Images
Calfiornia poppies at the Gamble Garden in Palo Alto
California Poppies
A white tulip at the Gamble Garden in Palo Alto, California
White Tulip
Panther Beach is my favorite spot on the California coast between Monterey and San Francisco. On this evening, it was a beautiful drive down the coast to Panther Beach. Panther Beach used to be hard to find but when I arrived this time, I found a big parking lot under construction. The new parking lot makes me think the beach will no longer be a hidden gem that one has to know about to find.
Panther Beach Sunset Redux
The Keyhole Beach Arch at Pfeiffer Beach Solstice lights up at sunset on the days around the Winter Solstice. This is an amazing natural phenomenon. Humans have built structures over the centuries on a solstice alignment but natural structures on that alignment are even rarer. This particular day was quite cloudy which muted the effect but it was still something special to experience.
Pfeiffer Beach Solstice
Amid the festive buzz of December, with everyone gearing up for the holidays and Christmas, I find myself drawn to celebrating the winter solstice as well. It’s fascinating to think that Christmas owes part of its timing to ancient traditions, specifically the Roman festival of Saturnalia, which aligned with the solstice. For me, the solstice is a moment of reflection, awe, and connection to earlier human societies, best spent watching the sun dip below the horizon along the coast. However, with rain in the forecast for December 21st this year, I decided to get ahead of the weather and made my pilgrimage a little early.
Almost Solstice
Egret in flight at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Most of the trails are currently closed due to the South San Francisco Bay Shoreline Project but there’s a short portion of the boardwalk open where it’s possible to see egrets and other birds.
Egret
This was my first journey out to Central Valley to see the Almond Blossoms. This image is at Rodin Farms. Rodin Farms is a great place to see the almond trees in bloom as the vistors can wander trough the orchards admiring the blooms.