Nature Archives – Strength Of The Small

Hiking Outdoor Adventures Destinations Nature Flowers Shrubs & Trees

A Day Exploring Wrightwood, CA

By RachelJuly 15, 20231 min read464 views

Yesterday we visited Wrightwood, CA to go hiking and sightseeing.

We stopped by The Big Pines Visitor Center to get information.

The Big Pines Visitor Center is a historical building built in 1924. It is open Mondays through Fridays, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m, and you can obtain National Forest Adventure Passes, Campfire Permits, and much more. There are two hiking sites: the Blue Ridge Trail which is across the road and Big Pines Nature Trail which is above the visitor center building. Restrooms are across the road.

*The Big Pines Visitor Information Guide Board.*

The start of the Nature Trail is above the staircase. The walk is quite simple despite a few steep areas. After a certain point, you can’t go further due to the possibility of encountering a Mountain Lion.

Due to the extreme weather, we did not venture on the Blue Ridge Trail.

There is a sitting area across the road. It’s next to the public restrooms and the parking leading to the Blue Ridge Trail.

*Sitting Area across The Big Pines Information Station.*

While hiking, we spotted a few native plants on our way up:

Arctostaphylos Parryana (also known as Parry Manzanita), Eriastrum Sapphirinum (also known as Sapphire Woollystar), Asclepias Californica (also known as California Milkweed), Castilleja Applegatei (also known as Applegate’s Indian Paintbrush ), Phacelia Ramosissima (also known as Branching Phacelia), Penstemon Speciosus (also known as Royal Penstemon), Justicia Californica (also known as Chuparosa), Astragalus Lentiginosus (also known as Freckled Milkvetch), and Hypericum Calycinum (also known as Creeping St. John’s Wort).

We wrapped up our trip by visiting Alice’s Vintage Cottage.

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By Rachel

Outdoor Adventures Leisure Destinations Nature

A Day Well Spent In Big Bear, CA

By EPEngineerJuly 6, 20231 min read335 views

Last night we finally made the decision to take a trip to Big Bear, California, before we are faced with triple-digit temperatures. Today was the day and it was awesome!

Big Bear Lake CA – The Village Welcome Sign.
*Image source: Alamy.com*
.

We took Highway 18 through Lucerne Valley, CA.

We had brunch at Teddy Bear Restaurant:
– Club Sandwich
– Bears Best Sandwich
– Fried Egg Burger
– Mushroom Burger

After our brunch, we visited a few shops, and took a walk around the lake.

On our way home, we took the Rim of The World Highway.

There’s a high school at the top of the mountain overlooking the San Bernardino Valley.

The view is breathtaking.

It was a worthwhile adventure.

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By EPEngineer

Snowfall Winter Yard Sculptures Garden Decor Weather Nature High Desert

Wet & Cold Winter

By JM PerezFebruary 26, 20231 min read525 views

The past months have been very cold here in California. We were so grateful December for the rainfall after such a very long period of dry weather. Since then, it has been cold, extremely cold. On Saturday and Sunday, we had our first heavy snowfall of the year. This morning as well, we had some light snowfall.

California is colder than usual at this time of year, and it appears that Mother Nature is done with us. Still, we are grateful for every bit of rain we get.

Plants and trees were covered in snow, and as a result, we had a few broken branches.

Sculptures and yard decorations alike were covered in snow; it wasn’t until the following morning that we all stepped out to clear the driveway and let the kids build a snowman.

*Sculptures & Decorations covered in Snow.*

Indeed, snowfall makes everything it touches and covers look beautiful, and brightens the World. The flip sides to this beauty can be quite damaging and devastating: road closure due to massive flooding, debris, cracks, fallen trees, fallen electric poles, mudslides, rockslides, erosion, etc.

As I anticipate the arrival of Spring, I wish everyone a warm and safe Winter.

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By JM Perez

Hiking Outdoor Adventures Destinations Nature

Hike To Amboy Crater Hike Off Route 66

By EPEngineerNovember 14, 20211 min read242 views

Amboy Crater National Natural Landmark

Bureau of Land Management
Needles Field Office
Needles, CA 92363

Phone: 760-326-7000
Email: BLM_CA_Web_NE@blm.gov

After many years of procrastinating, today we finally made it to Amboy Crater.
Well, it wasn’t so much about procrastination as my kids really wanted to go on a hike and/or long walk, but we thought they were too young to make it. After weeks of planning, we were excited to hike the Amboy Crater on Thursday especially as the weather was getting cooler.

*Amboy Crater National Natural Landmark Monument & Information.*

There are a few shaded picnic areas, crater information, warning signs and a well kept restrooms.

*Amboy Crater Information, Warning Signs & Restrooms.*

Covered picnic areas.

The trail begins around the picnic bench to the right, lined with rocks. Follow the path on your way to the crater.

First partially shaded rest area.

My kids and I decided to stop at the center of the crater, while my husband climbed up to the rim.

At the top of the crater you get a vast and beautiful view of the surrounding landscape.

*View into the middle crater from the rim.*

Head back the same way you came …

Be advised that there is no water at the site; therefore, you should bring your own, and plenty of it. Watch out for rattlesnakes and other desert wildlife along the trail.

Amboy Crater, San Bernardino County, California

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By EPEngineer

Nature Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Glimpse Of Beauties

By JM PerezOctober 2, 20212 min read623 views

It’s October, the weather is cooling down and still not a drop of rain in some parts of the High Desert. In the midst of everything, I am still grateful to Mother Nature. The winds are picking up and allergies will soon be on the rise …

I haven’t done much gardening lately; however, strolling through my front and backyard yard, I catch a glimpse of beauties here and there. My Hybrid Tea Tree Rose Rio Samba isn’t doing so well. I have had it for over ten years now, and it was doing well until last year; I suspected curl grubs and other soil pests and took care of it. A couple of weeks ago I was pleasantly surprised to see a couple of buds emerging from the trunk, and last week one of the buds bloomed.

The Crassula capitella I propagated through cuttings a couple of months ago are covered in white flower buds atop the stems. I am looking forward to seeing those buds open up.

I spotted a very small White Moth resting on the leaf of a Gopher Plant; possibly Cataclysta Lemnata, also known as Small China-mark. According to The Bay Magazine Swansea, their larvae develop underwater, after which the caterpillars feed on duckweed and live underneath the tiny plants floating on the surface of ponds and lakes. In order to disguise themselves, Small China Mark caterpillars fashion tube-like silken cases for themselves which they cover in duckweed, rendering them all but invisible.

Sunsets in the High Desert never cease to amaze me. Below is an image of the sun shining through a gap between the clouds while setting. It’s simply beautiful.
According to GeographyReal.com, as air descends, it increases in temperature, a process known as adiabatic warming or heating. That effect of descending air being warmer and drier is what created gaps in cloud coverage.