Color in the garden

Not only plants provide color in the Sierra foothills…

November 2005

On certain days in the fall, the setting sun  focuses its light in a strip of light on the mountain. All these views are looking east onto the Peckinpah Ridge. It’s a sign of the changing season to me.

December 2005

Even on stormy days like yesterday, the sun shines through in a strip. This is called Alpenglow.

What is Alpenglow?

Alpenglow is an optical phenomenon in which a horizontal red glowing band is observed on the horizon opposite to the sun. This effect occurs when the Sun is just below the horizon. Alpenglow is easiest to observe in the late afternoon when humidity is high in Fall and early Spring.

Since the sun is below the horizon, there is no direct path for the light to reach the mountain. Unlike sunset or sunrise, the light that causes alpenglow is reflected off airborne snow, water, or ice particles low in the atmosphere. These conditions differentiate between a normal sunrise or sunset and alpenglow.

November 2008

September 2011

Have you noticed the full moon of the last few days? Harvest Moon, it is, and it’s so bright that I believe something could actually be harvested. Walking Maggie last night at ten, we sat on a bench and looked out on the field of tarweed and the mountain …moonshadows everywhere.

When the moon is bright in the early early mornings, I have sometimes arisen and dressed. only to see the clock on my coffee maker says 2am.  I call this Moonfoolery!

Harvest Moon September 12, 2011

On a motorcycle ride, we saw this moon along Auberry Rd.