Nature trips in California, 2009

[Tom Barr]

I have long been driving, hiking, swimming, biking around the rural areas I live. Today it's a nice warm spring day in Northern CA. I look for wood, for rock, for wildflowers, waterfalls, trees, anything of interest, and I also look for aquatic plants.

CA is not really known for aquatic plants, mostly aquatic "weeds", but there are many species here.

This one always throws aquarist for a curve.

This plant looks like a cross between Rotala macrandra and Ammania gracilius.
Grows in deeper pools , about 2ft deep, flowing water always........has a very pretty red color.

Enjoy,

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[Tom Barr]

And what I was original after:

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[ccLansman]

wow thats amazing, where abouts are you taking these pics?

 

[Gerryd]

Tom,

Loves those fields of wildflowers...........

I would love for my tank to look like that!

Please post more if possible!

 

[Tom Barr]

I'm downloading some now.

I went up to other side of Sac Valley today for wildflowers...........

The above pics are from Bear Valley Rd off HYW 20 in Ca. Fairly close to Snow Mountain.

The other area is near Feather Falls/Table Mountain.

Peak flowering today. Got some really nice wood too.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[Tom Barr]

The Aquatics:

What Real manzanita driftwood is suppose to look like, not those silly floral arrangement pieces.........

Yes, I have several of these trees.

Now for the plants: this was at Table Mt near Oroville, at the peak flower display, I've seen some parts in better shape, but it's still awesome. there are also 6 large water falls, no less than about 30-100+ ft and really cool lava rock all over.

And you can see for 100 miles in most directions.

Rainbow of colors:

this makes nice wall paper:



Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[Tom Barr]

More:

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[helgymatt]

I'm jealous - of the spring flowers and wood Spring is just around the corner...

 

[sanoptic]

Hi,
Amazing wild flower pics,we have the same here in WA [Australia] in spring.
Flowers to be seen for miles.
Nice aquatics pics too.
Thanks for posting them.

cheers

 

[Tom Barr]

I'll be in Oz in Sept, just in time to see it.
Bit like our weather, so I expect similar things in nature.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[Calmer]

The pictures are so beautiful that I can't choose which view I like best. Thanks for posting them.