Trixology

Weather => General Weather Discussion => Topic started by: elagache on May 22, 2017, 11:16:45 PM

Title: Scenes of Summer 2017 captured by the WeatherCat community.
Post by: elagache on May 22, 2017, 11:16:45 PM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,

Yes I know it is even earlier than Memorial day which is the unofficial start of Summer in the United States, but the dry season starts very early in California.  I brought my DSLR today to capture another photo of the brave California poppy growing in a crack between two slabs of concrete:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Summer-2017/i-nZh5qHH/0/b2d2ea5e/XL/CA%20Poppy%20growing%20through%20concrete-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Summer-2017/i-nZh5qHH/A)

As you can see, the plant has already started to dry up on one side and the blossoms are smaller than they were on May 2nd:

http://athena.trixology.com/index.php?topic=2403.msg24003#msg24003 (http://athena.trixology.com/index.php?topic=2403.msg24003#msg24003)

Nonetheless the water that is flowing in the gutter is still rainwater draining from the nearby hills.  However, we haven't had any rain since April and aren't expecting any more this month, that won't last much longer.

Here is a view of distant hillside where the grass has turned "Summer brown:"

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Summer-2017/i-m5ckZNr/0/b5ed2166/XL/Burnt%20grasses%20on%20distant%20hill-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Summer-2017/i-m5ckZNr/A)

Here is a more close-up view of grasses that have turned to seed and dried up:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Summer-2017/i-TxqmdGQ/0/0bfdd809/XL/Sea%20of%20dried%20out%20grasses-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Summer-2017/i-TxqmdGQ/A)

Finally, here is one last view of a "burnt" hillside:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Summer-2017/i-gBdkmss/0/6ac0beec/XL/Hillside%20of%20dried%20out%20grasses-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Summer-2017/i-gBdkmss/A)

In retrospect, I probably should have turned the polarizer filter to avoid turning the sky such a dark blue.  Steve's criticism of such extremes does seem appropriate.  On the other hand, the effect is certainly surreal.

Even with all the rains we've had in California, the wild vegetation will nonetheless look like this until the rains return as late as November or December.  We had our first day over 90˚  - peaking out at 90.2˚ F (32.3˚ C.)  It has been a hot May and the solstice is still a month away.

Those who insist California is a paradise obviously are only paying attention to human created landscapes.

Edouard
Title: New kind of "weeds" popping up in Orinda (Re: Scenes of Summer 2017)
Post by: elagache on June 16, 2017, 12:42:15 AM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,

The last day of k-12 schools was last Friday.  With the summer comes another kind of "weed."

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Summer-2017/i-H8qrcHz/0/011752e2/XL/Road%20construction%20cones-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Summer-2017/i-H8qrcHz/A)

Yup, the Orinda road repair efforts have returned to our corner of the city.  The main focus this year is to repair access roads to a local grade school that obviously get a lot of traffic.

There was another unexpected sight in the skies over Orinda:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Summer-2017/i-rV8rPst/0/e872ef3c/XL/Planes%20writing%20message%20in%20sky-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Summer-2017/i-rV8rPst/A)

Given the political situation this seemed provocative.  As it turned out it was, but not in the realm of politics but sports:

http://www.slamonline.com/nba/nike-quiets-kevin-durant-critics-debate-ad/#PEODMmfoimROwoLw.97 (http://www.slamonline.com/nba/nike-quiets-kevin-durant-critics-debate-ad/#PEODMmfoimROwoLw.97)

It was part of the celebration of the Golden State Warriors victory and in particular a TV ad sponsored by Nike that was created to respond to all of Kevin Durant's critics this past year.

I'm not sports fan, so I wasn't at all aware of this - I had to ask!  :-[  Still, I was very impressed with how the writing was done.  There was a group of 5 planes flying in very tight formation.  Smoke was then "released" much as an ink-jet or dot matrix printer creates marks on the paper.  It is a bit crude, but as you can see, it is legible.

Nonetheless, not the normal sort of thing we typically see when scanning the skies to assess the weather!

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Scenes of Summer 2017 captured by the WeatherCat community.
Post by: xairbusdriver on June 16, 2017, 01:50:33 PM
Quote
There was a group of 5 planes flying in very tight formation. Smoke was then "released" much as an ink-jet or dot matrix printer creates marks on the paper. It is a bit crude, but as you can see, it is legible.
There's an app for that... aircraft an pilots not included.

