And one more:
Solar Eclipse 2017- Shadows and Light in the Park
Tag: photography
Wildflowers of Torrey Pines, Guy Fleming Trail
Super Bloom, Spring 2017
The drought that has plagued the Southwest United States, Southern California included, has been declared over… for the most part. We saw hardly any rain over the last five years and this winter we made up for the deficit. Finally! And when the rains come, so do the wildflowers.
The Torrey Pines State Reserve is a special place, and if you are visiting the San Diego area, try to stop by here. For spectacular scenery, the Guy Fleming Trail is one of my favorite places to walk, run, bring tourist friends, and take photos.
This year, a lot of photos. Never have I taken more pictures of any natural area. Ever. And I like taking pictures along hikes, so that is saying something.
Padre’s Shooting Star
Large Blue Toadflax?
San Diego Fiesta Flower
Groundpink
San Diego Jewelflower
From the dozen or so walks I have taken recently, I’ve saved about a hundred photos, culled down from four hundred, at least. The scenery changes every ten paces or so, quite literally! During San Diego’s May Gray and June Gloom, the fog sneaks and slips through the pines and up over the slopes that rise from the beach below. But- in a matter of minutes, the entire marine layer can clear up leaving tourist and locals blinking in the bright sunlight and marveling at the weathered bluffs, crumbling cliffs, and lovely, lovely flowers.
Just look at these side-by-side photos of similar views, but different times or weather:
and more…
Cold, early morning poppies vs. bright, shiny (and badly photographed) poppies:
CA Golden Poppy
I love these two:
Here’s a bit of the wildlife. Surfers count, they are totally legit wildlife…
Get a load of the geometry and patterns seen out on the beach trails:
Branches of a Torrey Pine tree- dead, but still very much a part of the scenery.
San Diego Sea Dahila… beauteous.
JK, this is really Moonlight Beach up in Encinitas… Not Torrey Pines at all. I just really love the pattern in this pic.
How many thousands of people have this same photo, looking west through a deceased Torrey Pine over the cliff?
This ancient dune, pressed into rock, is now crumbling away.
Super-closeup of a pic that originally features my kids sitting on the beach at Torrey Pines back in 2009 when we moved back to California.
And to conclude, a few of my favorite pics of just the flowers:
Miners Lettuce
Tidy Tips
Ground Pinks
San Diego Sea Dahlia
Wild Cucumber flowers
California Butterweed (I think…?)
San Diego Sea Dahila… beauteous.
All right. I have to quit. I could upload another 50 photos that are every bit as lovely as these, but I have to calm the heck down.
Happy hiking, all!
Favorite WordPress Blogs
I found a blogger who is new to me, but has been around here on WordPress for a while- Brad Young Art…A few of his posts that I liked in particular: 8/23/15 Space Needle, 7/26/15 Blondes and Tennessee, 4/19/15 Chicago Skyline, and 4/5/15 I Thirst.
I particularly enjoyed the different cities featured in his designs- many are only blocks from where I lived (our apartment up the street from Seattle’s Space Needle), or at least the same general yet beloved area (the Midwest rocked my world). Go check out his great art and sweet commentary!
It’s worth mentioning that the only way I came across Brad Young Art (and many other great blogs) is because he simply clicked that “LIKE” button on one of my posts, so I went and looked at his work… go discover some new blogs and encourage the love of great subjects today, everyone. And don’t forget to give that positive feedback.
While I’m at it- I’d really like to give a shout out to a few other fabulous writers I have come across over the course of this year while playing around on WordPress:
Cool San Diego Sights!– great pics and fun insights into what’s happening in the San Diego area
Cycling in the South Bay– about as introspective and funny as a cyclist can get, with life choices, hobbies, and family offered up on the Altar of the Blogosphere
Story Shucker– short, well crafted stories from a talented writer. I’m always looking for his works to show up in my favorites feed.
Finding Jeffrey– a family friend who can produce more thoughtful and humorous writings in two minutes with only an elbow on the space bar than an infinite number of me on an infinite number of keyboards could ever hope to pound out. Get cranking on that book, Jeff, we’re waiting.
Cooking with a Wallflower– I had to narrow down from a couple dozen food bloggers I’m following on WordPress, and Andrea’s blog has a fabulous compilation of really good recipes, wonderful photography, and culinary world finds that she came across on the Big Ol’ Web.
In Which I Get My Running Shoes Wet…
We had some high tides and storm activity last week in the Southland that brought a mess (literally…) of seaweed to the shoreline. As I ran, the pieces of kelp were fun to stomp on, bursting underfoot on the packed, wet sand. I think the serious runners coming from behind and passing me were mildly amused. I was greatly amused.
Pop pop POP!
But, dodging kelp and stopping to take photos can result in the waves catching up with you…
I simply squish-squish-squished as I ran the return route. Guess my shoes are broken in now! i don’t run barefoot along the beach… makes it easier to stomp on and pop the kelp.
Comic Con International 2015- Hall H Fantastic-ness and Cosplay Craziness!
Well.
What can I say?
I’m glad that the teens I knew and the Comic Con line sitters that I met on Wednesday talked me into staying in line to receive my Hall H wristband. Everyone said that we should experience the fun of the biggest convention lecture hall to see the panels, that it is a great Comic Con experience… They were right!
We stayed until after 10:30 Wednesday night to assure that we received our Toucan Wristbands, rode the trolly back to our car, slept for a couple hours at home, then woke up at 4:30 Thursday morning to rejoin our friends in line who slept outside the convention center… line holders are a special breed of people!
The big reason why we went through all this malarky was to see the head writer and actors of our favorite show, “Doctor Who.”
But first…
We finally got to enter the Hall H and find seats IN THE FRONT ROW, and a full thirty minutes later hundreds of people were still being ushered in. Over 6,500 seats were filled. One thing that really surprised me was how the convention center and security personnel cheered all of us on as we marched in to find seats. All of the sleepy people who, some having sat out for TWO NIGHTS, were really feeling the love.
The first panel was a surprise visit from Mitch Glazer and Bill Murray, promoting their new movie “Rock the Casbah.” Also starring Bruce Willis, Kate Hudson, and Zooey Deschanel, the preview looked great and we are planning on seeing it.
Next up was the Mockingjay Part 2 panel…
Want to see a really great video of this? Click on this link to Flicks and the City’s You Tube video. But, here are my photos:
Seriously, click on the You Tube link above to watch this whole panel discussion.
Finally, we got to the panel that we had been waiting for, the Doctor Who season nine cast and one of the world’s most loved/hated writers, Steven Moffet!
Nerdist.com‘s Chris Hardwick was a great moderator, and we loved hearing from Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman, Michelle Gomez and Steven Moffet.
One of the day’s best answers to a question came from Michelle Gomez and Chris Hardwick. In response to what advice they had for an aspiring actor, Gomez urged to never give up, since someone else will be right behind you, eagerly willing to take your place, with Hardwick emphasizing that if you can’t make it via the conventional route, one should self produce one’s own material and get it out on the internet. We have far too much technology and exposure opportunities nowadays to excuse anyone from just doing it.
It was fun yet frustrating to hear the cast asked questions; they would look at Moffet before answering… then… not answer since it would lead to spoilers. It was like watching kids check with their papa. One thing we do know, Missy will be back reprising her roll as the regenerated Master. Aiieeee! Can’t wait until September 19th for season 19’s premier!!
We are very glad to have won tickets for today and have a friend who shared and extra pass. What. A. Blast. To put this into perspective, as much as I geek-out over a show or book, I am very lukewarm on the whole Cult of Celebrity thing. I still had fun!
