Spanish moss

Tuesday morning at Bear Valley was quite foggy, a photographer's paradise. In the next week, I'll show you several photos gleaned that day.

This one shows condensed fog dripping from Spanish moss hanging from an evergreen tree.

According to http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/4h/Spanish_moss/spanmoss.htm:
Spanish-moss, also called Florida moss, long moss, or graybeard, is not a true moss. It is an epiphytic plant, which grows on another plant, but does not rely on the host plant for nutrients; epiphytes make their own food.

They are sometimes referred to as air plants because most have aerial roots; however, Spanish-moss does not have any roots. It uses its long, thin, scaly stems to wrap around the host tree and hang down from the branches. The leaves are covered with cup-like, permeable scales that 'catch' moisture and nutrients from the air and from pockets on the surface of the host. This water-trapping ability allows Spanish-moss to withstand long dry periods. In extreme dry spells, the plant becomes dormant until moisture returns.While the plant is not parasitic, it can sometimes damage the host tree by over-shading the leaves, thus reducing photosynthesis, or by weighing down and breaking the branches.

Drippy succulent

Christmas Day offered another nice set of raindrops on this succulent.

Camellia

This one perfect camellia grows by our front door.

Stony lonesome

From yesterday's sublime to today's ridiculous! Although this is certainly a labor of love, the result cannot be said to be of Asawa's caliber. And a sign in the window says that it can be yours for just $400 - it's a little 'rough' inside.

Asawa wire

Last week Elyse and I visited the Yves St. Laurent retrospective at the de Young Museum; it was fantastic but unfortunately for photographers, no photos are allowed. If you have any love of clothes or fabrics, go see it. It's there until April, I think. But there are other goodies that can be photographed and here's one I like to excess: Ruth Asawa's wire sculptures. The lighting is inspired; the only way to tell sculpture from shadow is by the color.

Rain drops

On Christmas morning, it rained; then the sun came out and everything was shining with raindrops.

Merry Christmas

Ho, Ho, Ho!
Merry
Christmas

Berries

The toyon tree, also known as Christmas Holly, sports lots of red berries at this time of the year. They are well-loved by birds, along with all the other red-berried trees and shrubs. And this one grows, guess where - along Corte Madera Creek.

Sunup

The sun came up on December 18 in an orange sky with the ever-present steam plume from the Handi Kup factory in Corte Madera appearing beside it. Hans says Take the photo so that steam isn't in the photo, but I like it because I've seen that steam plume for years. It's right beside the freeway (101) and has been there for at least the 32 years I have been living in Marin County and probably many more before that. So it's an historical photo in a couple of ways: the sun always comes up and the Handi Kup steam plume always rises.

Forest?

Doesn't this look like a wintertime forest? Actually, it is the tops of some shrubs that were severely pruned and the new shoots grew straight up - and it is now winter. They are about 2 feet tall and are along Corte Madera Creek.

Mt. Tamalpais

This is 2,500-foot Mt. Tamalpais (usually called Mt. Tam) as seen from the College of Marin parking lot about 10 days ago.

Three trees

In Master Gardener Katie's yard are three very different trees: in front, the bare tree is a gingko, the red one is a liquidambar still holding onto its leaves, and the semi-bare one in the back is a valley oak. All three are deciduous but their timing is obviously different, as are their colors. The gingko turns yellow before the leaves fall, the liquidambar red through yellow and the valley oak just turns brown.

Attack pig

In the same neighborhood as the Unidentified Flower and Spring Man is Attack Pig of which we must beware! However, if we don't open the gate, I think we are safe.

I am still receiving help on identifying the flower. Here is another answer - near the truth?

Well I can solve this one! It is a lovely five petaled California brass flower with nice tendrils and interesting markings on the petals, with a lovely blue glass center. Please feel free to consult me whenever you are stumped!

I am so grateful for everyone's help on this mystery.

Leaves

It's winter most places now - I mean, real winter with snow and cold - but here it's more like late fall. The liquid-amber trees are starting to lose their leaves, making beautiful red and yellow carpets everywhere.

