I posted previously about this abandoned oil field property called Coyote Hills here: Pave Paradise. It had been a few months and I had the urge to visit again, and perhaps check out a different section of the property. The area has been vacant for many years now. It's beauty lies in the fact that it's been totally off limits to the public and has reverted back to its "natural" state. As it turns out, the big hole in the fence is still there (actually, there are now two), which makes me think Chevron doesn't care too much if people want to go in and explore. The property will likely be developed soon.
These oil field maintenance roads crisscross the property. They were paved at one time, but much of the pavement has eroded away over the years and they look more like jeep trails now.
Lots of flowers blooming this time of year. Probably the dominant flowering plant is wild mustard (actually a highly invasive weed that has naturalized throughout California).
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| Fluffy cloud over wild mustard flowers. |
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| Close... |
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| Closer... |
In a sea of yellow... the entire background turns to a greenish-yellow as you get your camera close to individual flowers.
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| Closer still.... |
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| Super close!!! |
From the hills of this property, you can get a pretty good view of downtown Los Angeles (20 miles away as the crow flies). With a 400mm lens, it looks much closer!! This was taken on a hazy, semi-overcast day. You could get some spectacular shots on a clear, blue sky day!
Thanks for stopping by! I'll do a follow-up post with more pics from my hike around Coyote Hills in the near future.
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Nice piece of nature with all these yellow wild flowers! Have forgotten - isn't Coyote Hills close to the L.A. basin?
ReplyDeleteLovely color an bokeh. Keep that lens pointed at those hills. :)
ReplyDeleteNature is still capable to repair human damage in a beautiful way but for how long.
ReplyDeleteA great wild place to explore - just the kind of place I love to visit. A pity, but you're probably right about it being developed soon.
ReplyDeleteStill I enjoyed your photos especially of the fluffy little cloud floating over all that yellow!
I love your shots of the mustard flowers. They are a beautiful sight in spring.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots. Love the flowers.
ReplyDeleteSydney – City and Suburbs
That up close shot is an award winner! By the way, Mt. St. Helens will lose all its snow in the middle of summer. If it still had its old top, that would retain some snow year round. Mt. Adams and Mt. Rainier are snowy year round. Rainier is only a few feet shorter than Mt. Whitney, by the way. Always love your posts.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice that there is a little wilderness in the midst of the big city. Good for the soul. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great spot to explore.
ReplyDeleteAbout the hieroglyphics comment - I was thinking about Patrick and you!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots from the field. Lovely flowers.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. The Turkey Mountain Park we have in Tulsa is a former oil field turned back to nature with that slightly unnatural look that your area has. It all seems to work out fairly well even though every once in a while erosion exposes an old flow line or cables. Chevron is a responsible operator so I'm sure that they have plugged the wells properly and pulled casing where they could. Too bad that it can't be kept wild.
ReplyDeleteFascinating shots, both of the flower filled fields and the city skyline.
ReplyDeleteThe scenes are very beautiful, and it would be wonderful to be shooting the butterflies and insects there!
ReplyDeleteLovely shots of the mustard flowers - and what a pretty fluffy cloud!
ReplyDeleteWonderful skywatch and fascinating fotos of nature!
ReplyDeleteGreetings, Lisa
Wow amazing pics.
ReplyDeleteWoW !
ReplyDeleteSono belle tutte le tue foto... come sempre... ma le mie preferite sono la nr. 3 e la nr. 9
Magnifico luogo dove vivi !!!
Fascinating yellows! All the photos are great to see. It's amazing what a good lens can show you!
ReplyDeleteI really love your "yellow sea" captures. The one with "Fluffy cloud over wild mustard flowers" and the following are so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWish you a great weekend ahead!
Irene
Lovely photos of the wildflowers!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week-end!
I found many bloggers just looked at your photos only. I think it is not easy to say beautiful.
ReplyDeleteDidn't know that LA is so close.
ReplyDeleteWorth a Thousand Words
Wow! Drown in yellow
ReplyDeletesea of yellow photos are so creative and beautiful ~ sad area will be developed soon ~ oh well ~
ReplyDeleteHappy Friday ~ ^_^
Very nice photos Pete! It would great it they turned it into a nature park.
ReplyDeleteThe snowline on my Peak Post would have been around 10K, maybe closer to 11K; the tree line is between 11K and 12K.
ReplyDeleteThat is very nice: the yellow "mosterd" flowers and the little cloud. Love it (also the other photos)
ReplyDeleteGive me mustard flowers over Los Angeles any day! Love the zooming in.
ReplyDeleteMustard flowers are so nice and I love that fluffy little cloud. I didn't realize that LA was so close to you, it's skyline is impressive. Very nice photos!
ReplyDeleteWhat a contrast, the fields of nature recovering and the smoggy big city just 20 air miles away.
ReplyDeleteI love how you just kept zooming in. Splendid color! A wonderful photo safari.
ReplyDeletelove your yellow fields and the single cloud in the sky. You are way ahead of us in Sweden. My country can´t decide if it is winter or spring. :(
ReplyDeleteIt might grow wild like a weed but it's still like a cheerful yellow.
ReplyDeleteLovely shots of the mustard flowers. What a great view of the city!
ReplyDeleteSome nice photo and thanks for sharing them.
ReplyDelete