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November 8, 2012

Autumn on the Chaparral








In the mountains of San Gabriel, overlooking the lowland vines and fruit groves, Mother Nature is most ruggedly, thornily savage. Not even in the Sierra have I ever made the acquaintance of mountains more rigidly inaccessible. The slopes are exceptionally steep and insecure to the foot of the explorer, however great his strength or skill may be, but thorny chaparral constitutes their chief defense. With the exception of little park and garden spots not visible in comprehensive views, the entire surface is covered with it, from the highest peaks to the plain. It swoops into every hollow and swells over every ridge, gracefully complying with the varied topography, in shaggy, ungovernable exuberance, fairly dwarfing the utmost efforts of human culture out of sight and mind.

~ From Steep Trails by John Muir. Chapter 11, The San Gabriel Mountains.

17 comments:

  1. how lovely and vibrant, yet soft and almost reflective in mood.

    wonderful.

    ~robert

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  2. These images are so beautiful they make me long to be there!

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  3. Only in California would you get to see these wonderful colors at this time of year. John Muir's description of the San Gabriel Mountains stirs the soul and makes me want to see it in person. Hope you are doing well.

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  4. "shaggy ungovernable exuberance"--gad, I'd like to get me some of that and deck myself out in these electric lady land colours you've captured so well. I can't think of the right word to express the feeling of seeing autumn colours that I know so well here in Eastern Canada set in a different environment: Instead of softly blazing from dampened trees, the vibrant hues spring like hot wires from an unforgiving ground.

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  5. louciao: I was thinking the very same thing and I love the description "shaggy ungovernable exuberance" We should all be that sometimes.

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  6. You really have a good eye for finding and photographing natural beauty. Outstanding shots!!!

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  7. Your eyes are finding the beauty of even thorny plants!!!
    Beautiful shots, dear friend!!

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  8. Such is the paradox of life: the brush of scintillating color is armed with consequential thorns; the mountains seen from a distance uplift the soul, yet only a foolhardy nomad would consent to cross that path...

    i'm so happy that you have returned. It's been too long since your last post.

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  9. But I can stay on the border and contemplate all these vivid and wonderful colors ,that is enough to be satisfied..:)
    An other one Ode to beauty...Thank you , it's one of my favourite windows here ,because i know that each time I stay stupefied by the wonders you share..:)
    Kisses dear Friend :)

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  10. That top photo is a knockout. What color and drama. The old biz about the rose's thorns amplified ten thousandfold. Also, I like Muir's words--I should probably read more of him someday.

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  11. Gorgeous colours! Autumn is beautiful, pity it precedes winter!... :-)

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  12. Enamorada de estas fotos! y sus colores

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  13. It's an interesting passage that you've chosen my Muir and one that I've heard backed up by hunters too. This rugged terrain, which I'm afraid made it possible, once the Station fire got into the hard to enter, deep folds of the mountain (Bear Canyon) it had a free ride to practically burn the entire range. Makes me a little sad. Fortunately, we haven't had another episode and the buckwheat is back in it's fall glory. That is my favorite chaparral plant. White flowers in spring and the most lovely burnt red come fall.

    so my guess is that this photo was taken at Etiwanda - I think that is what it;s called

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  14. Been away from my computer . . . relaxing in New Smyrna Beach with my friend Jack, just south of Daytona. As always you're compositions are stunningly beautiful. The combination of colors are simply mesmerizing. I know that terrain, how rugged and difficult it is to traverse especially off the beaten path. Wish I were there with you. Perhaps someday . . .

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  15. i come to look and then i go again, and i come again and i find myself as speechless as the first time... i cannot imagine how it might feel to stand there, feel the wind on your skin and be overwhelmed with such colours. sometimes i imagine this to be heavenly peaceful, sometimes, on the contrary, feeling a pain tearing through me, on the verge of tears - and i know that the two are two different movements of Beauty within myself...

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