tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56999717295476996212024-03-12T21:14:48.540-07:00Native GardenerNative Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12635639814443958990noreply@blogger.comBlogger120125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699971729547699621.post-25571414117300478182016-01-24T15:07:00.000-08:002016-01-24T15:07:44.633-08:00Wintertime Homes for Monarchs<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvw5sgXml3mUHCMq0NRnCjVIBw4SFwle4wtRe-xYROy1NV6fdGAE1fM8L2VWavkXJXdfr659SQGwSSQtbV313rPhJQg3artoOi6sXo-RH2Y7e7L18SFs5ggI8FknS2JchBNOLC_z5lJv2n/s1600/Milkweed+and+Monarchs-1+6.2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvw5sgXml3mUHCMq0NRnCjVIBw4SFwle4wtRe-xYROy1NV6fdGAE1fM8L2VWavkXJXdfr659SQGwSSQtbV313rPhJQg3artoOi6sXo-RH2Y7e7L18SFs5ggI8FknS2JchBNOLC_z5lJv2n/s320/Milkweed+and+Monarchs-1+6.2014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">As the month of January comes to a close and folks out on the East Coast are digging themselves out of their first blizzard of the 2015/2016 winter season, I can't help but think how lucky we are to be able to provide winter homes for the west coast Monarch butterflies.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">There are many things to do and places to see in So Cal in the winter
months -- the Rose Parade in Pasadena comes to mind immediately -- but there
are also many surprises awaiting visitors, such as the arrival of orange winged
beauties at California Monarch Butterfly Sanctuaries.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Unlike the long
journey of East Coast Monarchs, who famously fly thousands of miles across the
border into Mexico to overwinter each autumn, there is a lesser-told story of
the Monarch butterflies living west of the Rockies who would rather hibernate
(overwinter) here on California’s coast than fly all the way to Mexico as their
East Coast cousins do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">In late autumn, West Coast Monarch butterflies
can be found congregating in any one of California’s Coastal Groves, where they
will remain throughout the winter months. There are over 200 different
<a href="http://www.xerces.org/where-to-see-monarchs-in-california/">overwintering sites on California’s long coastline,</a> and thousands of western
monarchs spend their winters there.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The So Cal Coastal Groves
must have the tall Eucalyptus trees, Monterey Pine trees, or Monterey Cypress that
the Monarchs prefer for roosting. (Originally, the native Sycamore trees were
the favorites of Monarchs; however, most of the old-growth stands of Sycamores
gave way to loggers and development, long ago.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">During the months of overwintering (which can be
thought of as a sort of hibernating), the Monarchs will not need food. In
fact, they will eat as much as they can during August, Sept & early
October, just gorging themselves to stock up for the winter. It is not
food they need in the winter so much as water to drink, and the ocean mist from
a well-chosen coastal grove assures them of that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The west coast monarchs will find each other at
the same overwintering groves once selected by previous generations. Somehow
they will know where to go, even though they have never been there before. They
will hunker down together in the Eucalyptus trees, huddle close together for
warmth, and close their wings tight to ward off any chill in the night air as
they sleep.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The undersides of Monarch wings are not flashy
in color, and this makes their roosts more difficult to spot. Visitors to
California’s Monarch Groves will have to crane their heads way up to find the
“nests/roosts” of the monarchs in the tall trees. The Monarchs’ familiar bright
orange color will be seen again mid-day when they open their wings, leave the
roost and fly across the sky, swooping and gliding in warm sunshine. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">In
some Groves, Park Docents have trained telescopes at strategic points, so you
can see a cluster of monarchs high up in the trees. (I found Pismo’s
Monarch Grove to be one of the finest for viewing.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Trained volunteers conduct annual monarch counts
around Thanksgiving Day. Some sites,
such as the <a href="http://monarchjointventure.org/news-events/news/counting-western-monarchs">Pacific Grove Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary (PGMBS)</a>, monitor the
monarch population more frequently. PGMBS is a wonderful place to learn about
the monarchs, as the docents there are very well-informed and happy to share
information. You can also learn more
from the exhibits at the Natural History Museum, and stroll through the native
plant garden with its butterfly-friendly blooms. </span><s><span style="background: white; color: #555555; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></s></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">If you visit in January, the monarchs will be
readying themselves to leave the roost. There will be fine acrobatics to watch,
as the males & females have their last big mating fling. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">When the monarchs to do leave, they do not leave all at once. Unlike a migrating flock of birds, Monarchs
act as individuals. They decide on their own “where and when” to go, though they
will all be gone within days or weeks of each other. The females will fly
off to find Milkweed plants on which to lay her new egg larvae; they will die
soon, and the larvae will be the next gen of monarchs left to carry on.
The new generation will know of the Grove and how to find it, even though they
have never seen it themselves. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I remember fondly t</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">he sight of orange-winged beauties taking to flight in the cloudless, blue January sky</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">, from my time spent in Central California's overwintering groves a few years back <a href="http://gypsygardenermemoir.wordpress.com/">while was traveling</a>. I wish I was there right now. I can just feel them moving on, each on their own journey. And I miss them, like one misses an old friend. If only they could share their stories with me today~</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Native Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12635639814443958990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699971729547699621.post-51984364012150871742016-01-03T15:09:00.001-08:002016-01-03T15:11:39.477-08:00Can Crops Be Grow In Drought? Richard Felger Presents New Species For Th...<br />
<br />
January, 2016. A new year. An El Nino year. Yet, the drought is still on the minds of most folks who live in the Western US. Gardeners and farmers are watching closely: What crops will survive in the upcoming years? Happy Gardening!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4TRGOclqaLI" width="480"></iframe>Native Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12635639814443958990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699971729547699621.post-85078589640664569282015-12-07T09:28:00.000-08:002015-12-07T09:31:13.139-08:00This Magical Season and the Traveling Christmas Tree<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtYq7kIuAA3PZzXaXZJzML-4fg9gX51Eq9PTrDIIKNpRV6Pjs9JtaRxQY_GGfSLEHGf8rT7aiglrooZlEgmHVlVhTxvEA-AlARy2oflHeU1MZzx6xMOthnPsUL08VM2fnbP3nGReWInwL/s1600/This+Magical+Season-1+DSC_0207_01-500x331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtYq7kIuAA3PZzXaXZJzML-4fg9gX51Eq9PTrDIIKNpRV6Pjs9JtaRxQY_GGfSLEHGf8rT7aiglrooZlEgmHVlVhTxvEA-AlARy2oflHeU1MZzx6xMOthnPsUL08VM2fnbP3nGReWInwL/s320/This+Magical+Season-1+DSC_0207_01-500x331.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s the Winter Holidays, that Magical
Season when we celebrate the wonder and beauty of Nature, the balance of life
on earth: between plants and animals, people and trees… It is also a time
for reflection, as the days grow shorter and cooler, and we spend more time
looking out the window at the landscape of our gardens. I reflect that we have
taken so much from this planet; isn’t Christmastime a perfect time to give back
to wildlife?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So then, why is it that people are
celebrating this Season of Life by taking life, by chopping down healthy young
trees? Why is this a standard tradition? To me, a tree is a powerful
living thing. </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #21c250; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://nativegardener.blogspot.com/2010/01/speak-for-trees.html" target="_blank">It gives of itself without complaint all year long.</a></span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> A tree gives us shelter from the rain and summer’s hot
sun; it gives food and makes a home for wildlife. So in this Magical Season
affirming life, I cannot chop down a tree to decorate! When Christmas Tree
Stands start to appear, I have to turn away. I cannot celebrate with the
shoppers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now, I do love a Christmas tree
decorated with ornaments collected over the years. I love to stare into the
tree lights and remember all of the other </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #21c250; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://nativegardener.blogspot.com/2011/12/on-first-day-of-christmas-my-wildlife.html)" target="_blank">Christmases that have gone before.</a></span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Yes, I want a
Christmas tree, too. <b> So, I have my own tradition: I decorate
a <i>Living Tree</i> each year, complete with <i>Roots in a Pot</i>!</b> I
usually buy a small tree that lasts 2-3 years. I put it out on the patio after
the holidays are over. And in the Spring I re-pot it into a larger
pot. So the little tree can come in for a second Christmas the following
winter. This is fun because the tree has grown some, and the ornaments all fit
differently. This also means the cost of the tree is absorbed over two years
instead of one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now, my tradition isn’t for everyone.
