Shadow of the Giants

A visit to Nelder Grove, Shadow of the Giants trail, evinced moments of childlike wonder this past weekend.

Nelder Grove is a little known home of a few of the Giant Sequoias that didn't get felled at the turn of the century when logging was heavy in the forests above Bass Lake.

A mile long, looped walking path takes you through the trees and the giants.
We had a stupendous day of perfect weather and family camaraderie. Our path included a small bridge where we stopped to take pictures in the midst of the giant sequoias.

Some of the younger computer-and-phone-generation blithely took the path through the trees with quick glances and hurried paces, probably thinking they could pull it up on their iPhone if they really needed to see it.

They waited at the end of the loop for the elders who stopped often to relish each sequoia tree (whether standing or fallen, waiting for the forest to reclaim it), or maybe they were just catching their breath.

Flowers blossomed in the shade on the forest floor and a stream gurgled in the quiet background.

Walking sticks helped traverse the gentle rise and fall of the path. Finding just the right one felt a lot like I was in the midst of a Goldilocks and the three bears story; This one is too short, this one is too heavy, this one is bent the wrong way--until each came upon the one that was "just right."

Under the canopy, the huge trunks of the giants were heavy with moss.

At the end of the walk, I found a small rock that "called" to me and I took it home (if I find myself at a place that holds good memories or have had a particularly insightful trip, I sometimes look for a stone that will carry that energy back with me--how unapologetically hippy-dippy Californian I am).


Nelder Grove info:
http://www.yosemitehikes.com/not-yosemite/nelder-grove/nelder-grove.htm

Cactus Flowers, Green beans and Figs

With all the cool weather we've had here in the San Joaquin Valley, different plants have been blooming in abundance, especially the cacti. On Father's Day weekend, my one-day cactus burst forth with not one, or even three which is the maximum I've ever experienced, but bunches each day for several days. I would run out first thing in the morning when they are at their peak, before the heat starts to wilt them (crazy for a cactus flower, huh?).

The pictures speak for themselves. (I've been using one of the close-ups as my computer's desktop screensaver. I'm in awe each time I sit down in front of it.)

As I watched three black bumble bees hovering around the blooms, the biggest one dove inside the largest flower, working his way as far back as he could get, then rolled around, tumbling and turning (to get the honey all over him I guess). I didn't get a video of it, darn, I was too busy watching his antics.

This morning I was puttering around the garden, my favorite thing to do before the heat drives me inside (104 predicted today).

I saw that the green beans were getting large, and the drooping figs needed picking before the mockingbirds and bluejays took notice. It inspired this post.

Now I have to figure out what I can cook with greenbeans and figs. That will have to be a post for another day.

Spring 2011

The hills around Fresno have been greening up with all the rain we've had this year.

It's as if the trees are dancing with joy.

Streams are full and flowing . . .

. . . and newborns are everywhere.

Even a donkey relishes the fresh grasses.

What do our Stonehenge-like boulders whisper about when they lean toward each other?

Maybe the lazy cows,

or maybe the snow covered mountains to the east.

Or maybe that Spring has arrived here in the valley, wha-hoo!