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USA "Pastures of Heaven, Salinas, CA" Jay Dunn 90 images Created 5 Nov 2015

For some, the Salinas Valley has every blessing nature can bestow: exceptionally fertile soil, a temperate climate, some of the cleanest air in the nation, and proximity to the sea, with all its attendant wealth. Everything grows here, for the most part, from the salads that feed the world to the wines that pair with them. Even after four years of severe drought, just a few rainstorms bring forth a profusion of grasses from the sere earth. No wonder native son John Steinbeck was inspired to write, in East of Eden, “These too are of a burning color--not orange, not gold, but if pure gold were liquid and could raise a cream, that golden cream might be like the color of the poppies.”
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  • Cows graze on the hillsides of  Corral de Tierra just before Christmas, the height of 2012's rainy season.
    121224 jd pastures 2.jpg
  • Both ends of a rainbow on a stormy December afternoon at Andrew Molera State Park.
    121226 jd molera02.jpg
  • Sea birds take flight on a stormy afternoon in December at Andrew Molera State Park near Big Sur, CA.
    121226 jd molera 4.jpg
  • The colossal redwoods of Big Sur, part of the Monterey Bay coastline area.
    121226 jd redwoods.jpg
  • The Pacific just after a rainstorm, as seen from the cliffs of Highway 1 and the Big Sur area in California.
    121226 jd skies 2.jpg
  • A gentle rain sets in over the Big Sur coastline after dawn.
    121226 jd sunrise rain.jpg
  • The lighthouse on Point Sur under moody weather.
    121227 jd point sur.jpg
  • Waves crash on the rocky shore at Andrew Molera State Park near Big Sur, CA.
    121229 jd molera 3.jpg
  • Looking north along the beach on a December morning near Seaside, CA.
    121229 jd seaside01.jpg
  • Overnight temperatures in January dipped just below freezing in the Salinas area, leaving frost on many surfaces, including these slowly warming leaves.
    130112 jd sundayfrost01.jpg
  • Overnight temperatures in January dipped just below freezing in the Salinas area, leaving frost on many surfaces.
    130112 jd sundayfrost04.jpg
  • A storm front moved into the Salinas Valley area over the course of Thursday night, leaving snow at these high elevations near Gonzales River Road.
    130208 jd RiverRdsnow01.jpg
  • Chinese plum trees are in full blossom along Constitution Avenue during the warm weather in Salinas on President's Day weekend.
    130218 jd plumblossoms01.jpg
  • Blue Dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum) near the Creekside Trailhead, at Fort Ord National Monument on Thursday.
    130221 jd wildflowers04.jpg
  • White fiesta flowers near the Creekside Trailhead, at Fort Ord National Monument on Thursday.
    130221 jd wildflowers06.jpg
  • Field Mustard (Brassica Rapa) photographed near York Road off Highway 68 in mid-February.
    130221 jd wildflowers08.jpg
  • California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) off River Road near Gonzalez bloom in mid-February.
    130221 jd wildflowers09.jpg
  • A mid-March view into the hills near Mt. Toro from the Portola exit on Highway 68.
    130314 jd off6801.jpg
  • An ancient live oak in fields just off Rt. 68, the Monterey-Salinas highway.
    130314 jd off6805.jpg
  • Cattle enjoy the lush mid-March growth on the hills of Toro Park off Rt. 68, the Monterey-Salinas highway.
    130314 jd off6806.jpg
  • A riot of yellows in a field near York Road off Rt. 68, the Monterey-Salinas highway.
    130314 jd off6808.jpg
  • After an evening's rain, buds open up on Easter Sunday along Constitution Avenue in North Salinas.
    130331 jd easter flowers02.jpg
  • John Cerney murals near the intersection of Spreckels Boulevard and Highway 68 in Salinas.
    130404 jd welcometosalinas12.jpg
  • Brilliant fall color surrounds these late harvest Holman Ranch grapes seen on October 10th.
    131010 jd holmanranch02.jpg
  • A view of Monday’s prescribed burn in Ft. Ord, as seen from a point on Route 183 midway between Castroville and Salinas on October 14th.
    131014 jd burn03.jpg
  • A purple wildflower droops with frost on Thursday, Dec. 5th in an empty field just northeast of the Constitution Soccer Complex in Salinas.
    131205 jd morningfrost02.jpg
  • Cherry blossoms burst forth in front of Alice Madruga's home on Pajaro Street in Salinas. She confirmed that they are indeed early this year, perhaps confused by irregular weather patterns.
    14015 jd earlyblooms01.jpg
  • A magnolia tree in full bloom on the corner of Maple and Pajaro streets in Salinas, at least a month early this year.
    14015 jd earlyblooms05ALT.jpg
  • Precious rain from a fast-moving Sunday morning storm collects on Church St. in Salinas.