Maybe you don’t have room to plant large trees. Well, in some areas
the </span><a href="https://www.nationalforests.org/get-involved/tree-planting-programs" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #21c250; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">National Forest Service welcomes folks</span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> to bring their trees out after the holidays to replant in
forest areas that have suffered severe burns from wildfires! Families can put a
name tag on the tree, and when children come back to the forest, years later,
they can see how much their tree has grown! Wonderful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another option for folks who want a
Living Tree with roots and soil in a pot, but have nowhere to plant it, is to
rent a tree (click link for tree rental programs across the states)! Yep,
here in So Cal there are a number of places gaining popularity for renting
living trees at Christmas! They will come and pick up your tree when your
holiday celebrations are over. They say, “Why drag a dead tree into the
house?” In Los Angeles, the </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="http://www.livingchristmas.com/" target="_blank">Living Christmas Company</a></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> will rent you a tree. And when it becomes too large, they
donate it to the </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Urban Reforestation Project.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another pretty alternative to evergreen
trees is Rosemary. A lot of nursery centers are now trimming rosemary
into topiary tree shapes for the holidays.<a href="http://jessecology.com/2012/12/a-sincerely-eco-friendly-christmas-tree/" target="_blank"> </a></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #21c250; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://jessecology.com/2012/12/a-sincerely-eco-friendly-christmas-tree/" target="_blank">Jesse Elwert of BWG mentioned recently that this is her newtradition: a rosemary Christmas </a><a href="http://jessecology.com/2012/12/a-sincerely-eco-friendly-christmas-tree">tree.</a></span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> After the holidays
are over, almost everyone has room for rosemary in their herb or cutting
garden.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I started traveling, Christmas of 2012, I got my first 4" potted traveling tree because it would fit into my car cupholder! Perfect for my lifestyle. I planted that tree in a state campground on the Central Coast of CA. This year, my Living Tree is once again a small pine (Pinus pinea) that fits into the car cup holder, and, you
know he is the cutest thing! After the holidays, I plan to plant him in a
California State Park where he can grow big, live wild and be a home to
wildlife. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This Christmas, as you gaze out across
the darkened garden landscape under starry skies, whatever your traditions are
for celebrating this Magical Season of Life, I hope you will affirm to be a
good steward to the gentle creatures of this earth in the new year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What is your tradition for celebrating
this Holiday Season? Please share~<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i style="color: #38761d; font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></i>
<i style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Currently, I am writing a California travel memoir. You are invited to visit www.gypsygardenermemoir.wordpress.com~</span></i></div>
Native Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12635639814443958990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699971729547699621.post-16401935554238035952015-10-31T09:42:00.000-07:002015-11-01T13:53:49.184-08:00Scary Things Lurking in the Grass<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3edhZhRg6y-KctjkGt3V685_AXevYuf31sfFuiZERyOdTJuu9FiSx1tTouly0z3BIpcPgpY2Yg2u-orTaTmVzBBgmVwLnoFv6E1mwFC7dtKA_XsXwC5Yo3Ozd8uMOuG2AqJ8_n64_dVw/s1600/Scary+Things+Lurking-1+toxicodendron-diversilobum_poison_oak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3edhZhRg6y-KctjkGt3V685_AXevYuf31sfFuiZERyOdTJuu9FiSx1tTouly0z3BIpcPgpY2Yg2u-orTaTmVzBBgmVwLnoFv6E1mwFC7dtKA_XsXwC5Yo3Ozd8uMOuG2AqJ8_n64_dVw/s320/Scary+Things+Lurking-1+toxicodendron-diversilobum_poison_oak.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;"> Pacific Poison Oak, Rhus Toxicodendron diversilobum </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;"> Photo credit: Las Pilitas Nursery</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It</span><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">’s <b>HALLOWEEN</b>, and all things<b> SCARY</b> take center stage. Here in California’s
Santa Monica Mountains I ponder what could be <b>scary</b> as I go
about my day~<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Starting
out the day with a hike, following a trail through tall grass, it would
be <b>SCARY</b> to run into a thicket of Pacific Poison Oak (Rhus
Toxicondendron).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">In
the autumn, the red leaves-of-three add colorful interest among the tan-colored
grass. At least in autumn, then, it is easier to spy the Rhus Toxicondendron in
the grass than at other times of the year. Worse yet, you could run into
Pacific Poison Oak hiding in your own backyard! If you do, try to save
some of it for the deer, as it is an important food source for them.
The berries are also important food source to the birds
in wintertime. Few native gardeners would plant Pacific Poison Oak,
but some are brave enough to leave it alone to take its necessary place in the
ecosystem</span><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdztCsqQWg9ZPdyMACoD3Adk-0t5PH54C1jMvGHWbsJybvPnUv2e-LevkIEHt2jygXfSa1B3vgGd_rZs7YHJJ2Ya4es2SEvNvUtfgPD5QsZjip2rkZkAWAjcOVmZYdq9GbfCz8ul4_rKa6/s1600/Scary+Things+Lurking-2+Prickly-Pear-with-Cochineal-DSC_0366-300x198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdztCsqQWg9ZPdyMACoD3Adk-0t5PH54C1jMvGHWbsJybvPnUv2e-LevkIEHt2jygXfSa1B3vgGd_rZs7YHJJ2Ya4es2SEvNvUtfgPD5QsZjip2rkZkAWAjcOVmZYdq9GbfCz8ul4_rKa6/s1600/Scary+Things+Lurking-2+Prickly-Pear-with-Cochineal-DSC_0366-300x198.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Prickly Pear Cactus with Cochineal Insects, Topanga, </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Photo by
Kathy Vilim<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another<b> SCARY</b> plant
of the California chaparral is the </span><span style="color: #21c250; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia littoralis).</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> There are a number of different types
of cactus that cover the hills here, and many long spines to look out for.
The prickly pear that dominates my yard at times becomes covered in this
white mold-like stuff. But it is far from it. Take a hose to that mold
one day, as I did, and you will find the mold <b>MOVES</b>! It
is <b>ALIVE</b>! </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In fact, it is actually a type of scale insect
called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochineal"><span style="color: #21c250;">Cochineal</span></a> that burrows into the flesh
of the cactus and sucks the cactus’ juice. If you manage to remove
the Cochineal with the spray of water, what you get is a red ink that
looks like <b>BLOOD</b>! Indians used it to dye clothes, and in some
places, farmers still grow cactus for this red dye. Still, it
is <b>SCARY</b> to get too close to the cactus. Some of their
pricklers are so tiny as to be practically invisible, while others are
downright long and <b>SCARY</b>, and they may be lurking in the tall
grass!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #ffe599;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM609ycDoJrc24DfBSAodftRcvwh-NhMOZt4TpwPcehsGKx-0nbFRz4H5kJgIIddCheOG0RJOPlBuWi71x_nznLmLZcYe00pzHyiZds2tfgoLTZZZiJL5hUgN5-NbNybir7xFz5ojopoU1/s1600/Scary+Things+Lurking-3+Rattler-Pic-YoungPacificRattlesnake-SMMtns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM609ycDoJrc24DfBSAodftRcvwh-NhMOZt4TpwPcehsGKx-0nbFRz4H5kJgIIddCheOG0RJOPlBuWi71x_nznLmLZcYe00pzHyiZds2tfgoLTZZZiJL5hUgN5-NbNybir7xFz5ojopoU1/s1600/Scary+Things+Lurking-3+Rattler-Pic-YoungPacificRattlesnake-SMMtns.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Young Pacific Rattlesnake, </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Photo by: Santa Monica Mountains
Recreation Area<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So
you’ve gotten past the Pacific Poison Oak without a scratch, and you’ve passed
through the tall grass without getting poked by a cactus. That’s just a
little red cactus juice on your pants, not <b>BLOOD</b>. Surely, there is
nothing else Lurking in the Grass.. Nothing like say, </span><span style="color: #21c250; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mr. Rattlesnake</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Yes, the rattlesnake is a resident
of the California chaparral, as well. There are 7 different species of Rattlesnake
in Southern California alone incl: Western Diamondback, Sidewinder, Speckled
rattlesnake, Red Diamond rattlesnake, Southern Pacific, Great Basin rattlesnake
and the Mojave rattlesnake. It is very<b> SCARY</b> to walk
through the tall grass thinking about <b>SNAKES</b>! Some people
will carry a staff or walking stick with them for this reason. But not to
worry, for most of the rattlesnakes have begun their hibernation by this time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIvIb-bqtIiO-SPppr9TY_goZC_GImqctsCdmba4ccT-3q4sx4nJCb4-s9oKDvr9kKjD8tjLXSJB5PgywhXOJHgdyuO5zU1ve7RER0c_gP9gxQWEBcH59bwk7pjBKOKL5gYVvTgSnw_CQ/s1600/Scary+Things+Lurking-4+Little-Brown-Bat.blm_.gov_Myotis-lucifugus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIvIb-bqtIiO-SPppr9TY_goZC_GImqctsCdmba4ccT-3q4sx4nJCb4-s9oKDvr9kKjD8tjLXSJB5PgywhXOJHgdyuO5zU1ve7RER0c_gP9gxQWEBcH59bwk7pjBKOKL5gYVvTgSnw_CQ/s320/Scary+Things+Lurking-4+Little-Brown-Bat.blm_.gov_Myotis-lucifugus.jpg" width="294" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Little Brown Bat, photo by BLM.gov (Myotis-lucifugus)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Halloween is coming, and it is time to walk down the hill, down to the creek to </span><span style="color: #21c250; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">watch the bats emerge</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">! </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"> Topanga has several different types of
resident bats that live under the bridges. The Mexican free-tailed
bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) are the most common species
living under the bridge. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">They are attracted to the many insects that
live by the creek. As darkness settles in, <b>BATS</b> will appear,
all at once, startling you as they take flight! <b>SCARY</b> <b>BATS</b> take
