California Nature Photo Diary

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Tuesday May 06, 2014 · 12:37 PM PDT

2014/05/06 · 12:37

I've been taking photos around SoCal for several months (under Eddie C's tutelage), and I've got quite a few that are pretty nice, so I thought I'd share them. The one below is from a hike this weekends to Tahquitz Peak in Idyllwild, and I plan to get a poster size print of it for my new apartment in Madison after I move.

Enjoy!

Jill Richardson

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Monday April 21, 2014 · 3:35 PM PDT

2014/04/21 · 15:35

Good things from our government exhibit A: national and state parks. Yesterday, I visited Cuyamaca Rancho State Park in California. Gorgeous.

The name Cuyamaca is taken from a Kumeyaay word meaning Rainy Place. The Kumeyaay are the local Indian tribe. I'm assuming that they named the Cuyamaca mountains long before the Spanish arrived and the Spanish just adopted the term. Relatively speaking - for San Diego - the Cuyamacas ARE a rainy place. Of course, since it's San Diego and it's April, it was perfectly sunny when I visited yesterday.

California quail, the state bird

Join me below for pics and a tour.

Jill Richardson

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Sunday March 30, 2014 · 9:08 AM PDT

2014/03/30 · 09:08

I don't know if I've shared this here yet, but this is my last year (for a while) in San Diego. In August, I'm moving back to Madison, WI to attend grad school for sociology at UW. So that means that I've gotta make this wildflower season count since I won't have another chance any year soon.

It doesn't help that we're in a historic drought. I was honestly so bummed I felt like Christmas had been canceled. But honestly, the wildflowers, well, you can see for yourself...

Wild Pea

All I have to say is: THIS is why I love living in California. One of the many reasons, anyway.

Jill Richardson

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Friday February 21, 2014 · 6:11 PM PST

2014/02/21 · 18:11

I'm in the seventh year of an intense, torrid love affair with the state of California. Not with the government - I've got a few nasty things to say about that, in fact (repeal prop 13!). Nope, I'm in love with the land itself, and the plants and animals that live on it. I'm in love with the Indians, who learned how to live in harmony with this great land, not living lightly on it without making a mark, but shaping the land by burning, pruning, harvesting, etc, and co-evolving with our native species.

Getting Photos of the View

Unfortunately, I am most likely going to leave my love in less than a year. I've been accepted to grad school. I don't know where I'm going yet, but I've been accepted to UW-Madison for a PhD in sociology and I'm waiting to hear from a few other schools.

Therefore I've developed a bit of a "California bucket list" - things I want to do before leaving the state. Visit Yosemite. See a bear. See a fire poppy. Stuff my face with figs from the tree in my yard. Hike as much of the Pacific Crest Trail as I possibly can. And to facilitate these goals, I've joined a few meetup groups, including one that combines my two hobbies - photography and hiking. Here are some shots from our recent hike near Idyllwild.

Projections for California's climate are not pretty if nothing changes. This year's massive drought will become the new normal. That scares me a lot.

Jill Richardson

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Thursday September 12, 2013 · 5:26 AM PDT

2013/09/12 · 05:26

Two years ago, I visited a friend's farm in New Hampshire and I had a bit of a "Charlotte's Web" experience.

photo IMG_1982.jpg

This weekend, I had to be out east for a conference, and it provided an opportunity to head back to New Hampshire for some farm fun. Photos below.

Jill Richardson

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Wednesday April 10, 2013 · 7:03 PM PDT

2013/04/10 · 19:03

This is actually a joint diary by yours truly and richholtzin, the geology genius who usually treats us to this fantastic series. I got in touch with him a few months back when I first planned a trip to Joshua Tree to see if he had already done a post on it. He said he hadn't... but I could after my trip! I've asked Rich to put up a tip jar after this post, so please please tip him for his contribution :)

Joshua Tree National Park is named for (duh) the Joshua Tree. Legend has it that Mormon settlers named it for the biblical figure because it looked like a person standing in the desert, beckoning them to continue west. It's actually not a tree at all, but a species of Yucca.

A Joshua Tree (Yucca brevifolia)

Despite the name, you won't find Joshua Trees in every part of the park. The park is cool because it spans several different ecosystems, including both the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. My recent trip took me to several plant communities on the Mojave side - Juniper-Pinyon Woodland, Creosote Bush Scrub, and a Desert Fan Palm Oasis. So if you're ready to see more, buckle up and join me below the fold.

Jill Richardson

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Sunday February 24, 2013 · 7:33 PM PST

2013/02/24 · 19:33

Last year, San Diego legalized miniature goats and my friends got some. You can have two miniature goats - no more, no less. They cannot have horns, and any male must be neutered. The preferred dairy breed among the little bitty goats that are legal is the Nigerian Dwarf. So my friends got two Nigerian Dwarfs, sans horns. Their names are Flora and Fauna. And on Friday night, Fauna gave birth to twins. I don't care who's wearing what to the Oscars - none of them will be this cute!

Me and a baby goat! Mama did NOT like me holding her baby.

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California Nature Photo Diary

A Photo Hike through Cuyamaca Rancho State Park

Beautiful Wildflower Pics

Natural Beauty Photo Diary: Suicide Rock

Gorgeous Farm Photo Diary

DKos Tour Series: Joshua Tree National Park

Two Words: Baby Goats (Ok, a third word: Pictures!)