Wordless Wednesday: Cloudy Views

Early morning, southeast view, September 18th

Sunset, northeast view, same day

All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

Wednesday Vignette: In the Pink

Rain has continued to fall at regular intervals here and the extended forecast shows the possibility of more into May, which would be extraordinary.  The most recent, relatively brief storm moved through on Sunday.  Monday was mostly clear and sunny, if still colder than normal, but afternoon clouds lit up the sky in pink as evening fell and I took the opportunity to grab a few photos.  Rather than let them land on the proverbial cutting room floor, I decided to post them as a Wednesday Vignette.

I may be deluding myself but it seemed that I could see a bit of snow on the mountains behind the thin veil of pink along the horizon

The Snow Supermoon could be seen rising to the right of the pine tree

The clouds visible on the southwest side of the house were particularly pretty even if the view was obscured by houses and foliage

The clouds visible to the west looked more ominous

For more Wednesday Vignettes, check in with Anna at Flutter & Hum.


All material © 2012-2019 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

Wednesday Vignette: Just a pretty picture

I took this photo last Thursday as my husband and I were preparing to sit down to dinner, no doubt annoying him as I grabbed my camera and rushed outside.  When I saw the pink color of the sunset had transformed both the city below us and the ocean in the distance, how could ignore it?

Last night didn't deliver the election results I'd have liked to see but there was progress.  I'm impressed that so many people came out to vote; that large numbers of young people chose to get involved; and that women have made inroads across the board.  I'd be even more impressed if members of both parties could learn to build bridges based on shared values rather than investing all their energy hurling invectives, fomenting fear, and promoting division within the population.

For more Wednesday Vignettes, visit Anna at Flutter & Hum.


All material © 2012-2018 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

Wednesday Vignette: Sunset & smog effects

We haven't had many vivid sunsets of late but, when I looked out my office window just after sundown on Sunday night, the sky was looking decidedly pink.  Although the Los Angeles County fires were nearing containment at that point, I thought maybe residual dust and particulates in the air might intensify the color show as I'd heard that smog creates great sunsets.  I grabbed my camera and took photos of the clouds from different vantage points.

This was the view looking roughly southeast toward Angel's Gate, the entrance to the Los Angeles Harbor

This is a wider view looking approximately northeast

And this photo, taken from the front driveway, looks west

Does smog, something Los Angeles has in abundance even without the contribution of massive wildfires, actually intensify sunsets?  The answer seems to depend on which source you consult.  National Geographic says that dust and air pollution only mutes a sunset's colors.  Scientific American, on the other hand, contends that smog simply alters the colors.  Believe what you'd like, the colors captured by my camera were especially pretty.

The news last night was also pretty incredible.  I was prepared to be let down by the results of yesterday's special election back east but my faith in the integrity of American voters just got a major boost.  Dare we hope that the days when truth can be drowned out by cries of "fake news" are ending?  I don't know but the political horizon looks rosier to me this morning.

For more Wednesday Vignettes, visit Anna at Flutter & Hum.


All material © 2012-2017 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

Retrieved from the cutting room floor

It's gotten so I grab my camera every time I see something I think is pretty or that I find amusing.  Most of these photos never see the light of day but this week, in need of something to cut the edge of gloom that accompanies every newscast, I decided to publish a random collection of images that caught my attention this week.

Sunday, November 13th: Sailboats surrounding the Los Angeles Harbor breakwater

Monday, November 14th: Supermoon rising over the Los Angeles Harbor

Tuesday, November 15th: Sunset viewed looking northeast

The same sunset, viewed looking west

Thursday, November 17th: Pumpkin demolition in process

I hope you enjoy your weekend!


All material © 2012-2016 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

Wednesday Vignette: Weekend Views

I spent Saturday trawling nurseries in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties with a friend.  I'll provide a run-down in a later post but, for now, I wanted to share one display garden I photographed at Ventura Cactus & Succulents.

Bougainvillea covers a chain-link fence, providing a pretty backdrop for a wide variety of succulents and a few barrel cactus

Left is one of the prettiest Kalanchoe luciae I've ever seen.  At right is an interesting crested something-or-other.

At risk that you may be a little tired of my sunrise and sunset views, I couldn't resist sharing this sunset scene from Sunday night.

Unlike most sunsets that set clouds afire, this one took advantage of moisture in the surrounding area to lay a filmy pink blanket over the mountains to the northeast

These photos are my contributions to the Wednesday Vignette meme hosted by Anna at Flutter & Hum.  Visit Anna for more.


All material © 2012-2016 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

Rain Effects

We got rain!  Despite having to drive through rain-flooded streets yesterday, I enjoyed the first rainstorm to reach us courtesy of the weather phenomenon known as El Niño.  According to the little weather station attached to our roof, we got just 0.61 inches of rain here but other areas got more and the mountains got snow.  There's been some flooding but no monumental problems as yet, at least that I've heard about.  Much of the rainwater I'd drawn from my collection tanks for use in irrigating my garden over the past few weeks was replenished.  And more rain is expected today!  It's enough to make me giddy.

I've seen a few photos of rain-splashed windows posted by other garden bloggers.  I know that those who've been deluged by rain are very tired of it but, to me, those pictures are beautiful.  Now I have one of my own.

I offer this shot of the backyard, taken from my office window, as this week's contribution to Anna's Wednesday Vignette meme at Flutter & Hum

People often comment about our view when they see photos of the backyard garden.  I normally pay relatively little attention to it but I admit it's great backdrop to watch sunrises, sunsets, fireworks and, sometimes, weather changes.  Late yesterday afternoon there was a break in the rain and I watched the clouds move swiftly across the sky, changing the view of the Los Angeles harbor as they moved.

View of the harbor with the Vincent Thomas Bridge showing on the lower right

A patch of sunlight peaking through the clouds above Angel's Gate, the entrance to the harbor

As sunset grew near, the sun broke through the clouds and bathed the back garden in glowing yellow light.

A light rain began even as the garden was bathed in sunlight (photo taken from our living room window)

The sunset was remarkable.  I took a couple dozen photos but will share just a few.

Clouds over the harbor (southeast view)

This dramatic but somewhat obscured view features clouds on the southwest side of the house

This morning began with sun but that's disappeared and we've had some light rain already.  The slow start is appreciated as it'll give the parched soil an opportunity to absorb the moisture before we get anything heavier (I hope!).


All material © 2012-2016 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

Wednesday Vignettes: Summer Views

A variety of summer views caught my attention over the past week as I sat in my home office staring out the window looking out on the backyard (when I should have been focused on my PC screen).  I thought I'd share them with you this week in  connection with the Wednesday Vignette meme hosted by Anna at Flutter & Hum.

A Goodyear blimp crossing over the Los Angeles harbor - the hazy area in the distance is Long Beach

Two birds, Lesser Goldfinches I think, hanging out at the fountain (photographed from inside the house)

The spatial relations of the garden in these photos focused on the backyard fountain always give it a different look

A small squirrel squeezed through the cage my husband created (and has repeatedly reinforced) to keep him and his pals out of the birdfeeder - he pretended he was a statue when I came out to take his mug shot

Sunset, as the lights of the harbor and the city came on

Visit Anna at Flutter & Hum to see what images captured her attention and those of other gardeners this week.


All material © 2012-2015 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party