Author: Dorothy Nielson

Moon Over Half Dome

My friend Val and I were on our way back to Yosemite Valley after a day in the high country when we came around a bend in the road and came face to face with this beautiful sight. We pulled over, grabbed our cameras and tripods and rushed to set up before it got too late to shoot. We were able to get a few shots off before it got too dark. Stay safe and stay healthy.

    Miner’s Bunkhouse

    This quarter’s post is architecture and although it may not fit everybody’s definition of that term, I have a deep affection for old buildings and structures. This is a bunkhouse for an old mine that used to operate in the Sierra’s called the Sweetwater mine . The mine operated from the mid 1860’s to the mid 1990’s when it’s owner passed away. The old building has been severely vandalized in recent years and most of the other structures have fallen down and equipment either stolen or donated to the local Museum. Enjoy your day. Stay healthy.

    Rebirth

    The area where I live in California is very prone to wildfires. The following season or sometimes two or three years later I visit these areas. It always amazes me just how resilient mother-nature is. As hard as we try to destroy her beauty, she fights back with determination to maintain her existence. I love this guardian of beauty in our world. Stay safe.

    Mountain Bluebells.

    These little guys are called Mountain Bluebells and the only place I have seen them is in the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada. And only in two different areas. In the course of maturing they go from a pastel lavander/rose color to a pastel blue which makes for a pretty little bouquet. They are small and can be difficult to see in the tall grass and as is true for so many wildflowers, are very short-lived. I am happy I was able to see some. Stay healthy.

    Star Tulip

    Yesterday my good friends and I went on a photo shoot to some higher elevations of the western Sierra National Forest. The soul purpose of this photoshoot was to photograph wildflowers. Unfortunately we were a bit early. There were a few, but most of those were at the lower elevations of 6000-7000 ft. Above that the selection dropped way down to just a couple. But as always, what was there was beautiful. The Star Tulip is one of the first flowers to appear at the upper elevations. It is very small and close to the ground, but has an almost ethereal, translucent appearance. A very pretty little flower. Stay healthy!

    Spring Time Drive

    Some recent day trips with my son has led us to some very remote areas of our county. Mariposa is a large county with a small population, and a large portion of it belongs to Yosemite National Park and The Sierra National Forrest. This means that most of the area is unpopulated. It also means there is a lot of back country to explore. The areas we visited were once thick with pines and cedars. Un- fortunately a lot of this area has been hit with devastating wildfires in the past few year wiping out much of the tree population. This area has been cleared of the dead wood and things are beginning to grow again (Poison Oak). Which is good to see. Stay healthy.