Last weekend I visited some of my favorite Sierra junipers near Carson Pass, California.
On these trips, I visit old favorites and look out for new highlights that’d I’d missed on previous trips.
Juniper deadwood
Natural cascade Sierra juniper
Deadwood on the back of the trunk
Only a handful of the trees look like giant bonsai. Most are far younger and grow upright. That said, the occasional upright tree has ample character.
Upright Sierra juniper
One of my favorites is an old tree perched on a granite outcrop. Noticing that the deadwood sat directly on stone, I wondered if there had been soil there at one time or if the seed had sprouted directly from a crack in the rock.
Old Sierra juniper
The bright sun highlighted the white deadwood, the cinnamon bark, and the yellow lichen growing on deadwood which made for a colorful scene.
Yellow lichen growing on deadwood
I spent more time than usual trying to figure out just how many twists the juniper below makes and how the branch structure works. I can’t say I figured it out, but I enjoyed the investigation.
View from the West (windward side)
View from the east (leeward side)
Deadwood detail
For photos from previous visits to the area, check out the following posts about Sierra junipers.