Blackberry season is coming! Quite a few of the berries I see on morning hikes have already turned dark, but they’re not quite sweet enough just yet. I’ve learned to very gently wiggle them to see if they easily detach from the plant; if not, I leave them alone to continue ripening. Even when far from ripe the colors of […]
Irresistible roses from up the street.
We are about to enter a big heat wave, so any walking I’m doing will be early in the morning. Not too many people about — which is nice — but still plenty of bright, cheerful flowers to keep me company. Can’t really complain about that.
What do you suppose it is about the Coccinellidae that makes us smile rather than cringe when we see one? They are beetles, like so many other insects, and they can sometimes be a pest and have even been known to bite humans (although rarely, I suspect). Still, just about everyone can recognize the red ladybug beetle with black spots, and we’re […]
As much as I love capturing big scenic landscapes with my camera, I also can’t resist getting down on the ground for smaller subjects! An unexpected turtle: Another secret caterpillar spot: Snails on the sidewalk… …or in the state park. A sunbathing butterfly: And some rattlesnake grass (Briza maxima):
This week the theme of Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge is Hot and Cold. Hot and Coldshould be a fun topic for everyone. Any type of things that are hot or cold. They can be combined in one photo or in separate photos. See how creative you can get on this challenge.
As I marched along the deserted horse trail, a flash of bright red caught my eye. The play of shadows on the leaves, backlit by morning sun, was so irresistible I decided that I didn’t mind standing in the dried weeds to capture the shot. It wasn’t until I checked out the images on my laptop that I saw the […]
As summer approaches and the daytime temperatures in the Sacramento Valley start to soar, it’s time for me to practice some serious discipline — rolling out of bed while it’s still dark outside, downing a quick protein shake and a piece of fruit, and heading outdoors while the air is still cool enough to make me shiver. It’s much easier said than done — although […]
Normally I would dread to see an ambulance anywhere near the water at Lake Natoma — but finding this one sitting on a large rock made me smile. Judging from the rust and the wear, I think this ambulance has spent some time doing underwater rescue.