Spring Man

Hans worries about the monsters in his neighborhood (see his blog of December 15 at http://hansroenau.blogspot.com/) and I had reason to worry too when I walked on a certain San Anselmo street. I got away as quick as I could, though not before I captured his image for you. Be careful if you walk there; he could spring after you without warning; even though he is restrained, the restraints don't look very strong.

Several people offered an ID for the flower yesterday, but there seems to still be some uncertainty since there were several scientific names offered:

It's a blue-eyed coppernicus! Very rare in California.
It's an azure-eyed copperwireus. I thought everyone knew that flower. Glad to help!
Could it be a Metalicas Meanderus?

Looks like a hand-made metal flower of the can do better variety.
See the big eye in the middle--it is what we call an alien flower.

I guess I'll have to go with the person who offered to have her Master Gardener friend look at it (even though two MGs were stumped already)!

Unidentified flower

On a walk in a new (to me) neighborhood, I spotted this garden full of many plants and flowers, including this unusual one. When I asked Master Gardeners Katie and Susan what is was, they just threw up their hands! A mystery.

Nothing

Oh, I forgot one more cruise photo that I just must show you. At dinner one night our two older granddaughters Nina and Marissa replied to the waiter that they wanted nothing for dessert. And that's what they got: Nothing!

Sunrise

One last photo from the Birthday Cruise - a sunrise. Again, no fiddling with the picture, except to lighten it a bit, since photos on this blog appear darkr than the original. After this we'll get back to other things.

One hour later

As promised, here's the sunset one hour after yesterday's photo. And no, I did nothing to it!

Cabo sunset

On this trip the skies were gorgeous most of the time; sunrises and sunsets alike were almost too spectacular to believe. A while after we left Cabo San Lucas, this was the view at 3:45 pm. Tomorrow I'll show you the same sky an hour later; you'll think I doctored it!.

Rusty

In Mazatlan we saw another interesting boat, this one a working fishing boat. It's quite colorful but mainly because of the rust. I pray they are not at sea when the bailing starts!

Bright colored houses

Many houses in Mazatlan, as in much of Mexico, are brightly colored.

What a way to make a living!

Acapulco isn't the only Mexican city with divers. In Mazatlan, we waited and waited for this diver to actually do the deed. I don't whether he was waiting for the right waves to fill his landing spot, or he was working his courage up. From our vantage point it looked like a foolhardy act. BUT - he did it and didn't hit any rocks. Whew!

Man in a boat

Shortly after we arrived in Mazatlan around 6 AM, I noticed this boat coming across the bay, to cross in front of our moored ship. The man in the back was rapidly leaning down and up, as if he were rowing - but the boat had a motor that was obviously working. So what was he doing? As the boat came closer I could see that he was bailing water as fast as he could. In the photo you can see the water and the bucket. Too bad it's not a movie!

Leaving Puerto Vallarta

We left Puerto Vallarta in the early evening just as we did in Los Angeles, but it was clear not foggy. And there were a couple of big lights to shine across the water.

Market

Near the pier wherever a cruise ship docks there is an open air market, all the shops selling similar items, either clothing or jewelry. Puerto Vallarta is no exception - here's the biggest, most colorful shop.

Birthday people

On our third night on the cruise, we had the big birthday dinner for Dick and Celeste. And here they are, looking lovely in their candle tiaras. Celeste was kind enough to let me have this photo from her camera (have to give proper credit, you know!).

Looong hallway

The Sapphire Princess is a pretty big cruise ship, almost 1,000 feet long. Our cabin was not far from the bow of the ship and the dining rooms were way aft; so we got our exercise just walking back and forth to meals. This is the hallway stretching aft to apparent infinity!

Land Ho!

Our first sight of land was Cabo San Lucas but we didn't stop there at this time; we continued on down the coast to Puerto Vallarta. Cabo was our last stop on the way back to LA.

First sunrise

The first morning of our cruise we woke up as the sun rose and the sky was full of clouds, yielding this scene of the sun trying to peek through.

Happy Birthday

We got to our stateroom and unpacked. When we came out to explore the ship, the Birthday Fairy (Celeste and family) had been there and decorated our doorway for Dick's birthday. They were very quiet - we heard nothing! All of this remained there for the whole voyage; I'm sure a lot of people used it as a landmark to find their own cabins.

