盛开的羽扇豆，北加利福尼亚州，美国 Lupine flowers in bloom, Northern California, USA (© Jeffrey Lewis/Tandem Stills + Motion)

羽扇豆书写的季节 A season written in lupine

盛开的羽扇豆，北加利福尼亚州，美国

随着春季席卷北加利福尼亚州，大地在蓝色、紫色与白色交织的羽扇豆花海中焕然一新。这些野生物种在当地的地中海气候下生长繁茂，为蜜蜂、蝴蝶及甲虫等授粉媒介提供了至关重要的花蜜来源。羽扇豆在全球拥有200多个物种，其分布极其广泛，涵盖了从沿海地带到高山草甸的多种生境。除了显著的观赏价值外，羽扇豆在生态系统中亦发挥着关键作用：通过地下的固氮作用，它们能够显著提高土壤肥力，即便是在贫瘠的环境中也能支持周边植物的生长。

在特定文化中，经过特殊加工的羽扇豆种子被当作零食食用。然而，必须谨慎处理——未经脱苦处理的种子含有极高的生物碱，滋味极苦且具有潜在毒性。时至暮春，繁茂的花期结束，取而代之的是发育中的荚果，这标志着生命周期的循环往复。见证这一季节性的更迭，让人静静领悟大地每年色彩重塑与生命回归的自然律动。

Lupine flowers in bloom, Northern California

As spring sweeps across Northern California, the landscape is transformed by the vibrant displays of lupine flowers in shades of blue, purple, and white. Flourishing in the region's Mediterranean climate, these wildflowers provide a vital source of nectar for pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and beetles. With over 200 species found worldwide, lupines range from coastal varieties to those that thrive in mountain meadows. Beyond their striking beauty, lupines are essential to the ecosystem: by fixing nitrogen underground, they enrich soil fertility and support the growth of surrounding plants, even in nutrient-poor environments.

In some cultures, specially prepared lupine seeds are enjoyed as a snack. However, caution is necessary—untreated seeds are extremely bitter and potentially toxic. By late spring, the vibrant blooms give way to seed pods, continuing the cycle of life for another year. Witnessing this seasonal transformation offers a quiet reminder of how color and life return to the land each year.

仙纳度国家公园的玳瑁峰, 弗吉尼亚州, 美国 Hawksbill Mountain in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, USA (© John Baggaley/Getty Images)

静谧之巅，喧嚣之景 Quiet peak, loud view

仙纳度国家公园的玳瑁峰, 弗吉尼亚州

究竟要多高，才能尽享绝佳美景？在美国东部，其实无需太高的海拔。位于弗吉尼亚州仙纳度国家公园（Shenandoah National Park）内的玳瑁峰（Hawksbill Mountain），海拔仅为4050英尺；这充分表明，对于这些古老的山脉而言，开阔的视野远比绝对的高度更为重要。该公园成立于1935年，其建立过程伴随着大规模农耕与伐木活动之后的植被恢复工作。如今，昔日的土地大都已重披林装，孕育着混交阔叶林、山月桂以及杜鹃花等丰富的植被。此外还有什么值得一提？公园内的部分岩石距今已逾10亿年，堪称该州最为古老的岩层之一。这里栖息着200多种鸟类和32种鱼类；同时，公园对宠物也十分友好，允许游客携带爱犬进入露营地及大多数步道。

玳瑁峰（Hawksbill）的峰顶并非由陡峭的悬崖构成；取而代之的是，一座由“平民保护团”（Civilian Conservation Corps）于20世纪30年代修建的石质平台标志着这里的最高点。从此处眺望，连绵的山脊向远方层层延伸，呈现出柔和的淡蓝色调——这一景象正是由大气散射效应所致。“天际线公路”（Skyline Drive）将游客引向通往此类山峰的各处登山步道起点。

Hawksbill Mountain in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

How high is high enough for a great view? In the eastern United States, it doesn't take much. Hawksbill Mountain is the highest point in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, at 4,050 feet, showing how these older mountains rely on openness, not elevation. The park's establishment in 1935 involved reforestation after extensive farming and logging. Today, much of that land has returned to forest, supporting mixed hardwoods, mountain laurel, and rhododendron. What else? Some of the rocks found here date back over 1 billion years, among the oldest in the state. The park shelters over 200 bird species and 32 species of fish and remains dog friendly, allowing pets in campgrounds and on most trails.

