Winter Solstice At Turtle RockAn ancient Ohlone creation story tells that, before humans and other animals existed, the souls of all beings were brought from the ocean by Turtle and were contained within Turtle's shell, represented by a large rounded rock on a ridge top in the Santa Cruz Mountains. At sunset on the winter solstice the sun descended ( Read more... )

Pulgas Ridge

On a rain-showery Sunday, D. and I went to Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve to go for a walk, and I took these pics.

The rain showers make the woods lovely, dark and deep.


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Los Trancos In The Mist

On a misty Saturday, D. and I went back to Los Trancos Open Space Preserve, and I took some pics.

A look at the misty meadow by the parking lot.


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Windy Hill Open Space Preserve: Photographers in the Mist

On a misty Saturday D. and I wound up at Windy Hill Open Space Preserve to see the part of the preserve lower down from the ridgeline. We had originally set out to see the upper part of Alpine Road close to the landslide and hike into Coal Creek Open Space Preserve from the north, but ( Read more... )

Fremont Older Open Space Preserve

On Sunday it looked rainy and drizzly, so D. and I went to Fremont Older Open Space Preserve because we'd never been there and we thought we would be low enough to be out of the fog and the clouds. We were, sort of. It was very "atmospheric" there, but it warrants a return visit when the air isn't full of mist ( Read more... )

What I Saw Today

Today I saw a wide boulevard lined with trees whose foliage ran the gamut from lush green to yellow, orange and deep russet red, and all hushed and shrouded in gray autumn mist.

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