Tag Archives: woods

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Redwood Grove and Ferns in Morning Light

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Redwood Grove and Ferns in Morning Light

Redwood Grove and Ferns in Morning Light. Muir Woods National Monument, California. March 8, 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Morning light streams through a redwood grove to illuminate ferns on the sloping forest floor below at Muir Woods National Monument, California.

Yes, another photo of a redwood grove at Muir Woods National Monument. As I think I wrote earlier, I’m working on creating a collection of photographs of this location and obviously the trees themselves need to have a large place in all of this work. This is a bit different – really, trust me! – than some of the other recent redwood grove shots in that it was made during sunny conditions rather than the more gloomy (but no less interesting) rainiy and cloudy conditions I had photographed earlier.

And, yes, there will be more… :-)

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.

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Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Red Alder Branch with New Spring Leaves

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Red Alder Branch with New Spring Leaves

Branch with New Spring Leaves. Muir Woods National Monument, California. March 7, 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

A branch with new spring growth leaves above the ferns at Muir Woods National Monument.

The leaves were just appearing on the delicate branches of this tree hanging above the creek by a bridge at Muir Woods in early March. The curving shape of the branch caught my attention, especially set off against the darker background of ferns and other plants growing along the banks of the creek. I had to work quickly since the sunlight was just starting to make its way down through the trees – I wanted a bit of light on the foreground branch and leaves, but no direct light on the other plants beyond.

(I’m not good at plant identification. Despite being able to recognize by location, season, and form many plants and flowers I am awful at naming them. If any one knows what plant this is… I’d be grateful for help identifying it.)

(NOTE: Since I originally wrote this post – a week before it appeared here – John Wall pointed out that the plant is Red Alder. I’ve since taken a look at a plant guide that confirms this not only by appearance by the environment in which it was found. Thanks, John!)

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, marin county, nature, california, usa, winter, branch, delicate, curve, leaf, leaves, spring, new, growth, fern, bokeh, twig, stem, green, forest, bud, stock

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Ferns and Rock

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Ferns and Rock

Ferns and Rock. Muir Woods National Monument, California. March 7, 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Ferns and rock along the creek at Muir Woods National Monument, California.

I found this mini garden alongside the one of the main trails through the central grove at Muir Woods – it was just on the other side of a low fence and next to the creek. As I walk along an area like this I take my time and try to keep my eye out for small scenes that could easily be overlooked, and the juxtaposition of the brown fern leaf with the very green new growth of ferns, moss, and sorrel caught my eye.

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, marin county, nature, california, usa, winter, ferns, clover, redwood, sorrell, oregon, oxalis, foliage, plant, rock, lichen, moss, green, brown, water, rain, shower, drop, stock

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Purple Trillium Blossom

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Purple Trillium Blossom

Purple Trillium Blossom. Muir Woods National Monument, California. March 7, 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

A purple trillium flower grows beneath the redwoods at Muir Woods National Monument, California.

Among the many trillium plants coming up at Muir Woods National Monument on the first weekend of the month were some with these purple blossoms. I’ve seen the plants before, but by some strange coincidence I had never quite managed to be there to see the blooms. If you are in the SF Bay area… go now!

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, marin county, nature, california, usa, winter, purple, trillium flower, blossom, plant, foliage, forest, woods, redwood, petal, leaf, shadow, green, stock, shade