Red-winged Blackbird

A male red winged blackbird enjoys the marsh at the north end of Lake Murray.

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Sunset

“Nobody of any real culture, for instance, ever talks nowadays about the beauty of sunset. Sunsets are quite old fashioned…. To admire them is a distinct sign of provincialism of temperament. Upon the other hand they go on.” – Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) San Diego sunset, April 7, 2013, 7:13pm

Turtle house opening

I captured the turtle coming out of the house for the morning. Several othes gathered to watch as well. The lower rails make it easier for the kids to see.

Banana tree and scum at the zoo

I’m walking along and glance up at this giant pod. Attached to the pod are bananas. Very cool.

Just a few steps away from the banana tree is this scum patch. It took awhile to get my mind around the idea of a mess like this being natural, normal and even necessary. But it sure looks ucky.

Galápagos giant tortoise

The Galápagos giant tortoise is the largest living tortoise. This adult weighs about 600 lbs. We have 17 at the San Diego Zoo.

From the Zoo website: “In 1969 the San Diego Zoo became a partner with the Charles Darwin Research Station on the islands, funding a new tortoise-rearing facility and helping with captive propagation and release programs. The Zoo also has one of the largest captive colonies of Galápagos tortoises in the world and has had these giants in the collection since 1928. That’s the year when Dr. Charles Townsend of the New York Zoological Society began his efforts to save the tortoises from extinction by collecting them and setting up colonies in zoos.

The original tortoises sent to the San Diego Zoo—yes, they are still with us!—are well over 100 years old today, although we do not know how long a tortoise will continue to produce offspring. In addition, because Hood Island tortoises Geochelone nigra hoodensis are so rare (estimates were 12 females and 3 males in the 1970s), the San Diego Zoo’s male, number 21, was sent to the Charles Darwin Research Station in 1976 to be part of the breeding program there. So far he has fathered hundreds of tortoises!”

The strangest thing I ever did see

Lichenose Gecko (Uroplatus fimbriatus Malagasy leaf-tailed gecko).   This guy is hanging on the wall looking to be asleep.  Scientists are looking into the adhesive quality of his feet and thinking about how to apply it to things like surgery.  Cool.

Sad but true, it says in the database that we have two males and no females at the San Diego Zoo. Both Dallas and Houston have a female but no male. I have an idea… let’s borrow the two females and make some baby geckos.

Turtle or tortoise?

If it is swimming it is a turtle.  The tortois stays out of the water.  Here is the long answer.

Two plants I need identified

Both of these plants are located at the San Diego Zoo turtle-lizard area. The bloom on this first one looks like a little yellow Christmas tree. The purple plant seems to be a succulent.

The second plant is some little knob like things that look a little like rocks.

Mexican bush sage in my new planter box

We installed a new retaining wall and planter box next to the driveway several months ago. Living in a desert, we then picked some plants that were a little tolerate of drought. I had never noticed this beautiful plant before we bought it. Now I see then everywhere around the city. The hummingbirds just love it.

Bucket rides are free for members

The views are terrific from the sky bucket ride at the San Diego Zoo. And the best part for members, it’s “free”, just show your card and jump on.

The treehouse structure holds Alberts Restaurant, a real treat in the heart of the zoo.

Palm Pride at the San Diego Zoo

The botanical collection at the San Diego Zoo is huge and would cost more to replace than the animals.   Pick up a map just inside the entrance showing the names of all the palm and cycad varieties.   The first picture above shows a favorite of Chris, my new found friend at the zoo.  Chris is a volunteer with the education department who helps with the “Sunrise Surprise Strolls”.   Last month she showed me a giant exotic palm and told me all about it.  On Saturday I ask which was her favorite.  She said the one near the Children’s Zoo entrance (first picture).   I still learning names so need help with names for those pictured.  Leave a comment and let me know.  I’ll guess the last picture is a phoenix dactylifera, ‘date palm’.

Flowers in bloom all year in San Diego

This wonderful bloom is just one of the many exotics found at the San Diego Zoo.

