegantly vertical manzanita may not be with us much longer.

Pond Reflections



A hidden oasis on my neighbor's property.

Flowers



Another hardy specimen defying the heat.

Fall Foliage



Rich garnet tones, only marred by the memory of the damage it inflicts.

Atop a Pine



A lofty hunting perch for a huge hawk.

On the Rocks



Rock formations and an intrepid pine tree on Ward Mountain.

Summerscape



Looking northwest through the white oak trees, the house is barely visible.

Oak Canopy



Looking up at lacy white oak leaves by the front gate.

Between the Rocks



Pine peeks out from the granite boulders.

Home on the Ridge



During our summit of Ward Mountain, looking back at the ranch.

Mountain Cucumber Up Close



Huge and spiny, hollow and dry.

Wild Cucumber



Massed over a live oak, dry and tawny and splendid in death. Also known as manroot.

The Action Shot



I was not able to capture the bull frog in mid-air just his resulting splash.

Bull Frog



This guy is huge! And so are his friends.

Oasis



The pond has shrunk, but still supports its amphibian population, as well as all the other animals that come and drink.

Hawk on Pine



Hunting which involves a lot of watching.

Sunset



High country storms send a few clouds our way.

Signs of a Struggle



Feathers in the grass.