Fall Color Highlights

The fall colors this year have been lackluster due to the weather. Here are some reminders of how beautiful it can get.

Fall Farm Day

I went on another farm tour in early September in the Capay valley. There are a lot of organic farms in this valley, as well as a large casino (so, so out of place).

On the way, I saw the remnants of a field of corn stalks

 And a giant research/food processing facility in woodland

 Can you see the chickens in this view?

There it is 

I ran across this sign in the fields and was a little tempted to knock out internet and phone service between the east and west coasts, but decided against it

A field of gourds. Mostly winter squashes

Such as this beautiful goose-neck squash 

Purple peppers, white peppers, so many free peppers for the picking

They were so good, everyone joined in 

This canal runs water through the valley for all the farms

a crossing to get to more fields 

Broccoli starting out for the fall 

An empty field of former cucumber. Look closely and you might find some old, yellow cucs 

 

 Asparagus bushes. Apparently the second year you get the spears

Brussel sprouts

Ripe pistachios, that is why some countries dye the shells red 

A little citrus 

 These candy-stripe figs were out of this world; so sweet and juicy, you could eat a dozen in one sitting. I made an amazing pork roast with them

Butterflies and bees on lavender

 They even had a petting zoo and hay rides

I came across this brand new field of endive or lettuce 

So cute 

Sacred Alpine Wonderland on Shasta

The wildflowers of Mt. Shasta are outstanding. One of the meadow's I went to had a native american cross that showed how important and religiously significant the place was (see below). 

 This one looks very alien, I was surprised to see such a vibrant coloration on it

Looks desolate, but these are ancient little plants, each more than 50 years old. 

Then came the mossy, tiny-planted, wet, alpine marsh/bog/meadow (this part was dry, for contrast)

Budding out 

 Indian paintbrush (that's not very PC of me, wasn't sure what else to call it)

Like a flame 

 The moss was 6 inches thick! Some of those are sundew carnivorous plants

The water was so crystal clear 

The trees struggle to make inroads into the area, likely due to acidic soils 

But leads to fun, twisted shapes 

 

Careful where you walk, it could be a very important, very old stone or plant with great meaning. 

Peace.