Tree of Life Nursery

Gooseberry

Coast Live Oak

Hummingbird Sage

Big Berry Manzanita

Coast Sunflower

This was a very nice trip, a pretty drive on Ortega highway and a quite area to walk around. It was not very busy when we went, we arrived there right after they opened. Everyone there was very nice and offered a lot of help

Appreciating My Surroundings

I have always appreciated nature and its beauty surrounding me,

but now more than ever I see it.
These are just a few images that I
have found around my job and home.
I think my favorite is this Matilija Poppy.
and the California Poppy.

Rock Art

It was great to hear all the information that Steve Freers had to share. What an amazing adventure he has been on to discover and record these works. Two of the most important thoughts that came to mind as Steve was speaking are the connection people had to the earth. It made me think about the saying “its not the destination, its the journey.” And the other being the potency of the knowledge of the elders, they are often not appreciated for their knowledge of life. The art that I liked the most was the mazes and the drawings that represented 3 and 5 digits. The last but not the least was when he spoke about preservation. Not to seek it out, to leave it be, so that it may have a better chance of lasting through time.

Daley Ranch

I am not sure if this is a California native, but it was amazing!

This is a California Lilac. They are not as fragrant or full like 

the lilacs I am used to growing up in Chicago.

I have to figure out what kind of berry this is.

This is Black Sage, (even though it was full of white blooms) 

it was everywhere, 

and there were a lot of bees too.

The Coast Live Oak was magnificent!

My daughter and I went to Daley Ranch for a hike. 

It was lots of fun! I think we should do it more often. 

While we were hiking around I found lots to photograph.

Camp Pendleton

Las Flores

It was fun using the photomerge feature in PS, great and effortless results.

Coyote Bush, it is a great place for birds to hide out.

Wild Radish

Coyote Willow

White Sage

I loved the open spaces at Camp Pendleton. I loved photographing the house. For some reason I am attracted to old living spaces. Sometimes when I am traveling I just want to pull off the side of the road and photograph an old barn or an abandoned house. It was also nice to learn the history of the house and the area. It would have been nice to see more of Camp Pendleton.

Quail Gardens

I am not sure if this is a Torrey Pine?
I really love the swirl design that is presented from the branches below.

This is Yerba Santa

This is a lemonade berry.

This is Catalina Ironwood, what a great contrast from the trunk to the leaf.

Quail Gardens was a great place to go. It was very helpful that there was a specified section for natives and that they were identified. It really helps knowing what you are shooting and being able to research more about the plants. I went with my daughter and we investigated a lot of the different areas, it would have been nice to spend more time there, I am glad I have a chance to go back on one of our field trips. It was really windy that day, and it was very challenging to get some good shots!

Pechanga

This is the onion plant.

This is Indian Potatoe

This is deergrass after it has been burned.
It is done to allow for it to grow back in more abundance.

This white sage was located around all the natural housing that we were able to see.
It is great that the local youth are able to learn and participate in their culture.

This is yucca fiber which has been processed by stripping and soaking.
The fibers are used to make nets, carrying baskets, sandals, skirts and more.
It is a very versatile plant which supplies food from the flowers and fruit.

I really like this Eucalyptus tree because of the texture of the peeling bark
against the smooth underside. It in not a native plant.

Chaparral, once many, now few. I wish I could have seen them in abundance.