The area below is an open hillside in a suburban area. The photograph was taken at the intersection of two roads. The right (more southern) side of this area borders a high school campus. A creek runs along the back side (east) side of the hill. Further east, a garden features California native plants. The garden and other areas of the hill are bordered by major roads through the city of Livermore, California.
The yellow flowers are native daffodils. The daffodil bulbs were planted by a local native plant society. When I moved to Livermore ten years ago, the daffodils would bloom in March/April. I remember this because the blossoms corresponded closely to Easter. As is seen in this photo, the bloom time has moved up.
California is entering the fourth year of drought. Rains typically fall in California between October and March. 2014-15 is the driest year on record for California, as documented by tree core samples going back almost 2,000 years. January was a particularly dry month. San Francisco, 70 km west of Livermore, typically receives four inches of rain in January. in 2015, no significant rain was recorded.
Most of the trees in the photo are eucalyptus trees. Many are found locally, but the trees are native to Australia, not California.
As you watch the progression of pictures, please note changes in the flowers, grass, and trees.
