Spring is very short but colorful here in So Cal. Our dull iceplant becomes a carpet of bright magenta.
Trees burst into glorious blooms.
Our state flower, the California poppy makes an appearance. This year, in certain locations, hillsides are carpeted with orange. It is time to go out and enjoy nature.
We drove 30 miles from home up into the Angeles National forest. A lot more green this year. 
The haze is hanging over the basin. You have to strain to see the tall buildings of downtown Los Angeles with the Palo Verdes peninsula beyond. 
Wildflowers are beginning to bloom. The yellow out in the mountains is very different from the city trees. The redno California poppies here. I may yet have to drive up to Lancaster to see the reserve. My friend went to Lake Elsinore and took incredible pictures.
The red is visible, yet small.
Remnants of the Station Fire from a few years ago. It started right near here.
And yet, some trees appear to be completely burnt and they have found a way to produce green leaves again. Fire is fickle. Many trees didn’t fair this well, and they are gone.
Enter Tree People, an organization that is right up the road from me. They supply baby pines to volunteers to plant. In conjunction with other conservation groups they go out in the spring to plant new trees in the burn areas.
Here is one such fellow. It is supposed to rain later this week and they may come back with a water truck once or twice this summer in order to give these saplings a fighting chance to survive until next winter.
Although we were out in nature, the Motorcyclists love the Angeles Crest highway, we heard and saw a lot of them. 
As well as plenty of planes leaving contrails in the sky.
Man and nature, side by side. It is wonderful to get out and enjoy both.
Our tradition after a hike is to find a local Taco joint and eat without any guilt. This is at Epic Taco Shop in Montrose. And yes, they were epic.