Sagebrush Sky
Martis Wildlife Area is a breathtaking 70-acre floodplain meadow, which is one of the most widespread habitats in the Truckee/Tahoe basin. Visitors and locals alike are drawn to its immense sky beauty. The wildlife area is also adjacent to Hopkins Ranch and Waddle Ranch Reserve, two of the most environmentally significant parts of the Truckee watershed. One of the most popular attractions of the area is the 4.1-mile Martis Creek Trail. It cuts across the open sagebrush meadow for just under a mile, following and then crossing Martis Creek, and ends at the junction with Tompkins Memorial Trail.
The image showcases the Big Sagebrush, Artemisia tridentata, a shrub native to California. This species has a solid, pungent fragrance, especially when wet, due to camphor, terpenoids, and other volatile oils. The taste is bitter, and together with the odor, discourages browsing by many herbivores. Sagebrush is evergreen, keeping some of its leaves year-round. These shrubs are generally long-lived, and once they pass the seedling stage, they can reach ages of over 100 years.
The image is a composite pano of 18 shots, providing an uncanny 180-degree view of the surrounding mountain ranges. Headlights can be seen on the far right side of the image, coming off Highway 267. Mother Nature opened her box of tricks on this exceptional evening, auspiciously revealing one of the most vibrant sunsets that I have ever seen.
