Back to Kallison 12-17-2023

I went on the Kallison Ranch Historical Hike again today at Government Canyon State Natural Area. The weather was absolutely gorgeous, so I had hoped to get much better pictures than last time, during which it rained the whole time. But, alas, that was not meant to be. I saw things in my head, but just wasn't skillful enough to catch them the way I wanted. I am disappointed in this entire set, with very few exceptions. Check them out, but don't expect too much.

Toothleaf Goldeneye

Ashe Juniper (AKA: Mountain Cedar)

Evergreen Sumac Those little red fruits taste like Sweetarts!

First leg of the trail

a beautiful and untouched fire ant mound... Remember- I see things a little differently than most.

Nobody seems to know what this little building was for. I love looking at it.

I dropped way back to focus on taking photos.

I love the color of this juniper branch. It was unique.

This lichen was such a pretty green. It almost looked fluorescent.

This is the top of the hill. I was late getting up there, but could hear everything Roger was saying.

I was happy to see so much healthy cactus. If you remember from one of my posts a while back, I told you how the Big Freeze killed off a lot of it in Government Canyon.

Okay... I've admitted before that I have a thing for lichen. Just scroll past it, if you aren't as enamored with it as I.

Each branch has a new exciting arrangement. I could take hundreds of photos of this stuff and never even realize it. It is hypnotic.

Trust me, I have about 50 more of these on the disk. But... Enough is enough.

One of these days, I am going to get this right. There is something about this that vibrates in my brain. I just can't capture it the way I see it in my head.

Oops... I guess I have a few more that I feel compelled to share.

I took a class on this stuff at the conference in Mission. I wish I had learned enough to tell you the names.

Okay... This is surely the last of them. Right?

Here is another example. Something about this wire on the post makes a certain part of my brain vibrate. I can't really explain it. All I know is that it gives me an unmistakable urge to photograph it. Sometimes I get wonderful shots when this happens. Other times, like this one today, it just isn't what I was seeing in my head, and I am truly disappointed with it.

I know, but this is totally different.

Remnants of sheds...

Roger is still telling them the early history of the area.

He is an amazing story teller. I have always enjoyed his enthusiastic presentations.

The star of the hike.

He deserves a second photo.

The crowd is listening to his every word.

I was listening, but also looking around for shots.

We are in front of the barn. Last time, it was pouring just as we got there, so we stood inside.

Okay... This is heartbreaking. I was compelled to get this shot. Something about the rusty nails, the old weathered post, the barbed wire, the loop of rusty wire, and the white fungi really triggered my brain. This should be an AMAZING shot. Unfortunately, it is just a bit out of focus, which totally ruins it for me.

Here's another fail. The fence is too dark and I couldn't fix the contrast.

Mistletoe

Roger Tinder, again.

Should have been a nice shot.

OH NO!!! I did it again.

There was a glare that almost stopped me from taking this shot. I should have listened to myself.

This little house was the first one out there. I went in to see it once and I heard a lot more rattling than I like to hear. I made a very quick retreat.

I actually counted so I could tell you this: I took 137 shots of this dragon fly trying to get it perfect. Out of 137, I only liked two of them at all. That is 1.41%! And, I'm not totally happy with them either.

Closer and a tiny bit sharper...

Roger told everyone to walk around and see the little house.

I have no idea who this is, but I thought it made the shot interesting.

I tried to frame the house between the gate columns. Another fail!

This is an interesting part of the history talk. The Kallison Ranch was used mostly as a demonstration ranch for the things they sold in their store. Roger explained that the cattle ranch was up at this level and the farming was down the hill.

With this, I was trying to juxtapose the stone gate with the crowd. Another fail.

This is the cowbird trap. Those of you who follow my blog have seen it a lot.

Okay... For some reason I actually like this shot of the house. I would like it more if the tree wasn't cut off.

This part of the ruins of the other house sort of peaks out at you until you walk closer.

Marian Collins was telling the crowd about the cowbird trapping process.

It is a sensitive area. Some people are upset that we do it. Others applaud our efforts to help out the song birds during their mating seasons. Man caused this problem by wiping out the bison.

I love looking at the remains of plants. Not sure what this was.

This house was the ranch foreman's home. The Kallisons never lived on the ranch.

We are on our way to the other ruins.

Here they are. I didn't even go up there this time. I was too enchanted by the butterflies in the lantana that was growing all over.

While we were here, Roger played a really cool tape of Lyndon B. Johnson talking on the radio with one of the Kallisons. It was recorded right before he was elected vice-president. He was letting the farmers know how much better life was gonna be once his party took over in Washington.