Tag Archives: leaf

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Near Cathedral Grove, Muir Woods

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Near Cathedral Grove, Muir Woods

Near Cathedral Grove, Muir Woods. Muir Woods National Monument, California. March 8, 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Redwood forest and ground cover of ferns and Oregon oxalis near Cathedral Grove, Muir Woods National Monument.

This photograph was made a bit later in the morning as I was returning to the entrance to Muir Woods, and the sun was a bit higher in the sky and, from time to time, casting light all the way down to the forest floor.

This photograph is not in the public domain. It may not be used on websites, blogs, or in any other media without explicit advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

keywords: muir, woods, national, monument, park, trail, cathedral, grove, forest, tree, redwood, ferns, oregon, oxalis, sorrel, trunk, branch, leaf, sky, trail, light, sun, needles, nature, landscape, travel, scenic, marin county, path, stock

Photographs: Nature

Trailside Ferns, Spring

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Trailside Ferns, Spring

Trailside Ferns, Spring. Quicksilver Hills, California. March 28, 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

New spring ferns grow on an embankment along a trail in the Almaden Quicksilver Hills, California.

I photographed these ferns on the shortest hike I know, on the trail closest to my home. But this trail holds a small valley that contains an incredible number of wildflowers and lush growth every spring. Today the wildflowers seemed to just be getting started, but everything was in that brief California spring phase when the earth is still wet and plants are growing like crazy – it only lasts a short time, and a few weeks from now everything will be dry once again. I spotted these small ferns growing in a rocky embankment right next to the trail, and right at the spot where I had to stop and turn around. (The other thing that spring brings is yard work, and I had an afternoon date with the yard. ;-)

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him.

G Dan Mitchell: Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email


All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Spring Growth, Bigleaf Maples

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Spring Growth, Bigleaf Maples

Spring Growth, Bigleaf Maples. Muir Woods National Monument, California. March 21, 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

New spring leaves sprout on Bigleaf Maple trees beneath the canopy of redwood trees at Muir Woods National Monument, California.

This trio of bigleaf maple trees along the creek beneath the redwood trees at Muir Woods was just starting to develop spring leaves when I visited near the end of March. They are gently illuminated by diffuse light from an overcast sky filtering down through the redwood tree canopy. I’d like to revisit these trees in a few weeks when their leaves achieve the impressively large size that this tree is known for.

This photograph is not in the public domain. It may not be used on websites, blogs, or in any other media without explicit advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

keywords: Acer macrophyllum, bigleaf, oregon, maple, leaf, big, sprout, bud, trunk, branch, twig, grove, forest, tree, redwood, muir woods, national, monument, park, golden gate, recreation, area, marin county, california, usa, nature, moss, scenic, travel, landscape, stock, dark, light, morning, filtered

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Milkmaids Plants, Redwood Forest

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Milkmaids Plants, Redwood Forest

Milkmaids Plants, Redwood Forest. Muir Woods National Monument, California. March 21. 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Blooming milkmaids (Dentaria cardimine californica) plants on the forest floor beneath the redwoods at Muir Woods National Monument, California.

Another bunch of milkmaid flowers along a hillside trail at Muir Woods National Monument. These flowers were growing in small grotto-like hollow in the hillside, and the plants in the background are the ubiquitous redwood sorrel (or Oregon oxalis) which look just like clover plants.

This photograph is not in the public domain. It may not be used on websites, blogs, or in any other media without explicit advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

keywords: Dentaria cardimine californica, milkmaids, flowers, plants, blossoms, blooms, bud, plant, foliage, leaf, fern, petal, four, stem, forest, grove, redwood, muir woods, national, monument, park, golden gate, national, recreation, area, marin county, spring, travel, scenic, nature, stock, california, usa, sorrel, oregon, oxalis