Hawksbill's summit does not rely on steep cliffs. Instead, a stone platform built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps marks the top. From here, ridges stretch into the distance in soft blue layers, an effect caused by atmospheric scattering. Skyline Drive connects visitors to trailheads leading to peaks like this.

拱门与银河, 阿拉巴马山, 内华达山脉, 加利福尼亚州, 美国 Arch and Milky Way, Alabama Hills, Sierra Nevada, California, USA (© Tim Fitzharris/Minden Pictures)

银河系，摇滚吧！ Rock on, Milky Way!

拱门与银河, 阿拉巴马山, 内华达山脉, 加利福尼亚州

在今天这张照片中，阿拉巴马山的花岗岩拱门将银河框入加州东部内华达山脉崎岖的地貌之中。这片区域以其圆润的巨石和风化的岩层而闻名，大约在1亿年前由火山活动形成。水和风逐渐将岩石塑造成如今光滑的形状。游客可以探索天然拱门，在岩石间徒步，拍摄独特的景观，骑马或骑山地自行车，并欣赏季节性的野花盛开。

由于光污染极少，这些山丘是观星和夜间摄影的热门地点。在晴朗的夜晚，构成我们银河系的密集星带肉眼可见。虽然如今这里看起来像一片宁静的沙漠，但这片地形却在银幕上扮演过许多角色。自20世纪20年代以来，数百部电影和电视剧都曾以这些山丘为背景，拍摄西部片和科幻冒险片，其中包括格里高利·派克主演的《黄沙》、昆汀·塔伦蒂诺执导的《被解救的姜戈》以及乔恩·费儒执导的漫威经典之作《钢铁侠》。

Arch and Milky Way, Alabama Hills, Sierra Nevada, California

In today's image, the granite arches of the Alabama Hills frame the Milky Way over a rugged landscape in California's eastern Sierra Nevada. Famous for its rounded boulders and weathered rock formations, this area formed when molten rock cooled deep underground around 100 million years ago. Water and wind gradually shaped the stone into the smooth shapes seen today. Visitors can explore the natural arches, hike among the rocks, capture photographs of the unique landscape, ride horses or mountain bikes, and enjoy seasonal displays of wildflowers.

With minimal light pollution, the hills are popular for stargazing and night photography. On a clear night, the dense band of stars that forms our galaxy is visible to the naked eye. While it might look like a peaceful desert today, this terrain has played many roles on screen. Since the 1920s, hundreds of movies and television shows have used these hills as a backdrop for westerns and sci-fi adventures, including 'Yellow Sky' with Gregory Peck, 'Django Unchained' by Quentin Tarantino, and the Marvel classic 'Iron Man' by Jon Favreau.

科法国家野生动物保护区，亚利桑那州，美国 Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona, USA (© Denis Tangney Jr/Getty Images)

广袤铺展的沙漠 Desert, drawn wide

科法国家野生动物保护区

横跨美国西南部亚利桑那州索诺兰沙漠的科法国家野生动物保护区，是一片由峭壁山峰、开阔天空与顽强生命共同构成的独特荒野。

“科法”（Kofa）这一名称源自附近群山中的一座历史金矿——“亚利桑那之王金矿”。这座矿场曾一度繁荣兴盛，其名称后来被简化并缩写，最终演变为如今简洁而易记的“科法”。

如今，科法国家野生动物保护区覆盖面积达665,400英亩，是一片广袤的开放沙漠。高大的巨柱仙人掌从岩石沟谷中拔地而起，幽静的峡谷中则隐藏着罕见的棕榈林。在这片辽阔的土地上，沙漠大角羊与沙漠陆龟、郊狼以及仙人掌鹪鹩等动物共同栖息，它们都适应了高温、干旱与广阔空间的生存环境。徒步路线和荒野小径带领人们穿越古老的火山岩地貌，欣赏雨后短暂绽放的花海，以及似乎没有尽头的地平线。当黄昏降临，光线变得柔和，沙漠逐渐降温，野生动物也开始活跃。这片偏远而少有人为开发的区域，以宁静、辽阔与原始荒野的魅力，回馈每一位探索者。

Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona

Stretching across the Sonoran Desert in southwestern Arizona, Kofa National Wildlife Refuge is a land of sharp peaks, wide skies, and surprising life. The refuge was established in 1939 to protect desert bighorn sheep, whose sure-footed silhouettes still define the rugged landscape.

The name 'Kofa' comes from the historic King of Arizona gold mine, once a booming operation in the nearby mountains—its title shortened into a single, memorable word.

