Allen’s hummingbird

Madrona Marsh Preserve in Torrance, California, is one of my favorite places for a quick “nature fix.” Rainfall is the only water source for this seasonal wetland. If we have winter rains, the marsh fills with water and the landscape is lush. In years of drought, the marsh may remain dry and brown all year. These photos were taken in the spring and summer of 2024, when the preserve was full of life after a winter of abundant rain.

Monarch butterfly