to the sky, wings darker than the darkening Halloween night sky. Leaving
their alcoves, <b>BATS </b>claim the night time, which is theirs to share
with coyote and owl.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span style="color: #21c250; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://macaulaylibrary.org/audio/147581/tadarida-brasiliensis-brazilian-free-tailed-bat-united-states-texas-benjamin-clock" target="_blank">Listen to Bat Calls Courtesy of Cornell University</a></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzb1jttdkOIYSUgOb-MtjeHJKzUWK1FQIVQbIj7LuCtUtiTHT_fYXt-XCqhpZlLSlAxkL5uRVmGApHB4eOZ5emjY4msPC6xoxWRYis5SPWkJ9IgyxL0SV-ktatpXNa-C8zYrs6du40Llxf/s1600/Scary+Things-6+4533116800_4248e51cb4_Coyote_Photo_by_Demented_Pixie-300x280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: #b6d7a8; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzb1jttdkOIYSUgOb-MtjeHJKzUWK1FQIVQbIj7LuCtUtiTHT_fYXt-XCqhpZlLSlAxkL5uRVmGApHB4eOZ5emjY4msPC6xoxWRYis5SPWkJ9IgyxL0SV-ktatpXNa-C8zYrs6du40Llxf/s1600/Scary+Things-6+4533116800_4248e51cb4_Coyote_Photo_by_Demented_Pixie-300x280.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Coyote (Canis latrans) Photo Credit: Demented Pixie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On
your way home, you might listen to owls hooting from up high up in tall pine
trees serenading you, and you might wish you could see them. Then, if you
feel like you are being followed, you might just be, as that </span><span style="color: #21c250; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">curious trickster,</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <b>COYOTE</b> may be escorting you
home! <b>SCARY</b>!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What <b>SCARY</b> things
are waiting in your neighborhood this Halloween?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.6pt;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">(reprinted- original post by Kathy Vilim on beautifulwildifegarden.com October, 2013)</span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.linkwithin.com/learn?ref=widget" target="_blank"><span style="color: #bbbbbb; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Linkwithin</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.linkwithin.com/"><span style="color: #21c250; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1027"
type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Related Posts with Thumbnails"
href="http://www.linkwithin.com/" style='width:.75pt;height:.75pt;
visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:fill o:detectmouseclick="t"/>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image006.png"
o:title="Related Posts with Thumbnails"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="Related Posts with Thumbnails" border="0" height="1" src="file:///C:/Users/user/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image006.png" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" width="1" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<br /></div>
<ul type="disc">
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Native Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12635639814443958990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699971729547699621.post-45286634422325482692015-10-27T10:12:00.001-07:002015-10-27T10:12:07.921-07:00California Event: Pismo Beach Monarch Overwintering Site Opens Nov. 1st<span style="background-color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVut7YcjsQwT8497o_RjKxKmv4STeaWLHytA2jZKAToCPAoxpAwVmOnlTssqRxkFT6nDZJJRUfiX8HCJKPOY9B_CEFalzQmR_oL_n7RojWvc_kWO3C8HHMmC1KRCFRq0bRVgrXepG7nlL/s1600/Milkweed+and+Monarchs-1+6.2014+DSC_0951-500x331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVut7YcjsQwT8497o_RjKxKmv4STeaWLHytA2jZKAToCPAoxpAwVmOnlTssqRxkFT6nDZJJRUfiX8HCJKPOY9B_CEFalzQmR_oL_n7RojWvc_kWO3C8HHMmC1KRCFRq0bRVgrXepG7nlL/s320/Milkweed+and+Monarchs-1+6.2014+DSC_0951-500x331.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #93c47d;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">California Event: The Pismo Beach Monarch</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: red;"> Overwintering Site is opening soon! Check out the event</span> <span style="color: red;">on Nov 1st.</span> <a href="http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article41318493.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article41318493.html</span></a></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></span>Native Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12635639814443958990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699971729547699621.post-86924290040137756662015-10-23T11:44:00.000-07:002015-10-27T10:15:10.210-07:00Autumn Leaves Bring California Gold<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPOrtxKKMIqvmimIb3aBJ9vjNttV_d4X5ZLyDPm5wlpUlsZXTCitvLhWVMF-wYyyjD1__bn1xZ15yV1a_l3NJEBz9aNxyfDwcgk2sanexr0_GdBsjS4T9qMtINPhTKhJVix_jh0or-iVh/s320/In+This+Fifth+Season-3+10.14+DSCN2741-Her-First-Autumn-Leaf-Nov.-2011-500x375.jpg" width="320" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://nativegardener.blogspot.com/2011_11_01_archive.html" target="_blank">Her First Autumn Leaf</a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://nativegardener.blogspot.com/2011/11/as-autumn-leaves-fly.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" As Autumn Leaves Fly" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0tJHrx1x3julFdO5_9ynak74AVzJxWt5lym3c1IZrOwskziauZYc5Q-d-lYBElfOfXeP8YU1DlKOjQmB-L7G1HZg3iBNkgOHDxbYAnbqFitbn8uPemPYgwE8yt_c7MqBs2FNx6RAsC1E/s400/In+This+Fifth+Season-1+DSCN3978-Cottonwoods-Lg-Pic-Nov.-2011-500x375.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="http://nativegardener.blogspot.com/2011/11/as-autumn-leaves-fly.html" target="_blank">As Autumn Leaves Fly</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8kYr_frZDIcgltQdeWfw8cbHBuGONWdxZc0aXI4mgojkn-ZEHHz9qUj4tnZ_aj1fziBoUM42UAiJL5JREU7atHGJUMUCWoSQ2w4hqJFrVFp7TDlvgai52mCZrmaorETd6rCKIlyhhkxl/s320/In+This+Fifth+Season-4+10.14+DSC_0260-500x331.jpg" width="320" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://nativegardener.blogspot.com/2014/09/early-autumn-fifth-season.html" target="_blank">Early Autumn- The Fifth Season</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdr0ymWRwPaqbn2S6nxBPs6RjCvculSi_KukMbk_upKN83RW9-T1SkaaBlUhi450SZBmVX7DuzWgcxM4gObfX8eXnNuJQP4TyFB3HgspDYRTyTk4k-TTXXczcN4AMhor8q9l2LH2AfhYbD/s1600/The+Undisclosed+Location-4+DSC_0116-500x331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdr0ymWRwPaqbn2S6nxBPs6RjCvculSi_KukMbk_upKN83RW9-T1SkaaBlUhi450SZBmVX7DuzWgcxM4gObfX8eXnNuJQP4TyFB3HgspDYRTyTk4k-TTXXczcN4AMhor8q9l2LH2AfhYbD/s400/The+Undisclosed+Location-4+DSC_0116-500x331.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Native Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12635639814443958990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699971729547699621.post-21198510435300412392015-07-10T10:10:00.001-07:002015-07-11T09:08:43.337-07:00Go Native for the California Drought<b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3-ZMaIoc1XykxISaIhojZqvZXAT12nbteK_Ms1uKq9qPME8TNIVrkvuyiCgz2f3Gbf_OKJ6ktoY8dDNHSHBgq3vP-hbi6Ep-kRSO8BOHzuKWWGYltXhbtDV8Z3JyG_AGDrbp4884v4AB/s1600/Drops+of+Water+CJSRawTWEAAB3BW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3-ZMaIoc1XykxISaIhojZqvZXAT12nbteK_Ms1uKq9qPME8TNIVrkvuyiCgz2f3Gbf_OKJ6ktoY8dDNHSHBgq3vP-hbi6Ep-kRSO8BOHzuKWWGYltXhbtDV8Z3JyG_AGDrbp4884v4AB/s320/Drops+of+Water+CJSRawTWEAAB3BW.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">July, 2015: It is official! We are in our 4th Year of Drought in Southern California, and everybody is talking about water concerns. This is an unprecendented situation, and Governor Brown has declared mandatory reductions in water use statewide. </span></b><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><b><br /></b>
<b>Water Restrictions affect all Californians, from farmers to cattle ranchers, to industries like fisheries, tourism, water sports, and commercial landscaping, municipal landscaping, and to our own home & garden use.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><b><br /></b>
<b>This Summer, in the upcoming series of posts, I hope to touch on important aspects of the drought and offer practical tips, including:</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><b><span style="color: #274e13;">Plant This Not That: All Drought Tolerant Plants are Not Equal</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="color: #274e13;">How to Replace Your Lawn: Landscaping Choices</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="color: #274e13;">Saving Gray Water for Reuse: Water Cachment Systems.</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="color: #274e13;">Practical Garden Ideas that will Conserve Moisture</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="color: #274e13;">Why Native Plants Matter</span></b></li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">This drought is more far-reaching than just the State of California. It spreads all across the West, including places like Las Vegas, which has its own set of challenges. It affects water reservoirs, and places like Lake Mead are at historic low levels. Officials are facing big challenges getting drinking water to all of us, while still providing for agriculture. </span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">I see the current challenges as a promising opportunity for Californians. When we rip out our lawns, we are provided the opportunity to embrace new plants in our landscaping. NOW, is the time to choose native plants!</span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Native plants are drought tolerant, because they belong here! Yes, there are non-native plants which are also drought tolerant and are commonly offered at nurseries. But, why not give back to the local ecology by repairing the ecosystem with native plants. Native plants bring us native insects, much to the happiness of native birds.</span></b></div>
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13;"><b><br /></b>