As long as we?re straying off the Summer Scenes topic...
I saw something similar for those of us considered "artistically challenged". You load an image into your iPhone and connect it to a sensor/projector that watches a device connected to a spray paint can. All you have to do is move your hand (holding the specially adapted spray can) slowly left and right. The spray paint button is automatically pushed at just the right moment for just the right length of time... (wall not included).

Never mind, here's a link to the video (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/n3ct2k94) that shows the capabilities. You may want to fast forward, but it also shows a very talented graffiti artist.
Title: How do you access the video? (Re: Scenes of Summer 2017)
Post by: elagache on June 17, 2017, 12:02:29 AM
Dear X-Air and WeatherCat skywriter wannabees, 

Quote
There was a group of 5 planes flying in very tight formation. Smoke was then "released" much as an ink-jet or dot matrix printer creates marks on the paper. It is a bit crude, but as you can see, it is legible.
There's an app for that... aircraft an pilots not included.

Uh yes, I rather imagined as such.  Flying the planes in such a tight and steady formation would be I assume to be much more of the challenge.


Never mind, here's a link to the video (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/n3ct2k94) that shows the capabilities. You may want to fast forward, but it also shows a very talented graffiti artist.

I would love to see the video but obviously I'm missing something about the BBC website.  So how do you get these videos to play?  I'm not seeing anything to click on to get it started.

Cheers, Edouard
Title: Re: Scenes of Summer 2017 captured by the WeatherCat community.
Post by: xairbusdriver on June 17, 2017, 04:17:42 AM
Quote
obviously I'm missing something about the BBC website.  So how do you get these videos to play?
Sorry 'bout that! I actually saw the whole 30 minutes on the 'telly', but I assumed that the nice web page would be an obvious way to see the show again! "Not so fast Yank!" I could find no link/button/secret password to animate the still image 'teaser', either! I did find a page that had some text near the bottom asking, "Are you in the UK?" with a link to download something called an "iPlayer". I didn't bother since there was a bit of smaller text saying that it was available only in the UK! Early part of 'Brexit'?! Or maybe they actually knew I was in that renegade, un-fair fighting ex-Colony... [banghead]

In any case, I did find a much shorter 'clip' of "Click" that may help give you an idea of how the contraption works. There is also a preview of a robot 'painter' that can climb vertical walls! It basically has a good sized fan built into its body that creates a low pressure area between its bottom and the wall, enough to keep it 'attached' to the wall as it moves around 'spitting' paint dots to create the 'art'. If the link below doesn't work, you'll just have to find the BBC News channel or drive to England! Don't forget your teardrop caravan!! cmu:-) [rolleyes2]
Clip from Fifty Shades of Gray (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p054f7zv)
Seems to work. Auto starts. Uses Flash, I think, at least the site does.  :(
Title: No joy on either Firefox or Safari (Re: Scenes of Summer 2017)
Post by: elagache on June 17, 2017, 10:22:25 PM
Dear X-Air and WeatherCat "brave new world of online TV" types,

Quote
obviously I'm missing something about the BBC website.  So how do you get these videos to play?
Sorry 'bout that! I actually saw the whole 30 minutes on the 'telly', but I assumed that the nice web page would be an obvious way to see the show again! "Not so fast Yank!"

I've run into this problem before and some people claim it is possible to  watch some of these shows online, but I've never figured out how.  Perhaps you need to register with the BBC to be given access.  Whatever the trick they have gone to way too much trouble to conceal it!  [rolleyes2]

In any case, I did find a much shorter 'clip' of "Click" that may help give you an idea of how the contraption works.

Alas, I had no better luck with that link, although it might be a problem on my end.  I can't seem to get past the banner ads on Firefox and Safari refuses to give me the option to run flash.


If the link below doesn't work, you'll just have to find the BBC News channel or drive to England! Don't forget your teardrop caravan!! cmu:-) [rolleyes2]

Well, there has been some progress on getting my trusty wagon back into service, but all this has put the caravan caper on the back burner.  Just as well though.  While driving across the United States is just the sort thing my wagon is capable of doing.  . . . .  Swimming across the Atlantic? (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/scratch_head.gif) I don't think so! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/nope.gif)

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Scenes of Summer 2017 captured by the WeatherCat community.
Post by: Blicj11 on June 18, 2017, 12:08:13 AM
The official BBC channels require their app iPlayer to view, but they are not intended to be viewed outside the UK. I never had a problem watching them whilst in the mother country but unless you spoof a UK IP address, you are left with only being able to view the videos they post for general consumption.
Title: Re: Scenes of Summer 2017 captured by the WeatherCat community.
Post by: xairbusdriver on June 18, 2017, 03:58:47 AM
While the site seems to notify the Flash monitor mechanism, the video doesn't require that "technology". I'm not at my home now, on a mini visit to our elder son. However, I am able to view the video, via the last link, on my iPhone. I believe Mr. Jobs made sure Flash would not work in any iOS. So, to avoid having to drive/swim the Atlantic, you might try the video on just about any mobile communications device you have.

