Dan's Outside

2003.06.07

***Everything seemed green
last week but the coastal California hills have now turned golden – though a bit later than usual.

This was certainly the case on my hike today. Almost all of the seasonal plants have turned brown and the grasses have gone to seed. There are still some late season flowers – some quite spectacular – but the lupine and California Poppies and other flowers of spring are largely gone.

I’ve been told that people from other parts of the US think that California looks parched and arid at this time of year. However, Californians look forward to this time of year. There is something clean and spare about these brown hills, the scattered groves of old oaks, and the green valley bottoms where water still runs.

My sister tells me this is a Calochortus (Mariposa Lily).
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June 7, 2003 - Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary