Hi friends!
It's been awhile since my last post - some days I just don't feel like writing! And I've been letting the negatives with the health care thing get me down. So, today's post is something light. Pretty to look at. No brain power needed to enjoy.
My mom and sister came for a visit, and despite the May Gray thing we've got going on right now, had some pretty decent weather for some nature walks. My photos always look better when I'm taking them, and then when I get home to check them out on the computer I end up deleting 90%. Here's what I've got left:
The first was at Guajome Park in Oceanside. Who knew you could feel so far away from civilization even with the 76 highway being right over that tree line?
Everyone eats together. I assume people feed these animals regularly since they were not afraid of humans one bit. I saw a girl actually pet a ground squirrel while he was munching away.
Oh wait, I just realized I got a few houses in that shot with momma and baby duck. Ignore that last comment about being away from people....lol. I watched this duo for quite some time. At one point the momma got chased away and the poor duckling was just swimming in circles looking for her. A gang of mallards kept going after him, but he was too smart - diving into the tall reeds where the large ducks couldn't fit and then coming back out when they left. I wanted to stay until I saw the momma reunited with her baby, but it was getting late. There was another trio of adult ducks all working together to feed one really tiny puff ball of a duckling which was pretty interesting to watch. One duck would go to the main area for food, bring it half way back where he was met by the other two ducks who would take it from him and go the rest of the way to where the puff ball was waiting under the reeds. The guy getting the food never actually fed the baby, or even made it back to the nest. They repeated this process endlessly. Must be the best way to keep the babes safe.
I can't tell you what these next photos are of, but I appreciated the texture and patterns so I guess that's why I took them?
And now on to Alta Vista Botanical Gardens in Vista, CA.
Here is my sister trying out the Human Sundial. I don't know how they figured it out, but it's really cool! If you stand on the month you are in now, your shadow will fall on the time of day it is. I want one of these in my future garden. It really works, you just can't see her shadow too well in the photo.
This smelled amazing. Garden etiquette said I couldn't pick any to bring home, though. (sad face)
I've never seen a cotton tree before, let alone the flower before it turns. How cool are these pods? My mom thought it was a type of rose bush at first.
And last, but not least....I went bee hunting. LOL. I don't know what came over me, but I got obsessed with taking a photo of a bee on a flower. I gave up after almost getting stung in the eye, so this is my best effort:
And that's it for today. Hope you enjoyed walking with us!
XO
Christie