Ceanothus in bloom
As a plant enthusiast living along the California coast, one of the best things is the long bloom season of native flora. On a walk in a pine-and-oak forest a few days ago, I saw several plants coming into flower: fuchsia-flowering gooseberry, ceanothus, wood mint, and manzanita. A queen bumblebee buzzed around looking for nectar or perhaps a nest site for a new colony. Mushrooms flourished after recent rains, and ferns unfurled new fronds.
As the gooseberry and manzanita flowers wither and those plants set out fruit, other early spring bloomers will appear—star lily, hound’s tongue, shooting stars, lupine, wild iris, and trillium; soon after, I look forward to poppies, clarkia, monkey flower, and paintbrush. Even in the late summer and early fall when the ground is dry, I know I’ll see chamise, California fuchsia, and coyote brush in bloom. The seasons are subtle here, but they do arrive with their own signs and signals.
Manzanita blossoms
While these winter days are shorter and I spend more time indoors, there is still a lot to see and hear on winter days in coastal forests—squirrels leaping and birds winging through the canopy, newly fallen trees after a winter storm, ensatinas and slender salamanders under fallen tree bark. Winter is still a time of dormancy, especially with the short days and long nights, and the chill coming up from forest canyons. But on my walk, I could feel a kind of energy building as the days lengthen. It can be hard to stay indoors on these lovely winter days, especially if the sun is shining. (And if you’re somewhere cold and are feeling jealous, don’t worry—June Gloom will bring relentless fog along the coast in early summer, and I’ll be wearing sweaters and running a space heater in my office/studio.)
Walking amongst the trees is inspiring any time of the year, and I’ve got some new ideas brewing (if I can find time for them!). I hope 2026 is going well for you so far, and here’s to a year of noticing the small wonders all around—from bumblebees and wildflowers, to songbirds and squirrels high up in the trees.