<b>What are you doing to conserve water in your California garden this summer? We'd love to hear about it! </b></span>Native Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12635639814443958990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699971729547699621.post-8470645239614748752014-12-24T09:11:00.000-08:002014-12-24T09:12:22.443-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/MXkIhjYo1Kc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<b><i> 2000 Miles~ Remembering snowy woods on crisp, star-filled nights~</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i> May the Spirit of Christmas find you and warm you on these wintery nights!</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i> Best wishes from NativeGardener out in So Cal~</i></b>Native Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12635639814443958990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699971729547699621.post-60613664896307828512014-10-16T10:04:00.000-07:002014-10-16T10:04:23.932-07:00A Book Review: Wheat Belly<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Okay, this is a departure from what you usually see on my Native Gardener blog. But this is important stuff. Learning about what goes on in your own body, paying attention to your nutrition and health ---- got to be healthy before you can create a healthy garden! </i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wheat-Belly-Lose-Weight-Health-ebook/dp/B00571F26Y" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKVSSYLq5EFHL_wuLPPP7Dx-dzICoAedCUdCQupgRNK2O9SiUMYlbeNDGyvsU24MYMbHGsWEu3T7gVAdXjU0DRaYTRhJRSZH2iVqXbELSibG6Zp5z_FwA7zyB5P6YuHtora3EHQdWtBtR/s1600/wheat-belly-2773240.jpeg" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-e4933b72-19cc-5acb-761e-2990d3d07fbb" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>A Book Review: Wheat Belly, by William Davis, M.D.</b></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A look at the book’s cover, and you might think this is just a book about losing weight. This book is about so much more! </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wheat Belly</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> takes us on a journey toward understanding: what wheat is, how it interacts with our bodies, and just why wheat is such a pervasive problem in today’s diets. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since the 1970’s, the “healthy grain” has gone viral. Cereal replaced eggs & bacon as a “healthy” breakfast, and boxed/frozen “convenience” foods became the normal staple of the kitchen pantry. Wheat can be found in all processed “convenience” foods; you do not have to buy wheat bread to get wheat in your diet. And today’s waistlines are a telling sign. Wheat is a complex carbohydrate that breaks down into sugar in our bodies. Did you know, for example that two slices of wheat bread have more sugar than two tablespoons of white table sugar?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wheat Belly is also a book for people with gluten sensitivities and those with Celiac disease. In that regard, I was gratified to see the book started out right up front with the answer to the questions: “What is gluten? And why isn’t wheat the healthy grain my grandma told me to eat?”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMDFkR_D9SswuuVB5erU_NaygmUdGl3VkrPzboxycLYVxqYA-FYfFJ5noSIMIDIhhekMaBS0vYRiXLezLZjpIdjiw5JBB-z_-REVgTqmfAKlGk7TPM7bfgX7cvWIUeNzMAFlRKgbV3NZJ/s1600/wheat+waving+grains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMDFkR_D9SswuuVB5erU_NaygmUdGl3VkrPzboxycLYVxqYA-FYfFJ5noSIMIDIhhekMaBS0vYRiXLezLZjpIdjiw5JBB-z_-REVgTqmfAKlGk7TPM7bfgX7cvWIUeNzMAFlRKgbV3NZJ/s1600/wheat+waving+grains.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wheat, as modified in the past 50 years, takes a destructive toll on our bodies in so many ways --- as Dr. Davis explains. Some people have detrimental health effects from consuming wheat even without being gluten sensitive, including diabetics. Wheat affects the way our skin ages, our mental clarity, and so much more. Having done considerable research on the gluten issue myself, I was happy with the sound and sane foundation this author puts out there. The information is clear and easy to understand even if you have never researched wheat before. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wheat Belly</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Dr. Davis suggests a wheat free diet would make Americans healthier and almost disease free. He backs up his ideas with years of research and includes a formidable list of resources for further investigation by those who want to continue studying food and health.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dr. Davis suggests an optimal diet plan and includes recipes that make it easy to get started living wheat-free. Obviously, individuals will have to make adjustments to the plan --- vegetarians will want to avoid recipes containing meat; diabetics will want to carefully monitor their sugar, etc. I would tweak some of the dietary suggestions, including the subject of raw nuts (they need to be soaked to avoid belly aches), high sugar content in fruit (taking into account glycemic load rather than glycemic index), making a distinction between simple (good) carbs and complex (bad) carbs, and encouraging portion control when it comes to meat, rather than “all you can eat.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most Americans cannot imagine living without the “healthy grain” known as wheat. “If I can’t have bread or pasta, what will I do?” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Wheat Belly </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">does an excellent job of clearing up the confusion of how it can be possible to eat healthy and without our “daily bread.” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wheat Belly</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is easy to understand, very readable, with a nice dose of humor added in.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is wheat? Where is it found in my food? What does it do to my body? How is it able to change me, what is the science behind it? Why isn’t it the same good grain my grandmother ate? How can I “get off” this addictive grain and still eat delicious meals? Will I suffer nutritional deficits? All of these questions and more are answered, as Dr. Davis guides us away from the colorful-boxed aisles that make up the center of our supermarkets and introduces us the healthful world of real food.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An excellent read I think everyone should pick up, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wheat Belly</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is guaranteed to change the way you look at your “daily bread.”</span></div>
<br />Native Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12635639814443958990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699971729547699621.post-83735959766981361232014-09-07T15:49:00.000-07:002014-09-07T15:49:00.901-07:00Early Autumn, the Fifth Season~<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAWuTlrv0EPgQxxT3of8Fy8JPQrEzmpbeaNW3IU6WbB4SvBfdf8EuOgdwvcAOWp0JTuEgJlTpLrEJ9L771K2KV6VATPYoaryhlbWrBpIIaoS7kdGlELd9ozq6jrqkbVPxKoO_VtKXnhC4/s1600/Sycamore+leaf+with+purple+sage+DSC_0260-500x331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAWuTlrv0EPgQxxT3of8Fy8JPQrEzmpbeaNW3IU6WbB4SvBfdf8EuOgdwvcAOWp0JTuEgJlTpLrEJ9L771K2KV6VATPYoaryhlbWrBpIIaoS7kdGlELd9ozq6jrqkbVPxKoO_VtKXnhC4/s1600/Sycamore+leaf+with+purple+sage+DSC_0260-500x331.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="wp-caption-text">
Sycamore Leaf with Purple Sage (Salvia) Seedheads, Santa Monica Mtns, Photo by Kathy Vilim</div>
<br />
In California autumn comes slowly, taking her time after a start that might be called “Indian Summer” in other parts of the country. Flowers fade and turn to seedheads; berries open on bushes; Sycamores, Cottonwoods and Willows begin to turn yellow; even Poison Oak puts on a display of red autumn colors. Yet, it is not fully autumn because there is no rain. Where is the rain? Southern California gardeners wait for the first rain to initiate autumn. The plants, the birds, indeed all the wildlife wait expectantly. <strong>The Fifth Season then is that season between summer and late autumn, it is the early autumn which is still dry.</strong><br />
<br />
In the chaparral of Southern California’s Santa Monica Mountains, there is an unique display of seedheads at this time. The bronze-colored seedheads of Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) create a spectacular display when growing en masse on hillsides, a sight that is uniquely Californian. Buckwheat is such a valuable plant in the wildlife garden year round, attracting native bees and butterflies. Buckwheat pollen makes a delicious, nutritious honey that local bee keepers take advantage of, as well.<br />
<br />
<div dir="ltr">
Grasses are a pale brown-to-gray now and lay down in swaths, pressed down by animals and winds. Seedheads on native chaparral plants stand out against their backdrop, artful in their own way, each lending a delicate independent beauty in the wildlife garden.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
Sages (Salvia) are an example of an artful form of seedheads, and their open arrangement on the stem makes them easy to collect. Sages: black, white or purple, all give so much to pollinators throughout the year, and still in this early autumn without rain they are giving, giving up their seed.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBx9HvztETZPTmN5pwJAowgN87Gu2Dd5UF4kWQ_mQBKuZRNti_nPlT93oGjBnok2oUQIuK_jvq8M-SN-blFx7aJXZy0T3s5WZT2Hw2KzkvjSi6hcB6LHMY-Js2mhmbYcco1sweeAgr15E/s1600/Yw+Squirrel+Cover+DSC_0252-500x331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBx9HvztETZPTmN5pwJAowgN87Gu2Dd5UF4kWQ_mQBKuZRNti_nPlT93oGjBnok2oUQIuK_jvq8M-SN-blFx7aJXZy0T3s5WZT2Hw2KzkvjSi6hcB6LHMY-Js2mhmbYcco1sweeAgr15E/s1600/Yw+Squirrel+Cover+DSC_0252-500x331.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Yellow Squirrel Cover (Hazardia squarrosus), a butterfly favorite, photo by Kathy Vilim</div>
<div dir="ltr">
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
One of the many birds that eat early autumn seed is the California Quail (Callipepla californica). I delight in seeing them pecking & scratching around in my garden this time of year. Traveling in good-sized groups, whole families will jump over fences to get at a good batch of seeds, whether in your garden or your neighbor’s.. Quail know no boundary lines. Though they can fly, they don’t usually bother to take flight unless something startles them, like me opening my back screen door to have a better look!</div>
<div dir="ltr">
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
Much has been written about cleaning up the garden in autumn, getting it ready for winter. But for the native gardener who welcomes wildlife, there is really not much to do. When the perennials of the chaparral go to seed, the plants take on a completely different appearance, and seedheads are lovely left on the plant, as well as useful to wildlife. In fact, overdoing, making your garden all picture perfect and tidy can be very detrimental to the relationship of plants to wildlife in this fifth season of early autumn. No, this season is not so much for doing as it is for watching, enjoying the goings on around you quietly without interference.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
</div>
This dry fifth season of California’s early autumn is a good time for gathering seeds, while you wait expectantly for the first sign of rain to cast them out~<br />
