A record of attention.

Seasonal notes, field observations, and enduring essays drawn from the way Southern California landscapes change over time.

Begin with a season, a condition, or a question worth carrying into the landscape.

Ways of observing.

Seasonal Note · All seasons

A Different Seasonal Measure

Southern California is shaped less by four separate seasons than by a continuing rhythm of wetness and dryness, growth and rest, heat and relief, exposure and shelter.

Read

Field Observation · Across the property

Morning and Afternoon

Morning moisture remained beneath the grasses after the open ground had begun to dry. By afternoon, the same property felt warmer, brighter, and less sheltered.

Read

Field Observation · Late summer

The Worn Ground

The worn ground did not follow the paved walk. It curved beneath the shade tree, crossed a narrow planting bed, and returned to the path near the gate.

Read

Plant Study · Late winter into early spring

One Small Area

A restrained study of one established native grass clump and the surrounding ground, showing new growth, dry seed heads, fallen material, soil texture, and the edge of a recurring water path.

Read

Weather Note · The wet interval

Rain as an Event

Rain carries unusual weight in Southern California.

Read

Quiet Observation · Any season

A Quiet Balance

The healthiest part of a property is not always the most noticeable.

Read

Educational Essay · Before recommendations

The First Walk

Arrival is part of the observation.

Read