Today, Kofa spans 665,400 acres of open desert, where saguaros rise from rocky washes and quiet canyons shelter rare palm groves. Bighorn sheep share this vast terrain with desert tortoises, coyotes, and cactus wrens—each adapted to heat, scarcity, and space. Hiking routes and backcountry tracks reveal ancient volcanic rock, sudden blooms after rain, and seemingly endless horizons. At dusk, light softens the desert, and wildlife stirs beneath the cooling air. Remote and largely undeveloped, Kofa rewards curiosity with silence, scale, and the thrill of true desert wilderness.

湿地松和锯棕榈组成的森林吊床, 大沼泽地国家公园, 佛罗里达, 美国 Forest hammock of slash pine and saw palmetto, Everglades National Park, Florida, USA (© Mary Liz Austin/Alamy)

向树木致敬 A tribute to trees

大沼泽地松林

植树节旨在颂扬树木的无声力量——它们如何稳定生态系统、庇护野生动物、为城市降温，并塑造我们日常生活所依赖的环境。在美国，植树节定于四月的最后一个星期五，这一天鼓励美国以及许多其他国家（日期因生长季节而异）的社区种植、保护和养护各种类型的森林，从社区绿荫到标志性的荒野。

在佛罗里达州的大沼泽地国家公园（联合国教科文组织世界遗产地），高地松林耸立于沼泽和草原之上，共同构成了世界上最大的湿地系统之一。图中可见，阳光普照的火炬松和锯棕榈营造出开阔的林地，与大沼泽地广袤的湿地和红树林形成鲜明对比。在植树节这一天，这样的景观清晰地提醒着我们，树木对于这片非凡的亚热带生态系统的健康和平衡是多么重要。

Arbor Day

Arbor Day celebrates the quiet power of trees—the way they steady ecosystems, shelter wildlife, cool cities, and shape the environments we rely on every day. Observed in the United States on the last Friday in April, the day encourages communities here—and in many other countries, where dates vary according to growing season—to plant, protect, and care for forests of every kind, from neighborhood canopies to iconic wildlands.

In Florida's Everglades National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, elevated pinelands rise above the marshes and prairies that form one of the world's largest wetland systems. Seen here, sunlit slash pines and saw palmetto create open woodlands that contrast sharply with the Everglades' vast wetlands and mangrove forests. On Arbor Day, landscapes like this offer a clear reminder of how essential trees are to the health and balance of this remarkable subtropical ecosystem.

夕阳下的峡谷地国家公园，莫阿布，犹他州，美国 Sunset in Canyonlands National Park, Moab, Utah, USA (© Jason Hatfield/Tandem Stills + Motion)

日落之后，探索仍在继续 The adventure doesn't end at sundown

峡谷地国家公园

国家公园周，是你暂别日常、走向自然的最佳契机。这一为期九天的庆祝活动将于4月18日至26日举行，聚焦国家公园体系中400多处自然与文化遗产地。在这里，自然风光与人文历史交织，为人们带来难忘的户外体验。从海岸线与森林，到辽阔的沙漠景观，这些受保护的区域邀请人们走进自然，感受宁静，心怀敬畏。

在美国犹他州东南部，靠近莫阿布的峡谷地国家公园，则提醒人们：冒险并不会在日落时结束。当最后一缕阳光隐去，科罗拉多河与格林河在深邃的峡谷间蜿蜒流淌，穿行于高耸的孤峰与嶙峋的岩柱之间。由于地处偏远、光污染极少，这里的夜空清澈通透，繁星如幕，令人叹为观止。

作为“国际暗夜天空公园”，峡谷地国家公园是体验沙漠夜晚的理想之地。在这里观星，无需深入荒野腹地——只需短途步行或在观景点驻足，便能收获难忘的夜间景致。尤其是在无月之夜，银河横贯天际，璀璨壮丽。

National Park Week

National Park Week is your cue to trade routine for trail dust. It's a nine-day celebration running April 18–26, highlighting more than 400 places across the National Park System that preserve natural and cultural heritage while creating unforgettable outdoor experiences. From coastlines and forests to vast desert landscapes, these protected sites invite exploration, reflection, and wonder.

In southeastern Utah, Canyonlands National Park near Moab offers a striking reminder that the adventure doesn't end at sundown. As the last light fades, the Colorado and Green rivers trace their way through carved canyons, towering buttes, and rugged spires. With its remote setting and minimal light pollution, the park's clear skies reveal a brilliant canopy of stars.