I usually have Ghostery enabled in Safari on my iMac which normally blocks Flash. As I'm not home I can be very specific about how to permit Flash on the Mac, as undesirable as that may be. Generally, you have to find the 'Plugins' allowed section of the Safari prefs and list the ones you want to allow and when. I'll grab some screen shots when I get back early next week. I hope you can stand being without the excitement of watching the incredible and riveting video for a few more days! cmu:-) [rolleyes2]
Title: How unworldly of the BBC! (Was: Scenes of Summer 2017)
Post by: elagache on June 18, 2017, 11:57:23 PM
Dear Blick, X-Air, and WeatherCat citizens of the world,

The official BBC channels require their app iPlayer to view, but they are not intended to be viewed outside the UK.

 ;) . . . For shame!  Don't those chaps who speak UK-English have an awareness of that rather large audience that speaks a very similar US-English? . . .  [lol]

Actually a solution to this problem may be in the pipeline as we chat.  Amazon video has been bulking up on UK productions and is already hosting dedicated streaming services like History Channel Vault.  Perhaps this problem will be solved like the next version of WeatherCat - with patience!

While the site seems to notify the Flash monitor mechanism, the video doesn't require that "technology". I'm not at my home now, on a mini visit to our elder son. However, I am able to view the video, via the last link, on my iPhone. I believe Mr. Jobs made sure Flash would not work in any iOS. So, to avoid having to drive/swim the Atlantic, you might try the video on just about any mobile communications device you have.

Yes viewing the video on my iPad working perfectly.  That is interesting technology.  Although I'm not entirely sure what it could be used for besides high-resolution graffiti! [biggrin]

Cheers, Edouard 
Title: Re: Scenes of Summer 2017 captured by the WeatherCat community.
Post by: The Grand Poohbah on June 19, 2017, 12:23:25 AM
Back to scenes for summer - our hay harvest was finished today. It's a new record, 100 bales.

(http://www.poohbah.com/public/iphone/forum/IMG_3691_hay_1024.jpg)
Title: Re: Scenes of Summer 2017 captured by the WeatherCat community.
Post by: Blicj11 on June 19, 2017, 04:35:22 PM
I remember from my youth how important it is to get the hay cut, dried and baled between two rainstorms. Congratulations on doing so and getting a bumper crop to boot!
Title: Re: Scenes of Summer 2017 captured by the WeatherCat community.
Post by: Blicj11 on June 19, 2017, 04:44:05 PM
Summer has finally arrived in the mountains of northern Utah.
Title: Thanks for the pictures chaps! (Re: Scenes of Summer 2017)
Post by: elagache on June 20, 2017, 12:01:42 AM
Dear Grand, Blick, and WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,

Thanks for the pictures and congrats on your bumper crop Grand!

I couldn't get into a reasonable position to photograph it, but we had smoke rising from a line of hills about 2 miles from our house.  Given the helicopter activity, there could be no doubt: another grass fire.  Definitely getting off to a rough start as far as fires are concerned here in Northern California.

Cheers, Edouard 

P.S. This fire made the local news:

http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/06/19/fire-burning-behind-moragas-campolindo-high-school/ (http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/06/19/fire-burning-behind-moragas-campolindo-high-school/)

It isn't too far from the high school of a neighboring town.
Title: Black is the new green! (Re: Scenes of Summer 2017)
Post by: elagache on June 28, 2017, 11:29:22 PM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the traditions of summer,

I'm afraid those "boys of summer" are back!  However, not the ones you are most likely thinking about:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/House-tlc-and-upgrades/Neighborhood-road-repaving-2017/i-2pHDVnL/0/f3e9a46a/XL/Paving%20asphalt%20on%20Kenmore%20court%20%281%29-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/House-tlc-and-upgrades/Neighborhood-road-repaving-2017/i-2pHDVnL/A)

Yup, another court is getting a fresh surface of asphalt.  While the wild plants are increasingly brown instead of green, "black" is sprouting all over the neighborhoods as the road repaving starts to pick steam.  Here is one more shot:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/House-tlc-and-upgrades/Neighborhood-road-repaving-2017/i-cQRDHvV/0/8e4c8a2e/XL/Paving%20asphalt%20on%20Kenmore%20court-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/House-tlc-and-upgrades/Neighborhood-road-repaving-2017/i-cQRDHvV/A)

Thus far the work hasn't been too close to our house, but eventually we'll have this sort of mess just a few houses up from ours.  Fortunately, we can get in out of the house on roads paved last year, so our access isn't effected.

