Posted on by — Leave a comment

Santa Margarita River basin flowers

Wild fennel

Santa Margarita River basin flowers still abound even if it is mostly dry right now.  Walking through the river basin showed a variety of foliage, even as dry as it is right now.  Besides the trees, grass and cactus, I found many kinds of flowers.  It wasn’t my thought I would find arid flowers, but it was surprising what appeared.  The tall, fragrant, yellow stands of fennel dominated the landscape in some areas.  While these are considered invasive since they are not native to southern California, they are pleasant smelling, add a welcome splash of color and apparently are good for cooking.  Might be something to try…

Wild fennel growing in a bend of the road, one of the many Santa Margarita River basin flowers.
Wild fennel growing in a bend of the road, one of the many Santa Margarita River basin flowers.

Chalk LiveForever (Dudleya)

A rather unusual-looking plant was the chalk liveforever, perched on cliffs next to the road.  This native plant has the subtle color and texture that blends it into the landscape.  The glowing rosettes looked like part of the cliff-side and I almost missed it at first.  The papery outer leaves contrast with the cooly smooth interior.  Earlier in the summer they also had stalks with small chains of flowers.

Dudleya or chalk liveforever makes a rosette flower and is native the the southwest US,, one of the many Santa Margarita River basin flowers.
Dudleya or chalk liveforever is native the the southwest, one of the many Santa Margarita River basin flowers.

White sage

Another native plant is the white sage.  It disappears as well into the landscape, its smooth, silvery leaves glowing among the other foliage.  This plant, like the fennel, is also aromatic.  These are two examples of the many fragrant plants in the southern California area.  There are many; a walk on the trails is like wandering through a spice cabinet.  Perhaps this is how they repel insects or other predators, but it creates a soothing aromatherapy effect which is very pleasant.

Black and white image of white sage growing by the side of the road, one of the many Santa Margarita River basin flowers.
White sage growing by the side of the road is native to the southwestern US, one of the many Santa Margarita River basin flowers.
Posted on by — Leave a comment

Cub Scout Beach Day

Colorful canopy and sand looking toward the ocean.
Colorful canopy and sand looking toward the ocean.

Cub Scout Beach Day

The Cub Scout beach day was an afternoon at the beach cooking, eating and playing.  It was a rather hot day and the shade of a brightly-colored umbrella was a good resting and daydreaming spot.  The afternoon is not the usual time we are at the beach, but anytime is good beach time.  Normally, we go in the morning: less crowding and less heat.  This means less sunscreen and shade required.  This particular day was especially warm, unusual for the California coast.

Bech day: people strolling past a variety of beach canopies.
People strolling past a variety of beach canopies.

Beach culture

We shared this gorgeous day with what felt like half the population of the town.  While this was certainly not the busiest beach we’ve visited lately, we saw a good bit of human traffic that day.  Although parking was scarce, and the taco stand line was long, sand space was still plentiful and the waves were uncrowded.  The cabana rentals seemed to be a brisk business as they were all full.  

There was a good-sized private event also in the afternoon.  Many people stood line at a food truck waiting for what looked and smelled like tasty barbecue.  There was also volleyball, along with various other ball and disc throwing.  Walking around required occasionally dodging although a random missile.  This was in addition to the usual surfing, sunning and sand building also going on so it was busy.  Fortunately, the sun was never-ending and there was enough beach and waves for all.  It also made for something else to watch besides the water.

Daydreaming on a hot day on the hot sand.
Daydreaming on a hot day on the hot sand.

Kid culture

The kids spent the day running about in small groups playing in the sand and water, mixed with daydreaming and rest.  Even their boundless energy flagged after a while in the hot sun.  While they dashed about, they created their own mini-culture. While the older boys usually decided the activities, they changed leadership as needed by the task.  They often would break into smaller groups, then reform into larger ones.  These had different kids influencing the activities, even the younger ones.  Each time we gather them together, they continue to build their communication and persuasion skills.  While the outdoor skills may be the most obvious ones the kids gain, it’s these less easily defined ones that may be the greatest thing they learn.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Santa Margarita River

Prickly pear growing in the grass in front of coast live oak.
Prickly pear growing in the grass in front of coast live oak.
Prickly pear growing in the grass in front of coast live oak.

