Los Angeles, the huge sprawling metropolis of gray sidewalks, black streets and angry drivers. But there beautiful moments. San Gabriel Mountains, above Altadena, early morning. San Gabriel Mountains, sunset, with flash of car lights on Angeles Crest Highway. Plant, lining York Blvd, on the edge of the 110. Flower and bee, on the Arroyo Seco […]

     Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens      “California’s Native Garden”      In Claremont, 35 miles -or so- east of downtown Los Angeles.      This place is one huge garden. Like the one your grandma has out back, but bigger, infinitely bigger.      Give yourself a couple hours -at least- to wander about all the meandering […]

Wild Flowers on the San Merrill Trail in the San Gabriel Mountains above Alta Dena. Globe Gilia Gilia capitata (Orange?) bush monkeyflower Mimulus aurantiacus Indian paintbrush Castilleja Lacy Phacelia Phacelia tanacetifolia Deerweed Lotus scoparius Globe Gilia Gilia capitata Golden Yarrow Eriophyllum confertiflorum Prickly Phlox Leptodactylon californicum

Wild Flowers on the San Merrill Trail in the San Gabriel Mountains above Alta Dena. Orange bush monkeyflower Mimulus aurantiacus Golden Yarrow Eriophyllum confertiflorum Red larkspur Delphinium nudicaule Red larkspur Delphinium nudicaule

The hills of California are blooming. All of the flowers, 31 pictures in all, over the next three posts, were taken on the bottom half of the San Merrill trail, [link to my blog post on hiking this trail], just above the city of Alta Dena. I have done my best to name some of […]

Wandering through the spring-time mountains and hills of Los Angeles.