Native Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12635639814443958990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699971729547699621.post-83027631077987886942014-07-06T09:15:00.000-07:002014-07-06T09:15:10.767-07:00Cool Breezes<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuJRKl38uxgnDWcLjn2iJsRuzzcoDkxYw8YalzRb6Gv9tvrkF76RHtnuzFDnt_DTDCiUjy2NwFTY_FhST4vm_6ty_COGePU8s_FD2yar4gqFjrtDjjf7a3fLL6wCumHBN7rBj0F2dNTqw/s1600/LA+Fitness+Windy+Day+at+the+Beach+0+00+51-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuJRKl38uxgnDWcLjn2iJsRuzzcoDkxYw8YalzRb6Gv9tvrkF76RHtnuzFDnt_DTDCiUjy2NwFTY_FhST4vm_6ty_COGePU8s_FD2yar4gqFjrtDjjf7a3fLL6wCumHBN7rBj0F2dNTqw/s1600/LA+Fitness+Windy+Day+at+the+Beach+0+00+51-15.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cool ocean breezes sweep </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">across my skin</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">smelling of freedom </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">from the confines of big city </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">with its press of tall buildings</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and busyness~</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-003fef8b-0c67-330e-6bdd-240c4e1a9f49" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Water moves in sweeping ripples</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">as the breeze pushes toward me</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tiny ripples in the pond when breezes quicken</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Smooth stones below green water</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Almost obscured~</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My mind relaxes listening to sheets of water</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">falling on stone, falling down, down,</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">rushing, my skin deliciously warm~</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now I fear I have overstayed.</span></span></div>
Native Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12635639814443958990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699971729547699621.post-86607778524311053822014-06-01T12:16:00.000-07:002014-06-01T12:16:07.715-07:00Why Plant Natives?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZU-2bUpr5GvJCkw_0cHgFIcVXDlaENFkaTUG1CUowsXUlWYURAIHtLJTgz3W2cB3vfZL-Lfu9r-9O567ATLfUqw6wyNAMJR76dnrxRwEr5yN3IS7VckNBoIBOBvOa1oLJcGKNob01v6kU/s1600/monardella-antonina-7-AmericanPaintedLady.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZU-2bUpr5GvJCkw_0cHgFIcVXDlaENFkaTUG1CUowsXUlWYURAIHtLJTgz3W2cB3vfZL-Lfu9r-9O567ATLfUqw6wyNAMJR76dnrxRwEr5yN3IS7VckNBoIBOBvOa1oLJcGKNob01v6kU/s1600/monardella-antonina-7-AmericanPaintedLady.jpg" height="320" width="252" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2272727272727273; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; text-align: center;"> American Painted Lady Butterfly on Monardella antonina, </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2272727272727273; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; text-align: center;"> Photo by Las Pilitas Nursery</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-6f7f7043-58bc-9a08-5541-89e725694c26" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2272727272727273; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Recently, I wrote about one community I visited that was </span><a href="http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/where-golden-ornaments-adorn-sycamore-trees.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #21c250; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">full of manicured lawns</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and pretty roses but devoid of life … it was missing bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. The landscaping had no native plants to welcome them. Luckily there are many native plants that make pretty additions to the garden with blooms that attract pollinators.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2272727272727273; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There’s nothing like watching the slow dance of butterflies above your flower blossoms from your garden bench!</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2272727272727273; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All across the country, development has gobbled up the earth, covering meadows & prairies, putting roads through our forests, polluting our streams. Habitat has been lost, and wildlife has had to make do with less and less space to live, roam and breed. So, what can we do? </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2272727272727273; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The one thing I know we can do is to plant wild plants. Native plants are those wild plants that lived in a place before the developers came in with their bulldozers. If you look across your street and see a meadow, envision that meadow on your block, because that’s most likely what the land looked like where your house & garden sit now. In that meadow are the plants that are </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">your </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">native plants. If you live near a forest, the plants you find there are </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">your</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> native plants. Or, you might live in an area with prairies. Planting the wild plants that are native to </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>your</i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> particular area is a way to restore the land. One garden at a time, we can build an ecosystem.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2272727272727273; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One native plant by itself is obviously not an ecosystem. But it can be a start. In Doug Tallamy’s wonderful book, “Bringing Nature Home”, he explains so well why native plants matter to wildlife. Some birds and insects are totally dependent on specific native plants for their food--- they are called “specialists” and cannot survive without specific plants. This may seem like “poor planning” on their part. But, Nature is all about balance. Everything that exists is interdependent. There are supposed to be plants to feed the animals, just as there are plants to feed us. Nature left us with wild, edible plants, as well as plants to act as medicine.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2272727272727273; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is, in my view, not right to have taken so much of the land away from the creatures that share the earth with us. Instead, we should be living alongside our animal friends; they are our neighbors. By letting a garden “go wild,” we are inviting friends to visit, we are “Living With Nature.” </span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2272727272727273; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For me, that’s where I want to be. </span></div>
Native Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12635639814443958990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699971729547699621.post-78390524463223086682014-04-18T16:25:00.001-07:002014-04-18T16:25:41.622-07:00Easter Sunrise Over the Pacific<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWBwFE5IMJ1O5IxwSdZffQP-yXo2lL5I3O5C-ZZb-eEtsfzn3p_8SHF_qaRSjxgXiD1_uXnrXUGnYVCCA6FgWHO2i9o7o-p29Du2WA88SueZ0r1pA0qNCfgd2oQZ9pG5aBGB1hgpJPvkx/s1600/DSC_1075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWBwFE5IMJ1O5IxwSdZffQP-yXo2lL5I3O5C-ZZb-eEtsfzn3p_8SHF_qaRSjxgXiD1_uXnrXUGnYVCCA6FgWHO2i9o7o-p29Du2WA88SueZ0r1pA0qNCfgd2oQZ9pG5aBGB1hgpJPvkx/s1600/DSC_1075.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
Easter Sunrise over the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Grove, CA<br />
<br />
This picture was taken last Easter, 2013, when I was traveling through the Monterey, CA area. It was very early on Easter morning, and my honey & I headed to the beach, to a park at Lover's Point. We didn't expect anyone to be there so early.. it was barely sunrise. <br />
<br />
Surprise! Not only were there people there, but there was a Sunrise Service on the lawn there for Easter! People brought chairs; donuts & coffee was set up; various speakers & musicians were gathered. <br />
<br />
What made this all the more of a surprise than even the early congregation, was the fact that I had no idea the sun ever rose over the Pacific! I mean, I have only seen sunsets over the Pacific, as it is always to the west, more or less. At the Monterey Bay, however, it seemed the town of Pacific Grove was located at the south end of the bay, so that facing the Pacific actually meant facing East! Santa Cruz was directly opposite, on the north side of the bay, so that it would get all the sunsets. <br />
<br />
It was a magical sunrise then, as clouds parted to let in the new sun on Easter Sunday~ A magical memory worth revisiting for us. Wishing you a beautiful Easter, where you live!Native Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12635639814443958990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699971729547699621.post-90072175719993789242014-02-20T09:28:00.000-08:002014-02-20T09:33:35.598-08:00A Butterfly Kind of Day~<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMJwjkuQHWI9AHMzqb3WYuW4xjLrtu4_0OFneA4kXcFGkeR8GXbsehTkvWNXkqeSAUOI8FHuKSXR1VRoPx3Y2t29Xv9_JeY5h8jnpYSchGIfIFADHOnAc7LvrERJJ9-zxXdo_TZtBvwR6/s1600/mourning_cloak_butterfly-manzanita.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMJwjkuQHWI9AHMzqb3WYuW4xjLrtu4_0OFneA4kXcFGkeR8GXbsehTkvWNXkqeSAUOI8FHuKSXR1VRoPx3Y2t29Xv9_JeY5h8jnpYSchGIfIFADHOnAc7LvrERJJ9-zxXdo_TZtBvwR6/s1600/mourning_cloak_butterfly-manzanita.jpg" height="289" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-small;">Mourning Cloak Butterfly, Photo Courtesy of LasPilitasNursery</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Today was a day for butterflies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw (3) Monarchs at Las Leones Park today
(in the Santa Monica Mtns near the Beach), or maybe it was the same one (3) times!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, it felt nice to watch them in the 70dg
day of mid-February.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next, I moved on to
Warner Park in Woodland Hills (the Valley).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t expect to see any butterflies but,
what to my wondering eyes DID I see but a yellow swallowtail, swooping from
high up in the pine trees, and then a brown butterfly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started to photograph the swallowtail, but
it was too fast! Then the brown started to chase the swallowtail, also
too fast for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Then the brown decided
my head was of interest – so he flew directly AT me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I moved to get a shot, and he backed off and tried
again just moments later, and yet again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I figured out that he was interested in the sweat on my brow (80dgs here).
