Nature girl that I am, its my preference to start the brand New Year with nature exploration and to continue it rest of the year...
So, we headed for North East of San Diego...the Palomar Mountains...yes, where the iconic Palomar observatory is located...Also, there is a State Park...
Just above 50 miles from home, the drive was full of interesting sightings, and scenic landscapes...
As we escaped the crowded streets of the city and navigated the inland, the pleasant view of autumnal pears greeted...
Soon ranches and orchards appeared...like this avocado grove...
...and citrus, loaded with abundant ripe fruits....each looking like Christmas trees loaded with baubles...
Apart from them, the view of prickly pears and tumbleweeds, made sure to furnish a South California desert feel..
Some scenic hillsides showed up, interspersed with burnt patches...if chaparral stays, how can wildfire be far behind?
After long, steep, winding drive spanning 20 miles or so, we reached to the hilltop..by that time, we had gained about 5,500 feet altitude...
We started our hike along the wooded trail of Warner Springs...As the park map says, the Palomar Mountain is a forest island, that mans a dense woods of pine, fir, cedar and oaks, surrounded by deserts and semi-arid scrub lands...
Weather was very pleasant...the forest floor was lightly carpeted with fluffy snow....and the sun was shining...
Came across many fascinating plants and objects....like the huge Coulter pine cones...the cone length is only smaller to that of sugar pine, and in girth bigger than the latter...
Saw diverse varieties of birds....mostly, woodpeckers, sparrows, finches, bluebirds and Scrub jays, like this guy..
Came across quite a few granary trees...I mean trees with myriad holes drilled by woodpeckers and stuffed with acorns for future use...they always excite me..
Mushrooms were sprouting from logs...
The colorful lichens and moss embedded on the tree barks was offering great texture and beauty..
At the end of the 3 mile refreshing, somewhat-snowy hike, we had lunch at a near-by restaurant....
Not far from it, there was a vantage point, which offered grand vista of the hills, chaparrals, valleys...even the Pacific ocean!
Then we drove to visit a lake... the lush path for a moment confused if we are in semi-arid San Diego!
Lake Henshaw....It is big, but I learnt that it was brigger...yet another victim of prolonged drought..
The adjoining area is immense, with scenic features like creek, groves, knolls, open valleys..
On the way back, came across many ranches..with horses...
and roaming cattle...
Mistletoe has always been a fascinating thing for me, saw zillions of them, almost on every tree...
Sun was drowning...the cloud-streaked sky and tree silhouettes were accentuating the vista...
On way back home, came across more bovines grazing away, painting peaceful, bucolic setting...
Sun had almost set as we approached the orchards...the pink hills on the backdrop was panoramic..
A lady was selling fresh fruits, nuts, honey, bee pollen on a road-side makeshift stall....we stopped to buy some orange, persimmon, white sapote, even some tejocote (texocotl)...
It was an invigorating outing...I wish and look forward to more of them...
Wishing you all a healthy New Year..
No comments:
Post a Comment