Category Archives: Santa Barbara

Lone Wandering

Posted on June 7, 2012 by Jack Elliott

Santa Barbara County Backcountry “Two or more people disturb the ecologic complex of an area. I had to go alone and I had to be self-contained, a kind of casual turtle carrying his house on his back.” —John Steinbeck Travels … Continue reading →

Posted in Santa Barbara County | Tagged Adventure, Backpacking, Camping, Hiking, Hiking (2), John Steinbeck, Landscapes, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, Photos, Pics, Wilderness | 5 Comments

Eating Fire Roasted Yucca

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Jack Elliott

A yucca flower spike in full bloom. “There is a great deal of century plant of the species which the Mexicans call mescali. The mode of using it is as follows: they make a hole in the ground, fill it … Continue reading →

Posted in Santa Barbara | Tagged Backpacking, Camping, Chumash, Foraging, Hiking, History, Indians, Native Americans, Nature, Spanish Explorers, Traditional Knowledge, wildflowers, Yucca | 4 Comments

Annular Solar Eclipse

Posted on May 20, 2012 by Jack Elliott

As the moon moved in front of the sun the daylight noticeably waned, and the landscape took on the warm-colored glow of late afternoon winter light, though with less intensity and an eerie shadowy cast to it. While you could … Continue reading →

Posted in Santa Barbara County | Tagged Annular Solar Eclipse, Astronomy, Eclipse, Nature, Outdoors, Photos, Pics, Sunsets | 8 Comments

Matilija Poppies

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Jack Elliott

Matilija Poppy (Romneya coulteri) The wildflowers are bloommin’ out there right now and Matilija poppies are poppin’. I snapped this iPhone photo at Santa Barbara’s Oak Park yesterday afternoon. According to eFloras.org, a cooperative project by Missouri Botanical Garden, St. … Continue reading →