    140202 jd rain02.jpg
  • Welcome rain from a fast-moving Sunday morning storm collects by the courthouse across from Cayuga Street in Salinas.
    140202 jd rain04.jpg
  • Empty chairs and a wet patio at the Starbucks at Independence and Constitution on Wednesday morning in Salinas.
    140326 jd wedrain01.jpg
  • Morning rain clings to trees along Constitution Boulevard on Wednesday morning in Salinas.
    140326 jd wedrain02.jpg
  • Precious raindrops cling to greenery along Constitution Boulevard in Salinas on Thursday morning.
    140925 jd rain03.jpg
  • People watch a fast-moving grass fire just off the Constitution Soccer Complex in Salinas during an exceptionally dry November.
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  • Fallen leaves grace a pool of water on a Creekbridge sidewalk during Thursday early morning rains in Salinas.
    141113 jd thursday rain01.jpg
  • Dramatic skies along North Sanborn Street during a rain squall on Wednesday, November 19th in Salinas. Welcome showers are expected throughout the week, with ninety percent relative humidity and a gradual cooling towards Saturday.
    141119 jd wednesdayrain02.jpg
  • The vivid colors of fallen leaves after a late November rain in Salinas.
    141130 jd fallenleaves01.jpg
  • Sunset skies over Salinas after a day of turbulent weather on December 2, 2014.
    141202 jd sunset01.jpg
  • Leaves wait for a storm drain opening to clear at the corner of Clay Street and Lincoln Avenue on Tuesday in Salinas. Rain showers are expected throughout the first week of December.
    141202 jd tuesdayrain01.jpg
  • As photographed from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Hill, chiaroscuro skies churn over Salinas as a Pacific storm brings high winds and occasional heavy rain to the Monterey Bay area. Rain is expected to continue through Thursday this first week of December.
    141202 jd weather01.jpg
  • Standing at the corner of W. San Luis St. and Cayuga St. in Salinas at 2:00 PM, resident Miguel Payan wonders at the volume of rain caused by December 11th's "Pineapple Express" storm.
    141211 jd superstorm01.jpg
  • As seen from the Chinese Cemetery on E. Laurel Drive and Natividad Road, heaven and earth reflect in flooded fields in Salinas. The area received close to four inches of much-needed rain on Thursday, December 11th, 2014.
    141214 jd mirror01.jpg
  • In the Wednesday morning sunshine, a solitary worker plants seedlings in the fields bounded by E. Laurel Avenue and Natividad Road in Salinas. Some leafy greens can stand the cool January evening temperatures.
    150128 slice of salinas.jpg
  • An apple blossom just after a February rain in north Salinas, CA.
    150209 jd apple01.jpg
  • Carmel Beach, California on a sunny February morning.
    150215 jd carmel beach 21.jpg
  • Early Sunday morning, a lone paddle-boarder heads out just off the eighteenth hole of the Pebble Beach Golf Links.
    150215 jd pebble beach 23.jpg
  • Morning fog clings to the shoreline at Pebble Beach in mid-February.
    150215 jd pebble beach 24.jpg
  • Fast-moving, fairy-tale clouds at noontime Tuesday, framed by the Art Deco gryphon on the roof of the Salinas Californian building in Oldtown.
    150407 jd rainfall01.jpg
  • A fallen leaf just after sunup on Tuesday in Salinas. Rain fell through the morning bringing temporary relief to drought conditions in April.
    150407 jd rainfall02.jpg
  • A crystal-clear view toward Salinas from the trail to Fremont Peak. The Salinas Valley gets high marks for air quality.
    150429 jd cleanair01.jpg
  • A view toward Salinas and the Monterey Peninsula seen from the slopes of Fremont Peak. The valley is well-known for stellar air-quality.
    150429 jd cleanair02.jpg
  • The spectacular volcanic peaks of Pinnacles National Park form a background to moss hanging from a live oak tree.
    150630 jd_pinnacles 7666.jpg
  • High cirrus clouds and hot, dry weather at Pinnacles National Park near Salinas.
    150630 jd_pinnacles 7678.jpg
  • Volunteers and park staff track tagged California condors from a high vantage point at Pinnacle National Park near Salinas.
    150630_pinnacles 7729.jpg
  • A view toward the Salinas Valley from the high peaks of Pinnacles National Park.
    150630_pinnacles 8216.jpg
  • The sun catches hardy desert perennials high up the peaks of Pinnacle National Park.
    150630_pinnacles 8261.jpg
  • Sunset at Pinnacles National Park near Salinas, CA, photographed from the eastern entrance.
    150630_pinnacles 8339.jpg
  • Morning sun breaks through forest cover after a cold, late-night rainstorm moved through the Salinas area.
    151110 jd 6958.jpg
  • Flood waters from Tuesday's storms pool near the 101 freeway and Casentini St. in Salinas.
