Seeds

Unidentified seed pods/fruit plumes, Lake Hodges/Rancho Bernardo, California. November 2012.

A seed is destroyed in the process of becoming a plant. We have to be willing to change our old identity to transform into a new being. (Unknown)

Read more

Juvenile California Scrub Jay

Juvenile California Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica) in our back yard in Rancho Bernardo, California. August 2020.

The call of California Scrub Jays (Aphelocoma californica) is quite unmistakable, I’d say – a shrill chirping that, with a little bit of imagination, could be the bird saying its own name: “Jayy! Jayy!”.ย  It was quite exciting to hear it in our own backyard – I’ve never seen them here before.

Read more

Black Mountain Loop

Ceanothus, Black Mountain Open Space Park

We had to postpone our #fridayswithfred hike to Saturday due to unforeseen events, and had to make it a short afternoon hike (more like walk) due to further unforeseen events. ๐Ÿ™‚ The good thing was that Shuwen was able to join us, of course! We went to nearby “Little Black Mountain” (the “real/big” Black Mountain is further east, reachable from Pamo Valley, quite a long hike actually) and were satisfied with reaching it’s secondary peak. GPS log here.

Read more