The Dry Garden

Highway 101 Strikes

The Gardener and I were stopped in traffic on Highway 101 yesterday. A Honda, so new it didn't even have licence plates, crashed into the back of us. The noise was so loud, so much like an explosion, that I wasn't even sure what had happened at first. We were propelled into the back of the Saab in front. 

The Gardener's off to body shop this morning to find out how much damage has been done.

Pacific Crest Trail

The Gardener and I went camping at Grover Hot Springs State Park, one of the few that isn't slated to close to the public. 

We drove to Ebbet's Pass, 8730 feet up in the Sierra Nevada and hiked south on the Pacific Crest Trail. The snow is very late clearing this year and the wild flowers were magnificent:

 

Fire

I took this photograph of a huge fire burning south of Minden. I was in the car on the way from Genoa (California) to Highway 395.

An Alpine Meadow

Calaveras Big Trees State Park is returning the meadow at the campground to an Alpine Meadow. They've built boardwalks across it and planted native plants.

 

I took these photographs when we visited the park in July.

 

Does Anyone Know the Name of this Plant?

We bought this very pretty flowering plant at Quarryhill Garden's plant sale. It flourishes under the fruitless mulberry tree but we can't remember what it's called. 

It's a Jungle Out There

The butternut squash and zucchini are fighting for supremacy in the garden,

while white-flowered jasmine (in the background)  gives off a lovely scent.