Above it all

Yes, its the same place as the title photo

Yesterday was a beautiful spring day in Southern California, perfect for a hike up Tuna Canyon.

There was a stiff offshore breeze tossing the chaparral and oak leaves.  It was almost crystal clear, just a slight haze over the city. We could see the snow-covered peaks of Mt. Baldy.

Castilleja affinis, or Indian paint brush

This is a steep trail, but it's good to walk because it's partially shaded. The verges of the trail were touched with wildflowers in bloom.

Here, a hillside is covered with golden California poppies in bloom.

Just beautiful.

At the top of the trail, there's a broad flat overlook where you can see from the beaches of Santa Monica to the San Gabriel Mountains, with the skyscrapers of Westwood, Century City, and downtown Los Angeles between.

Click to "embiggen"

And also here is a stone mandala/maze. So Topanga!