So who has something truly green to photograph this summer?

Cheers, Edouard
Title: Stubborn CA poppy and spider web (Re: Scenes of Summer 2017)
Post by: elagache on July 08, 2017, 10:43:07 PM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the turning of the seasons,

This summer is turning out to be one were above normal temperatures thus far seem to be then norm.  The soil exposed to the harsh sun and hot air temperatures has quickly become as bone dry as ever.  Still some plants will deep roots are making a last stand.  Here is a California Poppy that probably is getting some benefit from the storm drain:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Summer-2017/i-H6Pp8hP/0/d4f46b09/XL/California%20Poppy%20next%20to%20storm%20drain-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Summer-2017/i-H6Pp8hP/A)

As you can see, that drain is still carrying some water from off the hills.  All that rainfall we got last winter still hasn't completely drained.  I spotted something that is very much a product of the heat:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Summer-2017/i-XwxzgGJ/0/e5e51983/XL/Large%20spider%20web-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Summer-2017/i-XwxzgGJ/A)

The hots days and mild nights are allowing the insects and spiders to be more active.  That web was at least 3 to 4 feet across.

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Oleanders in bloom. (Re: Scenes of Summer 2017)
Post by: elagache on July 22, 2017, 12:05:07 AM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,

It is full summer here in California.  It has been a hot summer and some of trees aren't fairing so well:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Summer-2017/i-4RdHqVc/0/57b96bc3/XL/Damaged%20pine%20trees%20behind%20school-yard-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Summer-2017/i-4RdHqVc/A)

There is a plant that once established does a good job of coping with the summer conditions: Oleander (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerium).  It isn't a California native and instead comes from North Africa and the Middle East.  Sadly California is looking more like those regions with each passing year.  Here is a photo of Oleanders that "escaped" and were growing wild on a property owned by our local water district:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Summer-2017/i-T395Qt9/0/fa042d9f/XL/Oleanders%20on%20unused%20lot-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Summer-2017/i-T395Qt9/A)

That's about as pretty as things get in California in the summertime.  Does anyone have a pretty summertime scene they would like to share?

Cheers, Edouard
Title: Re: Scenes of Summer 2017 captured by the WeatherCat community.
Post by: xairbusdriver on July 22, 2017, 01:31:35 AM
Wish we could send you some of our humidity, surely it would condense in your cooler temps! [sweat2]
Title: Humidity extremes (Re: Scenes of Summer 2017)
Post by: elagache on July 22, 2017, 09:51:04 PM
Dear X-Air and WeatherCat sufferers of extreme summertime weather,

Wish we could send you some of our humidity, surely it would condense in your cooler temps! [sweat2]

Unfortunately, we aren't having cooler temperatures today.  However, we are having the opposite humidity problem - too low!

(http://www.canebas.org/misc/Capto_images/Heat%20wave%20conditions%202017-07-22.png)

On days like this we have to run a humidifier to put back some of the moisture that is removed by the air conditioner.

Such are the conditions that prevail in the increasingly desert weather of California.

Oh well, . . . . Edouard
Title: Summer's final blooming act: Naked Ladies (Re: Scenes of Summer 2017)
Post by: elagache on August 16, 2017, 11:03:21 PM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,

Come August there is one final major display of flowering color: the blooming of the Naked Ladies or Amaryllis (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaryllis).  These hardy plants are native to Western Cape region of South Africa.  These plants grow in the wintertime and apparently die out by summer.  Then late in the season they send out their stalks upon which these pink flowers appear.  Here is a line of these flowers growing against the edge of a drainage gutter:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Summer-2017/i-NJFJrfq/0/87ea45ea/XL/Naked%20lady%20flowers%20next%20to%20drainage%20gutter-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Summer-2017/i-NJFJrfq/A)

You can see the dead foliage at the base of the flower stalks. 

The crape myrtle trees continue to bloom, but that's about the end of flowering plants here in California.  Some plants, such as California Poppies, can make a second appearance in the autumn after the first rains.  Other than that, Californians will have to wait until Spring for the next real display of blooming color.

Cheers, Edouard