Bluebird Day: July 2016

Hot days, cooler nights, and clear rivers: it is mid-summer in the Sierra Nevada. In my mind's eye, the end of July always signifies the "dog days" of summer. I've never been too clear on what that phrase actually means, but I have a very clear personal definition: the time in the summer in which life slows down a little. To me, it's usually a time characterized by long, hot days that seem in drag on in the most pleasant way. The newness and novelty of the summer has worn off slightly, leaving the days of rushing to pack summer adventures into every waking moment behind. There are still plenty of summer activities to be had and to check off lists, but the atmosphere seems to take on a more calm, lazy air, with tasks that feel less pressing. A greater need for outdoor time and also relaxation time seems to persist in me this time of year, which I gladly fulfill through walks, swimming, and biking.

I recently finished reading Terry Tempest Williams' new book The Hour of Land, which focuses primarily on her visits and connections to various national parks. I enjoyed Williams' book for its vivid descriptions of some of her favorite parks, like Grand Tetons, and her in-depth exploration of sites entirely new to her, like Big Bend National Park in Texas. During each day of her visit to Big Bend, Williams writes in a different color of notebook, which centers her daily writing on interpretations of her surrounding scenery and reflections on the particular color. This singular focus of color intrigued me.

Through my work conducting meadow assessments, I have had the lucky opportunity to see and spend time among some spectacular Sierra Nevada wildflowers. I often try to photograph them for my enjoyment, and also so that I can use the photos to identify any that I don't know. I have seemingly hundreds of wildflower photos from this spring and summer, but thought I would follow along in Terry Tempest Williams' style and focus on a singular color: pink. A bright, cheerful color, pink is a most striking view to set your eyes upon when first encountering a mountain meadow. I have so enjoyed getting to see many different varieties of wildflowers. One particularly interesting aspect of wildflower viewing has been seeing the variation in colors even among the same species.

See below for a foray into the world of the pink wildflowers in California.