Well, there’s always a first! After (too) many years of hesitancy, I decided rather spontaneously to put together a calendar of my photographs for the first time, this year. I compiled a selection of seasonal images that hopefully represent San Diego County’s unique seasonal changes and landscapes.

This calendar isn’t available any longer. Check out the most recent calendar instead!

Each month’s image was made here in San Diego County during the same month, going back to the year 2010 when I first moved here, all the way to the newest image, from July of this year. This way, I’m hoping to not only represent the seasonal changes faithfully, but also celebrate the variety and astonishingly diverse scenery of San Diego.

The gallery below contains all twelve calendar images. In the calendar they appear slightly cropped because the images are printed borderless on 8.5 x 11 inches (US Letter) size paper.

Index & Explanation

• January: cold winter storms bring snow to the higher elevations of San Diego County and many San Diegans head to the mountains on such occasions to play in the snow.
• February: while winter storms bring rain to the coast, back country and snow to the mountains more or less reliably, only very few clouds make it across the barrier of the Pacific Crest into the desert, where it is possible to hike in pleasant (but often windy) weather.
• March: spring arrives with force in the back country, trees grow fresh green leaves as temperatures rise, and seasonal waterfalls are flowing
• April: at the higher elevations of San Diego County, the deciduous Black Oaks (Quercus kelloggii) are growing new leaves. The young leaves are bright pink as they lack their green epidermis.
• May: the dense and heavy marine layer is called “May gray” at this time of the year, it blankets the coast and keeps temperatures low; the sun often doesn’t come out at all.
• June: the “June gloom” marine layer that covers the coast and landscape west of the mountains sends its moisture further east; moisture lingers in the atmosphere and renders the landscape soft and hazy.
• July: the chaparral and sage scrub plant communities begin their summer dormancy as temperatures rise; California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) blooms in abundance, providing a summer staple for insects.
• August: a very shallow marine layer may just extend far enough inland from the coast to allow for a thin layer of fog to build over night; the rising sun and daylight temperatures will quickly burn it off.
• September: monsoonal moisture enters San Diego County and while it rarely rains at the coast, high clouds from monsoon storms south and east of California drift across land and sea.
• October: the low moisture of Santa Ana weather brings increased fire danger, but also clear skies and a brilliant afterglow in the twilight sky.
• November: seasonal fall colors make an appearance, at lower elevations Sycamores, Willows and Cottonwood trees begin to turn and drop their leaves
• December: temperatures have dropped enough to make a return to the vast open spaces of the desert appealing and inviting.

A special thanks to my long-time photographer friend Michael Russell from British Columbia, Canada for the (indirect) nudge and inspiration! :)