Lava Beds National Monument
When I was up in the Mt.Shasta area my brother suggested I visit the Lava Beds National Monument to do some photography. I honesty was VERY skeptical that there was much to photograph besides rocks. Once again he was right and I.... wasn't right. The smoke from fires in the area was pretty thick and when I first arrived I was pretty sure my prejudgment of the area was right. Lots of rocks, not much else. Yeah I changed it to black and white for emphasis. I took a walk and came upon this, just a little bit of color It's amazing where plants will grow. Another side road and low and behold several Smoothstem Morningstars. I saw them in the brochure but figured that they probably bloomed in spring. Boy was I wrong. While not fully opened,I think because the smoke was so thick, they are a pretty flower anyway. Also they were only in certain areas. If you have flowers you need pollinators. A patient but...