The California Calico of Chimineas

There is a young cowboy who lives on the range
His horse and his cattle his only companions
He works in the saddle and sleeps in the canyons
Waiting for summer, his pastures to change...

My recent return from 3 days w/ the Codger Crew in the fair fields of Chimineas has me quickly forgetting how bloody hot it was (100+), and instead day-dreaming fondly of the many, many layers of late-summer lovely we had the pleasure to witness, as we merrily tromped hills & dales, explored habitats, and set camera traps.

You see, on Chimineas Ranch in central California, the pastures sure do change in summer. And, howdy. But, those changes don't make them any less spectacular.

Because, as summer wanes in CA, the textures and colors of the grasses, oaks & chaparral become starkly contrasted, and create a wild west look that I call "California Calico."

And I must say - Chimineas shows California Calico well...


The southern highlands of Chimineas overlook the Cuyama river and highway 166


The sun begins to set on our 3,500 foot lookout


Scattered skies and sunrises - signs that autumn is near


Exploring a branch of Saltos canyon


California buckwheat, purple sage, chamise and juniper


California broom sage and fuchsia


Slot canyon full of saltbush, mormon tea, and wild rye


Buckwheats and grains ready for pancakes and cereal


Blue blue oaks and green valley oaks


Camera set in chamise on a quartz outcrop


The rolling oak savannah of late summer on Chimineas


And yet another sunset to end our summer visits - for this year

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And even though it was summer's-end, and the water had dwindled, and ground dried to hard pack - there were pretties to be found in the grasslands and canyons.

So, I'll end this seasonal photo-stroll with them:



















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References:

• James Taylor - Sweet Baby James
• The Nature of a Man (this blog) - posts about the Chimineas Ranch
• Camera Trap Codger - posts about the Chimineas Ranch 

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