Carrizo Plain Flower Status
I stopped for half a day at Carrizo Plain National Monument, and was surprised to see much more greenery than last year’s desert-like conditions. Fields of purple and yellow flowers are evident, with even some smaller patches of poppies. This week through next week will be the peak.
It won’t be like the phenomenal 2005 bumper crop of flowers, but it’s decent. Still, the plants are clearly suffering, already showing signs of drought and heat stress (starting to droop), not at all the rich verdant tapestry I enjoyed in 2005.
Some pleasing images could be made by waiting for better light in late day, but this one I made as I had to leave, in mid afternoon.
Flowering plants in Carrizo Plain National Monument, March 15 2015
[low-res image for bot]
f7.1 @ 1/320 sec, ISO 100; 2015-03-15 15:27:33
Ricoh GR + 18.3 mm f/2.8 @ 27.8mm equiv (18.3mm)
Ricoh GR + 18.3 mm f/2.8 @ 27.8mm equiv (18.3mm)
[low-res image for bot]
