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James
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Have a great weekend everyone!
At the parking lot
Solstice Canyon
Malibu, CA
Archive for the ‘Meme’ Category
The Car and the Tree
Feb 3rd, 12
/ 8 Comments
Cholla Garden
Feb 2nd, 12
/ 25 Comments
Welcome February! We have a sunny forecast this weekend in the mid 70′s. Spring is almost here, and the wildflowers are slowly starting to bloom in some areas.
Just in time to catch the last light of the sun.
The desert, too will be filled with cacti blooms. Cholla cactus is the general name for a group of cactus with elongate, cylindrical, branching stems.
Cholla Garden
Joshua Tree National Park
29 Palms, California
January 28, 2012
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Monarch
Feb 1st, 12
/ 17 Comments
Monarch butterflies migrate to the Coronado Preserve during the winter, which is typically from November through February. The peak is between December and January. It is also hard to predict when they are active (in warm and sunny) because of the different ecological factors.
The preserve is a huge open space, kids and adults alike enjoy. Even a brief biology class on the life of a monarch can be read at the entrance.
It is open daily, no reservations required, and free admission. They rely on donations.
When we left Los Angeles the day we visited, it was foggy and when we reach Goleta, the monarchs were clustered, wings flapped, high up in the eucalyptus tree.
The docent brought her own monarch and was eager to share. The photo below is Mary, my office mate’s daughter who wanted to experience this! How cute! (With permission from the Momma)
Coronado Butterfly Preserve
Goleta, CA
January 07, 2012
This post is linked to Lesley’s Signs, Signs
Swan Lake
Jan 31st, 12
/ 21 Comments
how graceful!
A mosaic tiled “swan bench” provided while watching them
Pansy ( I think) encroach over the side of the lake
Orange Crocosmia added more colors to the serenity
This post is linked to:
Joshua – The Tree of Life
Jan 30th, 12
/ 19 Comments
Joshua Tree, Yucca brevifolia, grows wildly in the Mojave Desert. It has adapted to reduced rainfall by spreading its roots in a dense and shallow network to collect as much surface moisture as possible.
The tree named so by the Mormon immigrants who crossed the Colorado River, from the biblical character, Joshua. The tree’s limbs are outstretched in supplication, guiding travelers going westward.
Almost every part of this plant has been or used by other desert dwellers as well as the animals. Chemehuevi people wove its fibers to make baskets, sandals and mats.
Beechy ground squirrels and deer eat the white creamy blossoms. Later fruits and seeds provide food for antelope ground squirrels and other small animals.
Even after death, a tree trunk on the ground provides home for the desert night lizards, ants and scorpions. Eventually, termites return it to the desert enriching the sandy soil for the next Joshua Tree sprout.
I heard birds chirping, but could not see them, fortunate enough to capture this little one. Definitely there were woodpeckers leaving their marks on this tree.
We hiked and climbed some rocks. Another day trip, clocked another close to 500 miles round trip.
Joshua Tree National Park
29 Palms, CA
January 28, 2012
This post is linked to:
Our World Tuesday
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Sandy, Sylvia, Lady Fi, Gatina and Arija