Possible Canary Island Date Palm in San Diego

My neighbor has this beautiful date palm in the front yard.  I have searched with Google and decided it may be a Canary Island Date Palm, also called a Pineapple Palm or officially the phoenix canariensis.   Can anyone confirm my guess?

Palm trees everywhere and more on the way

Palm trees are nearly everywhere you look in San Diego. Residents see so many that we often just blank them out. Here is a typical neighborhood grove of the native species Washingtonia filifera. Their seeds spread everywhere with little palms popping up like weeds.

Abe follows us around like a puppy

Abe is our little boy cat.   Our daughter rescued him from under a trash container behind the United Methodist Church in Camarillo, CA while serving as associate minister.  Abe is short for Abraham, like in the bible, Genesis 15-21.   He was only about 4 weeks old when we brought him home.  Some ferrell cats do better than others and Abe bonded with us perfectly.  He lives inside, happy and content to rule the house with an iron hand while following us around whereever we go.  At night when we watch TV he shares the sofa but only watches if the show is about birds.  We think Abe is beautiful.

Sunset over the Pacific from downtown Coronado

See more Skywatch Friday pictures here.

Memba, silverback gorilla troup leader

Memba, 40 years old, is the strong experienced male leader, or silverback, of his western lowland gorilla troop at the San Diego Zoo.   Memba and all the lowland gorillas need your help.    Please recycle your old cell phone.   Read more here. 

 

Cactus garden, cat canyon, San Diego Zoo

Ducks winter over at the golf course

Admiral Baker Field Golf Course is the winter home for hundreds of ducks. The ducks love the San Diego weather and look forward to their annual visit. Golfers find the ducks sometimes add to the challenge of getting around the course. The pond near the clubhouse is just perfect for ducks. And the well kept greens and fairways are a great place to eat, rest or simply hangout. Ducks being ducks, they do everything as a group including lifting off in flight.

Cali was named for California

Cali, our little girl cat

Cali was rescued by local firefighters.  They dropped her off at Petco, a pet supply store, where my daughter was working during her college days.    Cali was adopted and quickly took up residence in our house.   At first Cali ruled over the other two cats with an iron hand.   However, her “alpha cat” position did not last long.  We rescued a little boy cat, Abe, who immediately established his own control as the dominate cat.    Cali’s reduction in rank was a difficult transition for her but peace in the house was quickly restored with all our cats living happily ever after.     

Abe, our boy cat

Red Canna at Balboa Park near the Museum of Art

Georgia O’Keeffe said “Most people in the city rush around so, they have no time to look at a flower.”  She painted Red Canna in the early twenties to help people see them “whether they want to or not.”  My daughter took this picture in Balboa Park when we all went to see the Georgia OKeeffe exhibit at the San Diego Museum of Art.  

Moonrise over Del Cerro

San Diego had perfect weather to see the closest approach of the moon this year.   It rose over the Del Cerro hills flooding the canyons with bright reflections of the season.    As the moon rises it appears even larger than it will later in the night when it’s higher in the sky.  With this closest approach we could see this years largest moon appearance, an illusion but beautiful.   My home, third from right, sits on the rim of this canyon.  Driving home from work I saw this scene and could not pass up an opportunity to take a picture similar to “Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico 1941” by Ansel Adams.  

Pelican cliffs at La Jolla Cove

La Jolla Cove is home to many of San Diego’s birds including our Brown Pelican.   Easy access and within a short walk of the commercial area of the community of La Jolla makes these sandstone cliffs and adjacent beaches one of the most photographed in Southern California.   Photo by LA Shaw.

La Jolla Sunset with wine and friends

 We always enjoy a late afternoon picnic with friends at La Jolla to include a beautiful sunset.  Yvonne (left in the picture) loves a Temecula wine, Almond Champagne, from Wilson Creek Winery.  I think sunset calls for a good sauvignon blanc like Frog’s Leap.  We have not yet seen a green flash but still looking.

Bottlebrush

Santee Trolley SquareTake a ride, jump off and stroll around. Bottlebrush shrubs are in bloom with the reds of Christmas.