Tag Archives: leaves

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Northern California, Photographs: Sierra Nevada, Photographs: Yosemite

Dogwood Blossoms, Forest

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Dogwood Blossoms, Forest
Spring dogwoods bloom under the canopy of a Yosemite Valley forest.

Dogwood Blossoms, Forest. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Spring dogwoods bloom under the canopy of a Yosemite Valley forest.

I am almost embarrassed to admit that I wasn’t thinking about dogwood blossoms when I made plans to visit Yosemite Valley the week before the Memorial Day holiday. I was so focused on going to photograph the effects of the historic snow melt runoff that I completed forgot that the dogwoods would still be in bloom. On the bright side, it was quite a wonderful surprise to get to the Valley and be reminded!

This was, as I have previously written, a quick one-day up-and-back trip. Since I had a four-hour drive ahead of me at the end of the day, I finished up in the Valley right around sunset, and this grove of dogwood trees was my final stop of the day. I have photographed here before, and I’m especially fond of one of the big conifers hiding behind the leafy dogwoods.

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” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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Photographs: Nature, Photographs: New York City, Photographs: Travel

Central Park, Spring

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Central Park, Spring
A meadow and trees in spring, Central Park, Manhattan.

Central Park, Spring. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

A meadow and trees in spring, Central Park, Manhattan.

This photograph is evidence. Allow me to explain. We frequently visit New York City, as our sons and their wives live and work there. The running joke is that we always go in the two worst months, August and December. And on every visit they tell us that “you should really come in fall or spring when it is beautiful.” So a few weeks ago I took them up on this and visited at the end of April. You know… spring. It rained almost the entire time. There was thunder and lightning. Roads flooded. Until the last morning.

I had a few hours on my final morning since I didn’t need to get to the airport until afternoon. So I headed toward Central Park and found… sunshine, pleasant temperatures, clear skies, and spring greenery. It was quite pleasant — for a few hours. I headed to the airport and flew back to the West Coast where… it was raining. Someone is playing a cruel joke on me. ;-)

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” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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Links to Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information.

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

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Northern California

Spring Fairy Lantern Plant

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Spring Fairy Lantern Plant
A fairly lantern plant with buds forming.

Spring Fairy Lantern Plant. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

A fairly lantern plant with buds forming.

The fairy lantern flowers are among my favorite in my part of California. For decades I did not know of them, but one year I hiked down a particular little canyon not far from where I live and discovered them, their ball-like shapes hanging beneath the pointed leaves of these plants. Every year I head back to that spot to photograph them again, and this year was no exceptions. However…

… it seems that I arrived too soon this year! Or perhaps, I was on time but the spring transition came a bit later following our very wet and colder-than-normal winter. In any case, it seemed like all of the wildflowers were blooming late and my fairy lanterns were only at the early bud stage.

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” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | About | Twitter | Flickr | Facebook | Email

Links to Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information.

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

Photographs: Nature

Spring Plants

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Spring Plants
Spring plants at the Filoli Garden.

Spring Plants. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Spring plants at the Filoli Garden.

Considering the weather California has been having, you’d have to forgive us for not remembering that spring is just around the corner. We’ve had weeks of colder than normal temperatures, lower than normal snow lines, and greater than normal rain. A few months ago we were hoping that there might be enough rain to curtail our drought, but now many are starting to say, “enough, already!” But when I look past the wintry weather I see that the green world is coming back to life.

Recently we headed to a nearby garden that features blooming bulbs at about this time each year. The blooms were starting, but seem to be a bit behind schedule. (You’ll like see photos or those flowers here soon.) But the plants are definitely emerging from winter slumber and growing like crazy. I photographed the green leaves of these bulbs in soft sunlight.

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” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | About | Twitter | Flickr | Facebook | Email

Links to Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information.

Scroll down to leave a comment or question. (Click this post’s title first if you are viewing on the home page.)

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