On the golden hillsides of California...

When the rains stop in the spring, the hills of California become very dry. Psychologically, it's more acceptable if these hillsides, covered mostly by dry, dead grasses, are referred to as "golden hills." After all, California did have a gold rush.

In fact, the hills do exhibit a special quality and scenic beauty - especially in low light in the early morning and late afternoon. The savannah in the Sierra foothills, where there are scattered oaks, the landscape is quite dramatic.

One of the sentinels that greets hikers along trails are wild artichokes, thistles that are quite happy on the hillsides in wet or dry conditions. It has long, attractive, green leaves in the spring. It produces large purple/blue blossoms that attract bees and other insects. Like domesticated artichokes, the blossoms are edible if picked early. There isn't much to eat on these wild blossoms, however. And the taste is quite strong.

As the grasses dry out, so do the thistles. The blossoms remain standing, held high by strong, straight stalks. As the blossom becomes completely dry and the wind blows, seeds attached to silky parachutes sail off to colonize another area.

Here then are a few photos of the spring buds and blossoms, and dry dried summer bones of the wild artichokes.