Dan Violette photography - Fine Art Nature Photography
Giant coreopsis (Coreopsis gigantea) share this exposed coastal slope with California bush sunflower (Encelia californica) and wild grass companions.  This early Spring bloom was photographed at the northern edge of the Santa Monica Mountains near Point Mugu State Park, Ventura County, California.
California Jimson Weed (Datura wrightii) produces beautiful large trumpet-shaped flowers that are generally white to pinkish purple. The plant is highly poisonous and its abuse has caused many deaths particularly among experimenting teenagers. However, Native Americans (as well as Eastern Indian, Caribbean, and Mexican cultures) continue to use Datura as an herbal medicine.  California bush sunflowers (Encelia californica) share this coastal space.  This early Spring bloom was photographed at the northern edge of the Santa Monica Mountains near Point Mugu State Park, Ventura County, California.
This park-visiting couple admires the view of McWay Falls spilling 80 feet onto the beach at dusk. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, named after a pioneering rancher of the early 1900s,  encompasses 3000 acres along California's Big Sur coast. The Park's Overlook Trail is an excellent location for whale watching. The Park also features the Julia Pfeiffer Burns Underwater Area where experienced scuba divers can explore the marine reserve that was  established in 1970.
Wave Twist.  Along Pacific Coast Highway, southern Ventura County, California.
Along Pacific Coast Highway, southern Ventura County, California.
Giant coreopsis (Coreopsis gigantea) share this exposed coastal slope with coast prickly pear cactus (Opunita sp.), California bush sunflower (Encelia californica) and wild grass companions.  This early Spring bloom was photographed at the northern edge of the Santa Monica Mountains near Point Mugu State Park, Ventura County, California.
Giant coreopsis (Coreopsis gigantea) flowers are two-to-three inches across with fern-like leaves clustered on tall fleshy stalks. These drought-tolerant perennial asters are among Spring's earliest wildflowers brightening exposed coastal dunes and rocky slopes from Baja California and the Channel Islands to Central Southern California.  With their wild grass and prickly pear cactus companions, these were photographed at the northern edge of the Santa Monica Mountains near Point Mugu State Park as an early morning fog lifts. The tall stalks on the left are dried yucca flower spikes from the prior year's bloom.
McWay Falls spills 80 feet onto the beach at dusk. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, named after a pioneering rancher of the early 1900s,  encompasses 3000 acres along California's Big Sur coast. The Park's Overlook Trail is an excellent location for whale watching. The Park also features the Julia Pfeiffer Burns Underwater Area where experienced scuba divers can explore the marine reserve that was  established in 1970.
Along Pacific Coast Highway, southern Ventura County, California.
Along Pacific Coast Highway, southern Ventura County, California.
Along Pacific Coast Highway, southern Ventura County, California.
See photo in original gallery.
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