Naturescapes

Cascades in the Gorge

Watching the delicate dance of water as it winds its way down moss-clad rocks, or arc over a ledge in a beautiful waterfall, or spread into a million droplets of refreshing mist, is perhaps the surest sign of spring. The cool air was alive with the scent of damp earth and wildflowers, a fragrant reminder that life persists even in the hidden corner of the forest. It hearkens back to an era of unspoilt nature far away from civilization.

Here are a few scenes from the Columbia River Gorge, noted for its amazing variety of wildflowers which tumble down the steep slopes of the Gorge

Columbia River Gorge 
OR USA

Blurred visions

Balsamroot in full bloom stretch towards the horizon where the first light of day hits Mt Hood. Framed against the pink sky, the scene was a a perfect reminder of the beauty of spring in the Pacific Northwest, which encapsulates everything from the vivid tulip blossoms in Skagit Valley, the vibrant flowers in neighborhood gardens to vast blooms like this one.

I used the blur of the windswept blooms to highlight the gusty conditions that morning. While I attempted a few shots at a higher shutter speed to freeze the motion, I found that the blurred flowers worked equally well for this scene.

Columbia Hills Historic State Park
WA USA

Floral explosion

The wild and unpredictable weather of California may have impacted the superbloom that was expected after the wet winter. While the colors may be more muted in most of California compared to the color explosion last year, Death Valley is experiencing a resurgence of colors after a perfectly wet winter. It remains to be seen if the other drier regions of the state experience a similar floral bloom.

Here are some of the blooms captured in the various wilderness areas in Southern California

CA USA

Chasms in the sandstone

In the red sandstone canyons of the Navajo Nation, there lies one replete with mysterious curves that bend and reflect the light in strange ways. Even mid-day sometimes never makes it down the canyon, but it highlights the striations that wind along the sinuous walls. Its a delightful photographic journey to walk down the canyon and immersing in the beautiful creation of water.

Navajo Nation
AZ USA

Blooms of the Gorge

Old wagons, run-down stagecoaches, rusty barns and worn out corrals dot the green hills that slope down to the still waters of the Columbia River a thousand feet below. These were the only vestiges reminding us of the rich history of homesteading in this beautiful region dating back to the mid-19th century. Today, these are part of the Columbia Hills Historical State Park in the Columbia Gorge, which in spring, bursts with brilliant blooms of balsamroot.
Here is one such bloom framing an old wagon, a remnant of a bygone era.

Columbia Hills Historical State Park
WA USA

Wildflower Closeups

I always wonder what led to rich diversity of wildflowers every time I witness a spring bloom event. The blooms I have witness comprise of anything from dainty buttercups with shiny golden yellow petals, blue petaled baby-blue eyes dotting the undergrowth near creeks, vivid reds of the Indian paintbrush in the thick bush, the soft orange of the ubiquitos California poppy fluttering in vast swathes under a sunny sky. And even though I have seen them from up close and from far away, I can never get tired of looking at nature's artwork.

Central California
USA

Spring Palette

Here are more visions of the California landscape from springs of years past. Vast surfaces of dusty brown that characterize the rolling hills and fallow lands during summer acquire a fresh coat of green. And out in the Central Valley, dry dustpans suddenly become wetlands harboring migratory birds. This is often the time I seek out hiking trails that take me out of civilization, to witness biomes and climate as it once had been.

Visions of Spring

The fallow lands in the agricultural plains of California are often a shade of rusty brown through most of the year, a side effect of the hot and dry climate experienced by the interior of the state for most of the year. These conditions do not spare the rounded hills that run along the western spine of the state. But the spring rains rejuvenate these lands, adding a fresh coat of green, and a dash of color from wildflowers.

Wild mustards, with their distinct lemon-yellow blooms, are the first ones to crop up on vast swathes of fallow lands. Soon after, the still-moist meadows proliferate with various flowering plants and spring grasses. The California black oak, a tree well adapted to this climate, acquires a fresh set of leaves after laying dormant all winter, and quickly envelop any mistletoe growing on their branches.

Driving through these lands often provide a window into the past, of how California used to be before it got as densely populated as it is now.

Central Valley
CA USA

Gentle Giants

I recently watched 'The Last Tourist', which tries to encapsulate the economic, environmental and socio-cultural cost of tourism on a region. While I was aware of some these impact, this movie served as an eye-opening experience. I was especially taken aback by the toll of wildlife tourism in Thailand, as it rekindled some of my own memories of animal experiences in the night markets of Chiang Mai. I remember seeing sad looking tiger cubs being used as show-pieces, leashed monkeys used for performing tricks, and several other endangered animals treated with wanton cruelty.

But it was learning about inhumane treatment of elephants in the various 'nature' parks showcased in the movie that brought me to tears. These intelligent gentle giants were chained up with very little ability to move, or being prodded with sharp metal rods to perform tricks. This 'tourism' experience certainly did not earn any sympathy from me. While I was glad I didn't venture on such an experience, I would have rather not traveled to such a destination that supports such inhumane experiences.

This specific elephant was living its retirement years at the Elephant Nature Park, one of the parks that cares for rehabilitating and improving the lives of elephants.

Thailand