The Santa Margarita road follows the river, which shows up a rather hidden creek since there is not much water.  Apparently, the dryness isn’t as severe as a few years ago, but much of California is in some level of drought.  Again.  This seems to happen a lot and the state spends quite a bit of effort in managing the water systems to mitigate the rather variable climate, storing and moving water mainly from north to south.  This gives the area a lot of variety in the types of foliage growing naturally which makes for great textures in photography.

Black and white picture of coast live oak with lots of dead branches giving the tree lots of texture.
Coast live oak with lots of dead branches giving the tree lots of texture.

I saw many coast live oak covered in dead branches giving the trees a slightly ghost-like fabulous texture distinctive of wild, unpruned trees.  I don’t think too many folks would tolerate so many dead branches…. Slightly unkempt but the overall effect is slightly ethereal, like a large swirling, diaphanously layered tree.

Black and white picture of burned post laying in a clearing in the middle of coast live oaks.
Burned post laying in a clearing in the middle of coast live oaks.

This burned post was randomly in the middle of the clearing in the oak trees.  Nothing around it was burned, so it must have been dragged there after it was charred.

Black and white picture of a clearing in an oak grove.
Clearing in an oak grove.

This was just beyond the post, looking into the grove and the grouping of oaks with a view of the hills beyond that.  Most of the green under the trees was poison oak, one of the evilest of plants.

Prickly pear growing in grass near the road.
Prickly pear growing in grass near the road.

Looking evil also, the prickly pear cactus mixed with the grass and a variety of mostly spiky plants.  Beware stepping off the road!

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Dewy roses

Unfurling rose covered in dew.
Unfurling roses covered in dew.

While I love plants and gardening, it does typically take more time than what I’ve been able to devote to it, so I am grateful when a plant is gorgeous without too much help.  When we moved to this house, the rose bush was in place and I’ve done nothing more than clip a few long leaders and remove any faded blooms.  Since there is a sprinkler head adjacent to the plant, no watering is required.  About every three months, the bush covers itself with similar blossoms.  Interestingly, the color seems to shift.  This set of blooms was very bright.  Since then, it has made lighter colors, so we’ll keep track and see what it does next.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Building the sand city

A view across the sand city we were constructing, to include one of our wall-building tools.
A view across the sand city we were constructing, to include one of our wall-building tools.

The sand city takes shape as we add layers of structures across the beachscape, incorporating shells, rocks and kelp to give it texture and interest.  The youngest builder is our main architect and holds the plan.  Once completed, the cat royalty would inhabit the tiny spaces, create their city and culture with a feline viewpoint and write their history in meowish language.  These are either cats who enjoy the beach, unlike most I have met, or perhaps they feel safe from the brilliant sun and wide open spaces, in their enclosing city spaces despite the bright sun.

One section of sand castle wall.
One section of sand castle wall.
Posted on by — Leave a comment

Buda Palace windows

Summer sky reflected in the windows of Buda Palace in Budapest, Hungar
Summer sky reflected in the windows of Buda Palace in Budapest, Hungar

These are just a few of the many baroque windows of Buda Palace.  There are  some gothic ones as well.  The palace was originated in the 13th century but was repeatedly built and torn down and the current version is a modernist reconstruction of the medieval and baroque periods.  As you may expect, this causes some architectural confusion but it does not detract from the overall sumptuous effect.  The views are amazing and the layers of history are fascinating.

Looking through the castle chapel, one of the few remaining remaining Gothic portions of the palace.
Looking through the castle chapel, one of the few remaining remaining Gothic portions of the palace.

While the whole castle district is apparently somewhat rebuilt, it remains full of atmosphere and beautiful to visit.   There are some shops, an art/souvenir market, Matthias Cathedral, the Fisherman’s Bastion a romantically designed fortress and a handful of restaurants.  And the view.  Sweeping across the city on both sides of the Danube River, studded with spires and filled with the variety of roof forms produced over the last several hundred years.

People enthralled by the city views from the plaza in front of Buda Palace.
People enthralled by the city views from the plaza in front of Buda Palace.

Budapest is busy with tourists and the castle area is very popular.  Everyone brought their cameras and took pictures of the views, each other and themselves.  I took many pictures also… it’s almost impossible not to.  It seems anywhere you look is a potential photo.

Tourists photographing the view, each other and themselves at the Buda Palace walls.
Tourists photographing the view, each other and themselves at the Buda Palace walls.