Dogwoods and mist, Yosemite NP, CA, USA

Dogwoods and mist, Yosemite Valley, yesterday afternoon

I assumed that the dogwoods in Yosemite would have peaked and started to whither while we were down in Death Valley. But upon our return we heard reports that the dogwoods were still good. Yesterday afternoon was wet and showery, which seemed like perfect conditions for photographing dogwoods, so Claudia and I drove up to Yosemite Valley, and found that yes, the dogwoods were still good – great, in fact.

Only one dogwood was clearly past peak, and that tree is always an early bloomer. The rest were rather mixed, with some fully leafed out, others with only small leaves, and even a couple with newly-emerging greenish blossoms. The cool and showery weather this past week apparently has helped preserve the flowers, and made this a long-lasting dogwood bloom. But what really struck me yesterday was how full they were. Many trees were just overflowing with blossoms, and we saw many strikingly-beautiful specimens.

I suspect, however, that they won’t last long. The forecast calls for warm weather this week, and the dogwoods that are fully leafed out may start to whither. But the trees that haven’t progressed as far should still be in good shape for another week or so. Also, higher-elevation dogwoods along Highway 41, Highway 120, and in the Tuolumne Grove should last even longer. We didn’t have a chance to check those spots yesterday, but typically the dogwoods up there bloom one to two weeks later than the dogwoods in Yosemite Valley. Of course this has been anything but a typical year, so you never know, but that’s what I’d expect.

As an example of how long the dogwoods have lasted, the photograph below, made yesterday afternoon, is the same tree I photographed on April 8th (second image from the bottom in this post). Back then the blossoms were just emerging, but it still looked fresh yesterday, with small, unobtrusive leaves.

So there’s still time to photograph dogwoods in Yosemite Valley, but go soon!

— Michael Frye

P.S. As you’re probably aware, Adobe released Lightroom 6 and Lightroom CC last week. I’ve been testing this new version, and will post my first impressions soon.

P.P.S If you’re in Yosemite Valley you should check out the newly renovated Ansel Adams Gallery. It’s always a great place to find inspiration, and the staff photographers are very knowledgable about current conditions.

Dogwoods, mist, and ponderosa pines, Yosemite NP, CA, USA

Dogwoods, mist, and ponderosa pines, Yosemite Valley, yesterday afternoon

Related Posts: Early Dogwoods; Snow?!

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Michael Frye is a professional photographer specializing in landscapes and nature. He is the author or principal photographer of The Photographer’s Guide to YosemiteYosemite Meditations, Yosemite Meditations for Women, Yosemite Meditations for Adventurers, and Digital Landscape Photography: In the Footsteps of Ansel Adams and the Great Masters. He has also written three eBooks: Light & Land: Landscapes in the Digital Darkroom, Exposure for Outdoor Photography, and Landscapes in Lightroom 5: The Essential Step-by-Step Guide. Michael has written numerous magazine articles on the art and technique of photography, and his images have been published in over thirty countries around the world. Michael has lived either in or near Yosemite National Park since 1983, currently residing just outside the park in Mariposa, California.