
Scene from Julian’s 4th of July Parade, 2011. Photo: Barbara Swanson
Barbara Swanson is a big fan of the diverse ecologies of San Diego’s three broad environmental domains, the coast, the mountains and the desert, especially the amazing Anza-Borrego Desert State Park with its annual unfolding of wildflowers and abundance of wildlife.
Her photo awards are numerous, including top awards at the San Diego County Fair, the Ordover Gallery at the San Diego Natural History Museum, and the North County Photographic Society. Some of her photographic work can be seen at barbara.photos and greenearthplanet. She is a scientist by vocation.

Welcome sign at Pine Hills Road in the daffodil season. Photo: Lee McComb
Lee McComb had been visiting Julian and Anza-Borrego since the early 1960s as a cyclist with the Escondido Touring Club. The peloton would ride through the mountains of Julian, but all wheels would screech to a halt at the Manzanita Ranch in Wynola for an irresistible cup of refreshing apple cider.
As a resident of the area later, he discovered his favorite aspects of San Diego’s back country—its history and trails, from the amazing original peoples to the colorful settlers and the routes they took to live their lives. His professional work is surveying and mapping, his hobby interests include graphic arts, mathematics, astronomy and writing. Over the years, he has written dozens of articles for local publication about the Julian scene, including a number of its many fine artists, and has appeared twice in the hero role at the annual Julian Melodrama and Olio.
By the way, always stop by an Avery sculpture when visiting Borrego Springs!