Friday, January 15, 2010
The Seasons: Winter Rains and Green Foothills
After two years of low rainfall, this season has reversed the pattern. It was a pleasure to hike in Foothill Park, Palo Alto, this afternoon. The trails were moist and the shrubs green. Even found some wild flowers! Unusual at this time of the year. Water was flowing through Buckeye Creek at places. More rains expected next week.
From my window - Sunrise 7:04 AM January 15th
©Musafir
From my window - Sunrise 7:38 AM January 15th
©Musafir
First green leaves- A tree reawakening
©Musafir
Early arrival of Indian Paintbrush
©Musafir
Milk Maids
©Musafir
Wild Clematis, Seed pods opening
©Musafir
Makeshift footbridge over Buckeye Creek
©Musafir
Picnic alongside Buckeye Creek
©Musafir
Picnic alongside Buckeye Creek
Happy Forager
A bumper year for wild mushrooms. They are to be found everywhere. Not all are edible but the confluence of rains, sunny days, and varying range of temperature must be right for their growth. The chanterelles rewarded foraging trips. Then there were oyster mushrooms. Barely a mile from home I found a patch of Slippery Jacks under pine trees. They are edible but not prized.
A patch of chanterelles
©Musafir
Slippery Jacks
©Musafir
The Rain
I hear leaves drinking rain;
I hear rich leaves on top
Giving the poor beneath
Drop after drop;
'Tis a sweet noise to hear
These green leaves drinking near.
---William Henry Davies
I hear rich leaves on top
Giving the poor beneath
Drop after drop;
'Tis a sweet noise to hear
These green leaves drinking near.
---William Henry Davies
