Three days ago, standing at the top of the Baxter Steps, there were clear skies, no fires and a swath of green on a southeastern face of Griffith Park. I assumed the green was new grass, as there were fresh shoots coming up on Kite Hill, below me. I didn't give it much more thought. Then, today, on a stroll through the eastern side of Elysian Park, I saw that half the east side of Griffith Park, way in the distance, was a limey-pale green, artificial looking. It was before noon, and there wasn't much smoke in the sky; the weird light and scorching air came later. One of my two (human) strolling companions said the green wasn't grass: it had been dumped by helicopters, which were dropping seeds and maybe flame retardant, maybe a little green decoration. "They" were spray-painting the mountain. They left no initials, so I don't know whether it was LAFD or Los Angeles City Department of Recreation and Parks Urban Forestry (RXP) or Keno or Chaka or anyone else. In the afternoon, a lavender-gray-brown curtain began to lower over the Angeles Forest, where I heard fires were burning. At my daughter's preschool, all the kids were kept inside after lunchtime. Outside, it was hot, despite being overcast, the clouds being made of smoke instead of moisture. The light was muted and bright at the same time. I imagine it was this way--the light from a planet with three suns-- for most of the city, but can't say for sure as I never left the neighborhood.