    160119 jd storms02.jpg
  • Photographed early Monday morning, February 1st, 2016, from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a dusting of snow remains on Mt. Toro from the weekend's rain and subsequent strong winds.
    160201 jd MtTorosnow01.jpg
  • On Grandhaven St. and First Ave. in east Salinas, flowers by the thousands open on a mature tree.
    160205 jd floweringtree01.jpg
  • Mustard flowers prosper in a well-drained field off Hwy 101 near Salinas.
    160208 jd mustard01.jpg
  • A family enjoys Saturday's warm weather on the trails along Hancock Street in Salinas' Creekbridge neighborhood.
    160213 jd warmweather01.jpg
  • Freesias in a Creeekbridge garden bend low under the weight of weekend rains in Salinas.
    160308 jd weekendrains01.jpg
  • In a pond close to Natividad Creek Park in Salinas, raindrops begin to break a still surface.
    160308 jd weekendrains02.jpg
  • A late afternoon rainbow on Monday in Salinas, after weekend rains finally leave town.
    160308 jd weekendrains03.jpg
  • From behind a low, white fence on Del Monte Avenue in east Salinas, Gabriela offers a passerby some of her baby peaches.
    160326 jd angel01.jpg
  • Basking in the sun along the North Wilderness Trail at Pinnacles National Park near Salinas, CA.
    160415 JD pinnacles01.jpg
  • Poppies dot a dry creekbed along the North Wilderness Trail at Pinnacles National Park near Salinas, CA.
    160415 JD pinnacles02.jpg
  • After three years of drought, water was plentiful in the early spring of 2016 at Pinnacles National Park near Salinas, CA.
    160415 JD pinnacles03.jpg
  • A wet winter meant many wildflowers in the spring of 2016 at Pinnacles National Park near Salinas, CA.
    160415 JD pinnacles04.jpg
  • Butterflies by the thousands enjoy the wildflowers along the North Wilderness Trail at Pinnacles National Park near Salinas, CA.
    160415 JD pinnacles07.jpg
  • A hiker wonders at the massive boulders of the Balconies Trail at Pinnacles National Park near Salinas, CA.
    160415 JD pinnacles08.jpg
  • A wet winter meant plenty of wildflowers throughout the Salinas Valley, especially along the North Wilderness Trail at Pinnacles National Park near Salinas, CA.
    160415 JD pinnacles09.jpg
  • Urban Arts Collaborative's Luis Rodriguez at work in the group's garden at 215 Lincoln Avenue in Salinas.
    160504 UAC garden.jpg
  • Bees enjoy the broccolini crop now in flower at Higashi Farms in Salinas.
    160725 jd broccolini01.jpg
  • On a scorched Creekbridge hillside in September, 2016, new life springs from the earth after a late-summer wildfire.
    160908 jd newlife01.jpg
  • On November 13th, 2016, early-morning fog blankets sailboats in Monterey Bay.
    161113 jd halfmarathon09.JPG
  • Great white egrets and ducks share a fresh pool of rainfall on Wednesday morning in fields next to Carr Lake in Salinas.
    161116 jd egrets01.jpg
  • Last but not least, fall colors fade on leaves brought down by a December storm in Salinas.
    161211 jd leaves01.jpg
  • A mandala made by Urban Arts Collaborative at Noche de le Virgen Tonantzin, a live performance event on Monday, December 12th, 2017 at the Alisal Center for the Fine Arts in east Salinas.
    161212 jd tonantzin03.jpg
  • Downed branches on Wednesday morning after heavy rains in Salinas.
    170105 jd newweather03.jpg
  • Photographed from the Sherwood Drive bridge over Hwy 101 in Salinas, heavy rain on Sunday afternoon flows down the Main Canal into Carr Lake.
    170108 jd rain-canal.jpg
  • Looking much like it did before settlements came to the Salinas Valley, a tributary to Natividad Creek runs through a north Salinas neighborhood.
    170111 jd earlylight01.jpg
  • Early light bathes a fence and sidewalks in Creekbridge after a rainy evening.
    170111 jd earlylight02.jpg
  • In the early morning light, a man enjoys the company of waterfowl in César Chávez Community Park in Salinas. The area depicted is flooded to a seasonal high by plenty of winter rain.
    170111 jd waterworld01.jpg
  • Davis Road disappears under the Salinas River on Thursday due to heavy seasonal rains. The road is closed to through traffic.
    170112 jd closures01.jpg
  • Under a sunny sky, ducks take advantage of unusually high water to expand their feeding grounds in the Carr Lake watershed.
    170126 jd acosta01.jpg
  • In east Salinas, pink blossoms on a sunlit tree bring out the bees.
    170209 JD blossoms01 .jpg
  • Photographed just after seven in the morning, soccer fields underwater from recent winter storms in Salinas provide water bird habitat.
    170223 jd soccerfields01.jpg