I was following my nose. The combination of two wild fragrances was intoxicating. That incredible scent lured me into Scorpion Canyon, where tributaries of multiple side canyons flowed into the craggy gorge on Santa Cruz Island.
The sweet aroma of island ceanothus and silver lupine was thick in the air, wafting in and around the rocky, honeycombed canyon. Pacific green tree frogs croaked mightily throughout the seasonal arroyo. A shy island fox peeked around the corner of a blooming lemonade berry bush as I watched from behind spindly stocks of swaying blue dicks.
After the heavy winter rains of 2022-23 consistently soaked the windswept marine terraces and serpentine-like canyons of the islands, the Northern Chain has sprung to life. Purples, oranges, yellows, whites, and pinks have brightened the unique island biomes.