Designated an International Dark Sky Park, Canyonlands is one of the best places to experience the desert after dark. Stargazing here doesn't require heading deep into the backcountry—short walks and scenic pullouts provide unforgettable nighttime views, especially on moonless nights when the Milky Way stretches across the sky.

斯卡吉特谷地郁金香花田, 华盛顿, 美国 Skagit Valley Tulip Fields, Washington, USA (© Alan Majchrowicz/Getty Images)

花瓣巡游 Petal parade

斯卡吉特谷郁金香节

每年春天，华盛顿州的斯卡吉特山谷都会变成一片色彩斑斓的花海，斯卡吉特山谷郁金香节在此欢庆花季的到来。整个四月，游客们可以漫步于郁金香花园和农田，欣赏成排盛开的郁金香，远眺群山美景。

这个节日并非局限于一个地点——它横跨整个山谷，邀请游客探索多个花园，每个花园都各具特色。有些花园注重精心设计的花卉布置，而另一些则展现了仍在运营的农场和广袤的田野。除了鲜花，这个节日还为游客提供艺术展览、适合家庭的活动以及在该地区举办的社区活动。

展览选址于一座废弃的石灰岩采石场，将梵高的画作转化为一个共享的实体空间，投影在高耸的石墙和地板上。参观者不再是退后观赏，而是穿梭于色彩、韵律和尺度之间，体验科技如何重塑我们欣赏艺术的方式。这恰如其分地体现了世界艺术日的宗旨：不仅在于致敬艺术杰作，更在于重新思考艺术如何存在、发展并持续吸引新的观众。

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

Each spring, Washington's Skagit Valley transforms into a patchwork of color as the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival celebrates the arrival of bloom season. Throughout April, visitors can explore tulip gardens and farmland lined with vibrant rows of flowers, all framed by mountain views.

The festival isn't limited to one location—it stretches across the valley, inviting guests to discover multiple gardens, each offering its own experience. Some focus on carefully designed displays, while others highlight working farms and wide- open fields. Alongside the flowers, the festival connects visitors with art exhibits, family-friendly activities, and community events hosted throughout the region.

Bloom timing changes every year, making each visit a little different, so checking bloom updates is part of the adventure. What began as a small local celebration in 1984 has grown into one of the Pacific Northwest's most loved spring traditions, drawing photographers, nature lovers, and road trip enthusiasts eager to welcome the season.

安扎-博雷戈沙漠州立公园上空的银河, 加利福尼亚州, 美国 Milky Way over Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California, USA (© Kevin Key/Slworking)/Getty Images)

当灯光熄灭之后 After the lights go down

银河

当夜幕降临，宇宙便开始上演一场壮丽的“光影秀”。每年四月举行的国际暗夜周，邀请人们重新发现夜晚的魅力，并了解为什么黑暗同样值得被保护。这项活动始于2003年，旨在提醒公众关注过度的人造光照对野生动物、人类健康、能源消耗以及我们观测星空能力所带来的影响。减少不必要的灯光并不意味着降低安全性——通过科学、合理的照明设计，完全可以在保证安全的同时减少光污染。

这张银河高悬在安扎-博雷戈沙漠州立公园上空的照片，正好诠释了这一理念。作为加利福尼亚州最大的州立公园**，这里同时也是被正式认定的国际暗夜公园，因此拥有全美一流的观星条件。在晴朗的夜晚，天空中会出现行星、星团以及我们所在星系——银河系那条明亮的星带。这样的壮丽景象，在许多城市地区由于光污染已经很难看到了。

国际暗夜周鼓励人们从一些简单的行动做起，例如为门廊灯加装遮光罩，或参加当地的观星活动。抬头仰望夜空，保持好奇心，也一起努力，让夜晚继续保有自然的璀璨星光。

International Dark Sky Week

When the lights go down, the universe puts on a show. International Dark Sky Week, celebrated each April, invites everyone to rediscover the night and learn why darkness is worth protecting. Launched in 2003, the week highlights how excessive artificial light affects wildlife, human health, energy use, and our ability to see the stars. Fewer lights don't mean less safety—smart, well-designed lighting can do both.

The image of the Milky Way glowing above Anza-Borrego Desert State Park captures this idea perfectly. As California's largest state park and an officially designated International Dark-Sky Park, Anza-Borrego offers some of the best stargazing in the country. On a clear night, the sky fills with planets, star clusters, and the bright band of our home galaxy—views that have vanished from many urban areas.