He most likely had just hatched due to the warm temps, (he was very fresh and perky) and the swallowtail, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
finally gave up on the shot. Then, the brown butterfly came to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Calibri;">First, I felt the soft drag of his feet in my
hair. I held still while a squirrel on a nearby tree trunk looked on in good
humor, I suppose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Lady, do you know you have a butterfly in your hair?” </i>Then the
butterfly moved to my hand, and I could watch him close up, see a bit of blue
along his brown body. We regarded each other for a long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, up and away. I put down my camera and
watched while ANOTHER brown butterfly met up with him! Together they whirled
and twirled until I lost sight of the pair. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #783f04;">While most of the country was
cold and full of snow and ice, here it was an amazing butterfly kind of day~<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #783f04;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br /></div>
Native Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12635639814443958990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699971729547699621.post-42613426924764358912013-12-28T10:26:00.002-08:002013-12-28T10:26:34.891-08:00The Magic of Monarchs in Winter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJZrOJvQFO11dhJ6adTnH1yUsFaHW7nKefNQFMA1RsCRyg_EGdJrwnwmVTyaEEPYG9zAY4pQsi_9xjpobNkVGBGMTW4nkKI5zL5kR-Q4VGcssiyYWR6Y4MbCiCPOAQsVGtJVE_T0sc-0f/s1600/Monarch+12.31.13+DSC_0317-500x331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJZrOJvQFO11dhJ6adTnH1yUsFaHW7nKefNQFMA1RsCRyg_EGdJrwnwmVTyaEEPYG9zAY4pQsi_9xjpobNkVGBGMTW4nkKI5zL5kR-Q4VGcssiyYWR6Y4MbCiCPOAQsVGtJVE_T0sc-0f/s320/Monarch+12.31.13+DSC_0317-500x331.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Monarch Nectaring on Baccharis salicifolia, </span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> Leo Carillo State Park, Photo by Kathy Vilim</span><br />
<br />
I could scarcely believe my eyes! A large orange Monarch waited for me to go get my camera, flirting, attending to the puffy blossoms of Baccharis salicifolia (commonly called Mule Fat) and flashing his open wings at me. I couldn't believe my luck :-)<br />
<br />
I have been seeing Monarchs at this campground in Northern Malibu, near the coast for about six weeks now. I still wonder if they overwinter here or fly on to one of the better known overwintering spots to the north. This one was out in mid-day, enjoying the warm sunshine, in no hurry to return to the shade of Eucalyptus trees. <br />
<br />
It is so special to see the Monarchs.. the way they fly, their large wings make their movements slow, proud and graceful. It was the best Christmas present nature could have given me that day, as I shared the moment with a friend who had never seen a Monarch before!<br />
<br />
I will give you an update soon on the numbers of West Coast Monarchs that Xerces.org will come up with after Dec.31st. Also, you can read more at <a href="http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/monarchs-on-christmas-eve.html">http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/monarchs-on-christmas-eve.html</a><br />
<br />
May Nature fill your Holidays with Wonder! <br />
Native Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12635639814443958990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699971729547699621.post-6902045209008544692013-12-07T09:45:00.000-08:002013-12-07T09:53:44.772-08:00Why Not Eat Local AND Eat Native, too?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0ggPLaXV_0JYPnGj8_Oc28Jcri5HT0EAiy0-ooeeDKqeCWt26PsWkMZjemKKUUdbOvuNGTTFRBUlCcn16MqH8L_SNjP3clol9SoPV_PWLxpKfxm1NiaHVcCiS8Op0AhhPP9M8K4f7vqj/s1600/Elderberry+sambucus-caerulea+laspilitas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0ggPLaXV_0JYPnGj8_Oc28Jcri5HT0EAiy0-ooeeDKqeCWt26PsWkMZjemKKUUdbOvuNGTTFRBUlCcn16MqH8L_SNjP3clol9SoPV_PWLxpKfxm1NiaHVcCiS8Op0AhhPP9M8K4f7vqj/s320/Elderberry+sambucus-caerulea+laspilitas.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
Blue Elderberry (Sambucus caerulea) <br />
Photo courtesy of laspilitas.com<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #741b47; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #741b47;">
Reading about the wild, edible native plants of California, got me<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>thinking about the Native Americans of California, how they lived in concert with the
land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were a part of the land, just like
the Bear or the Quail, or the Butterflies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They took time to look at the skies, to track the movement of the sun,
and to observe the gentle changes of the Season—which in So California are so
very subtle compared other places in this America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How different the Native American’s lives
were from ours today.. how simple. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<o:p><span style="background-color: white; color: #741b47; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"></span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #741b47;"> Finding food was obviously a major part of the day, just as
it is for all creatures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They therefore must
have used their powers of observation to learn what the land offered, what was
possible to eat, and what was not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some
things turned out to be nutritious or filling and satisfying; others turned out
to just be yummy, like the sweet “tuna” fruit that grows on the end of the
Prickly Pear Cactus, which is so abundant in the chaparral of So Cal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike other wild berries, which tended to be
sour, tuna would have been a sweet treat!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span><br />
<o:p><span style="background-color: white; color: #741b47; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitU8XLCKWxKOHSVtgFG_pdP7HkrXGNODP37pvsS5lp361O9TKqmxMcj3j5KupyqhE6zqFy51H3Xgloc0ih1bV0YAtfE7Ra6LPpWsIDWUzVmQYUKPLyAcAlkILT9kBH49ai4uFgj2ur99Xj/s1600/Golden+Currant+Ribes_aureum_gracillimum-1+laspilitas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitU8XLCKWxKOHSVtgFG_pdP7HkrXGNODP37pvsS5lp361O9TKqmxMcj3j5KupyqhE6zqFy51H3Xgloc0ih1bV0YAtfE7Ra6LPpWsIDWUzVmQYUKPLyAcAlkILT9kBH49ai4uFgj2ur99Xj/s320/Golden+Currant+Ribes_aureum_gracillimum-1+laspilitas.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Golden Currant (Ribes aureum)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Photo courtesy of laspilitas.com<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;"> It got me to wonder what native berries do we have here in
So Cal? I discovered several native berry bushes: Some of the fruit bushes native to Southern California are: <br />
Blue Elderberry (Sambucus Mexicana) <br />
Golden Currant (Ribes aureum)<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #741b47;">California blackberry (Rubus ursinus).</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #741b47;">These
berries would have been an essential part of the native people’s diet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #741b47;">In my post for BeautifulWildlifeGarden.com, <a href="http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/autumn-is-harvest-time-thankful-for-the-bounty.html"><em>Autumn Harvest</em>, <em>Thankful for the Bounty</em></a>,
I focused on nutritious acorns, nopales (cactus pads) and wild spinach. Foods
of sustenance!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But fruit is a vital part
of diet, too, both now and then. </span></span></span></span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #741b47;"> You can find these berry bushes right now in a So Cal Native
Plant Nursery, and you can add them to your yard, giving you a delectable wild
food source.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is so enjoyable going
out and packing fresh fruit from your own garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why not eat local AND eat native?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #741b47;"> I for one have great fun picking nopales pads and cooking
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For one thing: They are Free..
