Uploads from rarefruitfan

Messages from the past

nobody@flickr.com (rarefruitfan) — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:02:55 -0700

Prehistoric petroglyphs from someone's long ago ancestors. Deer? It's surprising anyone would live out here in such heat--it's a wonder they could find water. (Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada)

Arch Rock, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada

nobody@flickr.com (rarefruitfan) — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:21:07 -0700

rarefruitfan posted a photo:

Safe travels to any/all of you on the roads this weekend. Tough traffic out there! This is the (near full) moon last night at Arch Rock in Valley of Fire State Park, just North of Las Vegas. Just caught this as I ran behind on traffic and mostly missed prime photo time last night (note: traffic speed in Overton, Nevada is 25 mph!!!). Stayed here rather than in the mass of humanity in Las Vegas. Best $20 night I ever spent near Las Vegas. (Drove from Utah back to California on some personal business on Thursday). This park is phenomenal for photos, I could have spent a week here taking pictures (but only was there from sunset to sunrise, alas...). Of great amusement to me was a number of my family who were aghast I was staying here overnight instead of in "safe" Las Vegas, afraid I would be 1. murdered by an ax murderer (seriously) 2. kidnapped 3. bitten by a snake or 4. eaten by a bear. (Really, crime ridden Vegas is safer?!). Ended up--as expected--surrounded by old retired people in RVs, families, etc.

Charred bottle collection

nobody@flickr.com (rarefruitfan) — Tue, 21 May 2013 10:09:29 -0700

rarefruitfan posted a photo:

Satwiwa/Rancho Sierra Vista. Lots of burnt bottles and cans in the bushes, someone has started piling them up here. Tempted to pick them all up myself but forgot to bring gloves and a big plastic bag.

Boney Mountain Trail

nobody@flickr.com (rarefruitfan) — Tue, 21 May 2013 10:08:48 -0700

rarefruitfan posted a photo:

Quite charred. Reference photo so I can take one next year when it's green.

Up close and personal - Western Scrub-Jay

nobody@flickr.com (rarefruitfan) — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:21:09 -0700

rarefruitfan posted a photo:

Resident Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica) on my back lawn. Fearless, smart, bold, and knows the habits of the family. Ignores the dog totally (sleeping about a foot away in this case). Comes by the garden whenever I'm out to see if I might plant a good seed he/she can steal. Waits for the birdfeeder to be full, and then shakes it out for the sunflower seeds (only). Drinks from the dog's water dish,because the water is fresher there than in the birdbath.

For id - thanks, Black Headed Grobeak

nobody@flickr.com (rarefruitfan) — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:37:29 -0700

rarefruitfan posted a photo:

Haven't seen one of these before. Help? (Ventura County, California, USA) - thanks for the ID!!

Buzz buzz

nobody@flickr.com (rarefruitfan) — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:24:48 -0700

rarefruitfan posted a photo:

More of that sunset

nobody@flickr.com (rarefruitfan) — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:59:10 -0700

rarefruitfan posted a photo:

May 9, 2013

Island of houses

nobody@flickr.com (rarefruitfan) — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:56:11 -0700

rarefruitfan posted a photo:

Almost exactly a week after this neighborhood was on fire, apparently on all sides. I am guessing these folks are VERY thankful for the Fire Department this week.

Black, brown and red

nobody@flickr.com (rarefruitfan) — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:54:37 -0700

rarefruitfan posted a photo:

The only tones I could get up here at sunset. Ash covered hills, red tinted sunset.

Sunset over charred hills

nobody@flickr.com (rarefruitfan) — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:52:33 -0700

rarefruitfan posted a photo:

Interesting sunset exposure problem; hills totally black from ash, very bright light from the sunset. Plus power lines in the way. Ah well...

Cotton Candy Skies

nobody@flickr.com (rarefruitfan) — Thu, 09 May 2013 21:13:40 -0700

rarefruitfan posted a photo:

Sunset, May 9, 2013

Prickly pear

nobody@flickr.com (rarefruitfan) — Wed, 08 May 2013 17:24:42 -0700

rarefruitfan posted a photo:

Brief rainstorm the other day triggered some blossoms in the cacti around here.

Hawkeye

nobody@flickr.com (rarefruitfan) — Wed, 08 May 2013 08:46:28 -0700

rarefruitfan posted a photo:

E2 Hawkeye, I believe.

Cholla

nobody@flickr.com (rarefruitfan) — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:57:43 -0700

rarefruitfan posted a photo:

A small rainstorm, and suddenly the cactus around here have blossomed. This is pobably opuntia prolifera (Coast cholla), which is apparently pretty rare. Somewhere I read that these are markers for areas which have not recently burned in a wildfire, given they're fairly slow growing.

Spared oak

nobody@flickr.com (rarefruitfan) — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:51:10 -0700

rarefruitfan posted a photo:

Oak, on the right side of the fireline, against a thoroughly charred hill.

Black

nobody@flickr.com (rarefruitfan) — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:50:58 -0700

rarefruitfan posted a photo:

Really, really hard to get the right exposure on ash.

Branches

nobody@flickr.com (rarefruitfan) — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:50:47 -0700

rarefruitfan posted a photo:

Chapparal after the fire. Chamise, I think, which has crown sprouting roots -- if the fire wasn't too hot, this should be back next year after the rain.

Mountain through the ash forest

nobody@flickr.com (rarefruitfan) — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:50:35 -0700

rarefruitfan posted a photo:

Looking towards the origin of the fire. It made it over the crest of the mountain in the distance and then to here, near the neighborhood.

Branches

nobody@flickr.com (rarefruitfan) — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:50:24 -0700

rarefruitfan posted a photo:

Charred branches from the Springs Fire, Newbury Park, California - May 6, 2013