Can't help it. That's what's going on all around us. The Heart-leaf Milkweed (above) is the first around here to bloom and also the first to have seed pods burst open. Sometimes this makes some very photogenic stills that look like action shots. If I were heavily into technology, I'd be tempted to try to capture a pod burst in time-lapse. But, in my case, imagination will suffice.
The Douglas-fir, like the true firs and pines, has male cones and female cones. It's interesting to see how they are arranged on the various species. Sometimes the female cones mostly on the top branches and the male cones below. Unlikely that pollen would travel straight up, thus minimizing chances of self-pollination. In the case of Douglas-firs, I've seen make and female cones distributed all over the tree on some, but separated in others. Not sure of the statistical average arrangement. For ID purposes, the Douglas-fir female cones can't be mistaken for any other. Click on the photo for a closer view.
On my way to Oakland Feather River Camp each morning, this was the spot where I was most likely to run off the road. There's just one Sugar Pine on the stretch just north of Chandler Road on the Oakland Camp Road, and I can't help but stare at those great cones for a hundred yards or so. Note: the female cones concentrated near the top of the tree.
Next, the Gum Plant. In most places around Quincy, it has gone to seed and few or no flowers still blooming. In a few wet areas, though, one can see every stage from bud, to blooms, to seeds on the same plant!
Take a walk in the woods and have some seedy fun!
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