International Dark Sky Week encourages simple actions, from shielding porch lights to joining a local star party. Look up, get curious, and help keep nights naturally brilliant.

西雅图，华盛顿州，美国 Seattle, Washington, USA (© Jim Patterson/Tandem Stills + Motion)

翡翠之城 The Emerald City

西雅图，华盛顿州

每年4月7日的国际河狸日，旨在致敬这位默默工作的“小工程师”。河狸凭借一根根树枝，悄然改变着自然环境。河狸长着标志性的门牙和桨状尾巴，以勤劳著称。数百万年来，它们一直在重塑淡水生态环境。河狸拥有呈橙色、富含铁质的坚硬门牙，可以轻松啃倒树木，并利用树枝和泥土建造水坝。这些水坝能够减缓水流、改善水质，并形成湿地，从而为多种动植物提供栖息地。它们还会用树枝和泥土搭建坚固的巢穴，入口通常位于水下，不仅能躲避捕食者，也为整个家族提供安全的居所。

作为世界上体型最大的啮齿动物之一，河狸的身体长度（不含尾巴）可接近 3 英尺（约 90 厘米）。它们对水生环境具有出色的适应能力，一次潜水最长可达约 15 分钟。过去，河狸曾因皮毛贸易而被大量捕猎，也常被人们误解。但如今，它们被广泛认为是重要的生态工程师。无论河狸在哪里定居，它们建造的水坝和湿地都会孕育出丰富的生命环境——证明即使是看似不起眼的“建筑者”，也能塑造庞大的生态系统。

Seattle, Washington

Seattle's waterfront seems suspended between sea and sky as soft light settles on the horizon. The city is named after Chief Si'ahl, a leader of the Duwamish and Suquamish peoples, whose legacy remains important to the region's identity. Steep streets lead down to piers that sweep across Elliott Bay. Rising above the shoreline, the Space Needle stands out as the city's most recognizable landmark. Pike Place Market, founded in 1907, overlooks the waterfront and continues to anchor daily life and long-held traditions.

Music adds another layer to the city's story. In the late 20th century, grunge emerged from small clubs, and its raw sound evolved into a global genre that continues to influence Seattle's creative pulse. Framed by water and distant mountain ranges, the city feels open and expansive. Its evergreen landscape earned Seattle the enduring nickname 'Emerald City.'

野花绽放, 中央谷地, 加利福尼亚州, 美国 Wildflower bloom, Central Valley, California, USA (© Jeff Lewis/Tandem Stills + Motion)

春天的图案 Patterns of spring

野花绽放, 中央谷地, 加利福尼亚州

春意盎然的加州中央谷地在冬雨过后，野花竞相绽放，宣告着春天的到来。这片南北绵延约450英里、面积约2万平方英里的山谷，是世界上农业生产力最高的地区之一。然而，在早春时节，这里又会短暂地展现出一种古老的景象。从三月到四月，当气温和土壤湿度达到适宜水平时，金盏花、整齐叶草和猫头鹰三叶草等本地一年生植物便会迅速发芽。它们争分夺秒地完成生命周期，以迎接漫长旱季的到来。

这些物种大多是加州原始草原生态系统的遗存。如今，它们主要栖息在自然保护区、未开垦的土地以及田野间的狭长地带。它们的种子可以保持活力数十年，只有在特定条件下才会发芽。降雨模式会影响花期的强度和分布。土壤质地和排水情况的差异造就了每年春天出现在山谷底部的条带状和斑块状花海。在短短几周内，农业历史和生态历史交织在同一片土地上。

Wildflower bloom, Central Valley, California

Spring announces itself across California's Central Valley with the first bursts of wildflowers following the winter rains. Stretching roughly 450 miles from north to south and covering about 20,000 square miles, the valley is one of the world's most productive agricultural regions. In early spring, however, an older identity briefly resurfaces. From March through April, native annuals such as goldfields, tidy tips, and owl's clover quickly germinate once temperature and soil moisture are optimal. They race to complete their life cycles before the long dry season begins.

Many of these species are remnants of California's original grassland ecosystem. Today, they persist mainly in nature reserves, on uncultivated land, and in strips between fields. Their seeds can remain viable for decades, germinating only when conditions meet specific thresholds. Rainfall patterns influence both the strength and the distribution of the bloom. Differences in soil texture and drainage create the bands and patches that appear across the valley floor each spring. For a few weeks, agricultural and ecological history share the same landscape.