which stretches the grocery budget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
also, it is nice to watch the plant grow more fleshy, edible pads than I could
possibly eat, and know I am not harming the plant or taking it away from the
wildlife that also depend on it for nectar or shelter~<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #741b47; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Native Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12635639814443958990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699971729547699621.post-11904212976349518422013-10-25T14:17:00.001-07:002013-10-25T14:19:15.710-07:00Winning the North American Native Plant Society 2013 Conservation Award<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMvS4i_aMoNX6Qk2WeJucJFao-1fwUhgQrcYxtSv3M9DEtB2A_-FKgQSkC6lj3fQSRVzsGsuHq8N6ABLLdaWrsnXGazTq_JDerIwXPk8X-zjNEGRjkWo2577Sb5Lst8XMp_wS6mLFwkTP/s1600/NANPS-490x401.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMvS4i_aMoNX6Qk2WeJucJFao-1fwUhgQrcYxtSv3M9DEtB2A_-FKgQSkC6lj3fQSRVzsGsuHq8N6ABLLdaWrsnXGazTq_JDerIwXPk8X-zjNEGRjkWo2577Sb5Lst8XMp_wS6mLFwkTP/s320/NANPS-490x401.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
2013 <a href="http://www.nanps.org/index.php/activities/awards/24-public-web-content/awards/64-paul-mcgaw-memorial-conservation-award" target="">Paul McGaw Memorial Conservation Award</a><br />
<br />
This year's Conservation Award given by the North American Native Plant Society went to <strong><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Carole Brown</span></strong>, creator of three blogs:<a href="http://www.ecosystemgardening.com/winning-the-north-american-native-plant-society-2013-conservation-award.html" target="_blank"> Ecosystemgardening.com,</a> <a href="http://beautifulwildlifegarden.com/">Beautifulwildlifegarden.com</a> and Na<a href="http://nativeplantwildlifegarden.com/">tiveplantwildlifegarden.com</a>. The award was given based on her non-stop dedication to spreading the word about native plants. Why do native plants matter? What benefit do they have to your garden? Why plant native plants .. because they belong! <br />
<br />
As a writer who contributes regularly to <a href="http://beautifulwildlifegarden.com/">Beautifulwildlifegarden.com</a>, I cannot help but feel a flush of pride being part of this Team of writers and gardeners who feel passionately about replacing something of the wild places that man has taken away. The blogs aim to do this by educating gardeners and creating a dialogue where all comments are welcome. We want to give back wild open spaces to the insects, birds & animals that live here on this planet with us, by transforming the land one garden at a time. <br />
<br />
Carole definitely deserves this award, as she pulls us all together as writers and gives us a chance to make our voices heard, as well as letting us know that there are other like-minded folks out there. My voice is but one in the chorus that sings for more wild places~<br />
<br />Native Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12635639814443958990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699971729547699621.post-47837909996468817172013-10-04T14:43:00.000-07:002013-10-24T14:45:03.478-07:00 Mermaid Slips Back to the Sea~<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdz5kQdhT33v9oC7rueXeyxCyHl95QoWRceL7C8qYqCaRoL4920IW2qFut1I1JmD1jXdV9zOZujB2kfa8MbvW44M7JXbITlocC92r8HNQlFRGp6aje2ZPqqLrAPymTNLw5N_w_KxRPMIm/s1600/DSC_0067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdz5kQdhT33v9oC7rueXeyxCyHl95QoWRceL7C8qYqCaRoL4920IW2qFut1I1JmD1jXdV9zOZujB2kfa8MbvW44M7JXbITlocC92r8HNQlFRGp6aje2ZPqqLrAPymTNLw5N_w_KxRPMIm/s320/DSC_0067.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mermaid Slips Back to the Sea~</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-452fdba0-8057-8161-8643-07001019fd5d" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Mermaid is the Mermaid. There is no other Mermaid around,” Mary M. quote.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Seagulls cry out and I look up, following their flight through the foggy morning sky. I open the green screen door to go into the Cafe Mermaids. My senses are immediately delighted by walls rich with colorful drawings of .. why mermaids, of course! Mermaids look down on me no matter which table I take. Their liquid blue eyes are calming, as is the sound of boat lines clanging against masts. The Cafe is tiny and narrow, with a low ceiling and an uneven cement floor. But, the counter is liberally strewn with newspapers left for the next reader who comes along. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This place says to me that it’s been here a long time, a favorite for locals in the harbor area of Marina del Rey, boaters, old-timers.. the place exudes a relaxed air. Time slows down. There are no trendy posers here at this coffee shop, and no folks rushing off when lunch break is over. For those who prefer the sea air, there is more seating out front, under a plastic awning that creates its own outdoor room. From there you have a front row seat to watch people come and go off the docks, or pass by with their dogs. On this day as I write this, there are girls in the water doing yoga on paddle boards!</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jenny is the owner of the Cafe, a sweetheart with a talent for baking the most amazing muffins! As a matter of fact, the smell of chocolate chip cookies in the oven will keep you there at the Cafe waiting for them to come out & cool. Jenny is the second owner of the cafe. Its history goes way back, and I’ve yet to determine just how far!</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the moment the thing is: Cafe Mermaids is going away! It has a lease in the building where LA Fitness (formerly Marina Fitness) is located. The gym has just given notice to its landlord that it is leaving Marina del Rey and moving to Playa del Rey, at Lincoln & Jefferson Blvds. While this doesn’t seem very far and the new facility will be state of the art, many locals who were members for 10-25 years, when the gym was the Marina del Rey Fitness, do not look forward to having to get in their cars and drive to their gym. There are always a good number of bikes parked outside the Cafe Mermaids, and many members jog there as part of their workout routine. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Endings and Beginnings. I just discovered this scene this summer, when the heat of August drew me to the Beach. But already Mermaid’s Magic has washed over me.. and I know it to be a special place, that will be missed by many.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="line-height: 13.6px;">For me finding Mermaid was a beginning, a new friendly community to hang out in. Now it is ending, just as I was settling in. No matter, I move on, more easily than the locals here. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="line-height: 13.6px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Seasons change: Summer comes to an end as Mermaid closes her doors on autumn. </span>Native Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12635639814443958990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699971729547699621.post-145115440132711782013-10-04T08:32:00.001-07:002013-10-04T08:32:42.785-07:00<a href="http://ht.ly/8TJWf">Pacific Park® - Live Cam</a> Have a great weekend.Native Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12635639814443958990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699971729547699621.post-51875101456140114742013-08-24T12:15:00.000-07:002013-08-24T12:18:04.237-07:00Quirky Signs on the Interpretive Trail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/DSC_1747-500x331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/DSC_1747-500x331.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><i>Quirky Trail Sign, Topanga, CA, Photo by Kathy Vilim</i></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #7f6000;">I have written several posts lately for <a href="http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/quirky-signs-along-the-trail.html" target="_blank">Beautiful Wildlife Garden</a> that have a common thread: education. They are <a href="http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/the-wildlife-at-los-liones.html" target="_blank">Wildlife of Los Liones</a>, <a href="http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/quirky-signs-along-the-trail.html" target="_blank">Quirky Signs Along the Trail</a>, <a href="http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/the-moon-tree-of-monterey.html" target="_blank">Moon Tree of Monterey</a>, and <a href="http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/the-gypsy-botanist.html" target="_blank">Gypsy Botanist</a>. In each, I discuss the importance of educating others about their natural surroundings. "You cannot love what you do not know." There is no better place to do that than in a Park. When people come to a Park, they come to be outdoors, to be part of the natural world, feel the sun on their faces and breathe the air in deeply. Time slows down as they walk, taking in the green of living plants all around them and gazing out at far away vistas. People have time to wonder about this natural world all around them.</span><br />
<span style="color: #7f6000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #7f6000;">That's why I love Quirky Signs of Interpretive Trails! Following a trail through an Oak Woodland is enjoyable in and of itself, but there might be plants you don't recognize or don't even see because they are not blooming yet. You might ask "Oh, this is Mugwort? This is Hummingbird Sage? What are they good for? What purpose do they serve? Is their purpose in the Oak Woodland ecosystem to feed birds, or provide shelter for small critters?" Low and behold, there are Quirky Signs to answer your questions and get you wanting to know more. This is especially helpful for people who are new to an area, as well as for kids. Kids are always full of questions!</span><br />
