And just beyond it lies a vernal pool, well, an empty one right now. But how interesting the patch of color in the middle of it. You can see the weeds grew only in the centermost shallow area. It has been dry for at least two years from what I can tell. But we can recall a few years back when the rains must have been generous and it teemed with life (see the video at the end).
For contrast, here's what it looked like earlier in March of this year.
I think the frogs estivate here. But I wonder if they can live for so many years without their pool to return to. I know there has been some rain, but not enough for tadpoles. I keep being hopeful that the next rain will fill it, and think of the frogs and hike up there only to find it empty still.
Well, colorful weeds were a good second best option.
I wonder why they are here now, and not before. I wonder if they will stay now that they are here, even if it fills with water.
There are bunches of tiny white snail shells along the edge.
Birds flit in an out of the shrubbery along the western edge of the dry pool, perhaps waiting like us for our vernal pool to return.
Here's a video from November, 2009 when the pool was full.
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