<span style="color: #7f6000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #7f6000;">Why does this matter? It is human nature to care about animals you know and plants that you are familiar with. But if you don't get out and acquaint yourself with the plants and animals in the natural world right near where you live, you are less likely to care what happens to them. Who cares about that big development that's going to impinge on the local wetlands or interrupt bird breeding grounds? What does it matter if farmers spray pesticides on crops and in so doing kill native plants like the Milkweed? If you don't know what Milkweed looks like and what it is for, you are not likely to care very much what happens to it.</span><br />
<span style="color: #7f6000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #7f6000;">I myself am a big fan of Interpretive Trails (even if the signs are not quirky). I love going to a new Park and reading whatever information they have set out for visitors. I always learn something, and it usually leaves me with more questions. I guess I am the ever curious "why?" kid! Hope you have a "Why?" kid in your family and take them outdoors to explore their natural world real soon~</span><br />
<span style="color: #7f6000;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><br />
<span style="color: #7f6000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #7f6000;"><a href="http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/the-wildlife-at-los-liones.html" target="_blank">Wildlife of Los Liones</a>, <a href="http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/quirky-signs-along-the-trail.html" target="_blank">Quirky Signs Along the Trail</a>, <a href="http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/the-moon-tree-of-monterey.html" target="_blank">Moon Tree of Monterey</a>, and <a href="http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/the-gypsy-botanist.html" target="_blank">Gypsy Botanist</a>. </span><br />
<span style="color: #7f6000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #7f6000;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span>Native Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12635639814443958990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699971729547699621.post-18723621899199380732013-06-27T16:33:00.002-07:002013-06-27T16:33:10.754-07:00Return of the Hummingbirds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwC4qg04rkZNLhT2KLr7SrRa6Iv2MxaDAMQAaOPYmdvWuINmZqP2op8AQnmN4D8iPe_mZo4ABeKuoN4gditV6jiOw7mDAez19i2wTeK9XyD9LJe4rMmRZNb6myP9AuKdBCVgRUMbTMMh9P/s710/cirsium_proteanum.6.25.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwC4qg04rkZNLhT2KLr7SrRa6Iv2MxaDAMQAaOPYmdvWuINmZqP2op8AQnmN4D8iPe_mZo4ABeKuoN4gditV6jiOw7mDAez19i2wTeK9XyD9LJe4rMmRZNb6myP9AuKdBCVgRUMbTMMh9P/s320/cirsium_proteanum.6.25.13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #6d4d2d; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px; text-align: center;">An Anna Hummingbird on a Cirsium occidentale venustum, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #6d4d2d; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px; text-align: center;"> Red or Venus Thistle, Photo Credit to </span><a href="http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/cirsium-occidentale-venustum" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #61ae54; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px; text-align: center;">LasPilitasNursery</a><br />
<br />
Summer is here, and with it comes visits to the garden by our friends, the Hummingbirds! If you have hummers in the garden, likely you have spent many happy hours observing them from your patio or from a well-placed bench in that part of the garden most favored by the birds.. a place of many nectar rich flowers.. or your well-maintained feeder. <br />
<br />
Times are changing, though. Everywhere in the nation gardeners are observing different weather, different temperatures, and different bloom times for some of their favorite flowers. When the hummers come back from their winter homes in the spring, sometimes they miss out on the blooms of their favorite flowers, because the weather turned warm weeks early.<br />
<br />
The researchers at the Audubon Society have noticed some changes, too. Some of their data is not just correct anymore; there seems to be a disconnect between the time of the hummingbirds' return and the flowers' bloom times. And researchers are concerned. So they have started a program, enlisting our help to share with them when you have a hummingbird sighting and where you are located (zip code). This can be done via smartphone or PC with a new App you can take out into the garden with you. The app will provide you with pictures of different hummingbirds (so you know what kind you are looking at) as well as pictures of plants you are likely to be seeing them drinking nectar from.<br />
<br />
You have a chance to share your sightings and help researchers learn more about what's going on with these hummingbirds that grace our gardens with their flying acrobatics and delight us with their antics!<br />
<br />
For more info on getting involved, visit: <a href="http://www.hummingbirdsathome.org/" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.hummingbirdsathome.org/</a><br />
<br />
<br />Native Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12635639814443958990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699971729547699621.post-25228541879429850462013-06-21T16:32:00.000-07:002013-06-21T16:34:25.163-07:00Outside My Bedroom Window: Camping on the Beach Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNM652iS1MXCmaN23hYMy44Q97PCkBukfYc4hECIltreNP7-IwrD_ambBsE8UrnJfkygEQ1-G_o80AYeJXKld8Q4FK4nM_rH7bNpXJRJ72eUxtVOVa0WEpzMAgz6-AU3vKKJOtU7ZxgKOv/s1600/DSC_1637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNM652iS1MXCmaN23hYMy44Q97PCkBukfYc4hECIltreNP7-IwrD_ambBsE8UrnJfkygEQ1-G_o80AYeJXKld8Q4FK4nM_rH7bNpXJRJ72eUxtVOVa0WEpzMAgz6-AU3vKKJOtU7ZxgKOv/s320/DSC_1637.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Oceano Beach, CA Photo by Kathy Vilim<br />
<br />
As you can see, another morning waking up on the beach, another entirely different view! Seems the seagulls and I were up before the folks in this tent. This is one of the only beaches where it is legal to drive on the beach and camp overnight. Notice the bicycle.. all types of vehicles find their way out here!Native Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12635639814443958990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699971729547699621.post-87236786387225369672013-05-30T16:49:00.000-07:002013-05-30T16:50:06.828-07:00Outside My Bedroom Window: Camping on the Beach<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyAmUpunFzNyIxUTtu9dCVR5G6elBWPcDBqJ8S_SYG0lr9ogVKnkst_0I0Zm1U2-wt6zW9elm1wRr97U8dCAEnXZEYW-0CmTJxsJycO8KG3t5sOFjPrOVIZiapq4CoyJ4VTlphwSad3Yt/s1600/DSC_0052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyAmUpunFzNyIxUTtu9dCVR5G6elBWPcDBqJ8S_SYG0lr9ogVKnkst_0I0Zm1U2-wt6zW9elm1wRr97U8dCAEnXZEYW-0CmTJxsJycO8KG3t5sOFjPrOVIZiapq4CoyJ4VTlphwSad3Yt/s320/DSC_0052.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Camping on Oceano Beach, Vehicles Welcome, Photo by Kathy Vilim</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">There is nothing quite like camping right on the beach, and waking up with the roar of the Ocean in your ears. Here is the view from my Bedroom Window one morning when I was out there.. In the background is a layer of fog in front of Pismo Beach. In front, the tracks that criss-cross the beach were made by vehicles of all description, incl ATVs, that had camped overnight with us on this designated section of beach. Endless sand.. and endless tracks.. </span>Native Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12635639814443958990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699971729547699621.post-33888899993887698682013-05-24T12:19:00.001-07:002013-05-24T12:20:51.846-07:00Outside My Bedroom Window, Oceano Lagoon II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijjj4PLb-Vzv_-9lLmtZJkKPM63H2lNq66oxUQ35X2m2j4p1eVVdPbzzBzk1gKrDCXCEmyS2BIxX1GpVXF9dWGitNHw8ytmwrM0KNUyNsNdPOS2LzpHto_lfhJ18cXmH9_hHpmomJRLXch/s1600/DSC_0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijjj4PLb-Vzv_-9lLmtZJkKPM63H2lNq66oxUQ35X2m2j4p1eVVdPbzzBzk1gKrDCXCEmyS2BIxX1GpVXF9dWGitNHw8ytmwrM0KNUyNsNdPOS2LzpHto_lfhJ18cXmH9_hHpmomJRLXch/s320/DSC_0128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Camping Next to the Oceano Lagoon, Photo by Kathy Vilim</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">This photo was taken on a camping trip to Oceano, CA. We backed our camper into our camping spot so that the water came up right behind my Bedroom Window! This made for fun & leisurely duck watching throughout the day. I also enjoyed listening to the gentle sound of water as it slapped against the banks of the Lagoon. What a treat to wake up to this scene in the morning! </span> </span>Native Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12635639814443958990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5699971729547699621.post-78393480856191060902013-05-16T12:10:00.000-07:002013-05-16T12:11:15.709-07:00Outside My Bedroom Window, Oceano LagoonI have been travelling for awhile now, and I was reflecting on just how fun it is to wake up in new places! Different days mean different views outside my bedroom window for this Gypsy Gardener. I thought my readers might enjoy seeing some of those views! I will be posting some photos here as part of a new series: Outside My Bedroom Window. Check back!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtk9Vx4LpzzcxmprrR_ivQWgNPLJy9J6fROWKoR2juHm_3R2BoSWYVF2AeVbb_VbjGThoLbL581wreGB2MNK9gBwvZUU_Pe_SLSszmvW9oQ9MqmuD3_-9aIV7zBPrS7XmyLeJgAPZCh9E/s1600/DSC_1426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtk9Vx4LpzzcxmprrR_ivQWgNPLJy9J6fROWKoR2juHm_3R2BoSWYVF2AeVbb_VbjGThoLbL581wreGB2MNK9gBwvZUU_Pe_SLSszmvW9oQ9MqmuD3_-9aIV7zBPrS7XmyLeJgAPZCh9E/s320/DSC_1426.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Resident birds at the Oceano Lagoon<br />
Photo by Kathy Vilim (Can you help me ID these birds?)Native Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12635639814443958990noreply@blogger.com2