Foggy sailing

Our wonderful family birthday cruise last week was on the Sapphire Princess from Los Angeles to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas and back to LA. It was quite foggy as the ship sailed in the early evening on November 22 (Dick's 80th and Celeste's 50th birthday). Fog horns blared and the shore lights reflected eerily in the water.

Sunrise

The sky was beautiful last Thursday over Corte Madera Creek. This cloud photo is especially for my great-nephew Kirk who is a cloud aficionado.

Our whole family is going on a cruise to celebrate my husband Dick's 80th birthday and his daughter's 50th; she was born on his birthday 50 years ago. So this will be my last photo until November 30. I hope you won't suffer too many withdrawal pangs!

Mt. Tamalpais

Marin County's Mt. Tam is about 2500 feet but in the fog looks much more imposing!

Propeller

The City of San Francisco has a lot of public art and I've shown you some of it in the past. I walked past this one at 100 Spear Street on Tuesday. A mystery - I walked all around it and could not find a plaque explaining it, although there must be one somewhere. But by Googling 'propeller 100 Spear', I found the answer: it is a 36,000-pound brass screw (propeller) from a World War II tanker. It's big, shiny and beautiful - awe-inspiring.

Harlot

If this is what you're looking for, this might be a good place to start - in San Francisco. Salt House is mundane though - a restaurant; the button is probably for delivery.

PS - Ever curious, I looked up Harlot - s/he/it is not in the SF phone book. But Google knows, and if you want to know too, go here: http://www.harlotsf.com/

Nine geese

These Canada Geese were just nine of many on Corte Madera Creek the other day. I hope they are just passing through!

Tree tire

I wonder what the story is here, don't you? All I can say is - I know that tire is durable and isn't going to degrade any time soon because it's already been there a long time; the tree is no sapling!

The tree and its tire are along the Corte Madera Creek bike path near the Buddha(s). That's the creek in the background.

Sunrise on the bike path

Last Thursday, after the moonset came the sunrise along the Corte Madera bike path.

Moon-set

Yesterday's photo was of the moon-rise on Thursday evening; here is the moon-set Thursday morning. I know! - I have the sequence reversed! Oh well, this one happened first in the morning and the other was in the evening.

Moon-rise

Last night's moon rose big and orange as seen from our second floor balcony. It's coming up over the Richmond hills and the reflection is in San Pablo Bay. One of these days I'll be ready with a tripod and get a clearer photo!

Sconce

This graceful sconce is one of a pair that adorned either side of our meeting room door in the Holiday Inn Express last week end.

Shaggy mane

Tuesday morning on the Bear Valley Trail, Hans, Craig & I spotted this mushroom that none of us had ever seen before; it's about 5 inches tall. Hans researched it and it's almost certainly a shaggy mane mushroom. The shaggy mane is an delicious edible variety but still - I wouldn't bet my life on it by eating this one!! But for those of you brave enough, here are some recipes using it: http://www.mssf.org/cookbook/shaggymane.html

Fountain

This fountain made of three jars or ewers is in front of our hotel in El Dorado Hills. I always find it fascinating - understated and beautiful.

New tree

The spirit of plants is indomitable! This clump of trees was roughly cut to facilitate re-construction of the Physical Education Building at the College of Marin. But - this tree hasn't given up; it's sending up a beautiful fresh shoot to create a new tree.

My next photo will be on Tuesday November 11. I'm going to Carol Ritberger's weekend class on Destiny vs. Fate - in Eldorado Hills

Grebe

Thursday morning Corte Madera Creek was filled with birds: ducks, geese, avocets and one lone grebe.

Yesterday's salamander is probably a Rough-skinned Newt; thanks to Master Gardener Katie M. for this info. Newts are members of the salamander family but identifying it as a newt is more accurate. For more info see http://www.californiaherps.com/salamanders/pages/t.granulosa.html

Wild animal

Well, maybe not so wild . . . but definitely an animal. Tuesday morning about 9:30 a salamander lay sunning on the Bear Valley Trail. I could see him/her breathing but he hadn't warmed up enough to run away as I walked all around him and took this close-up photo.

Grass

All the grass and leaves along Bear Valley Trail were dripping with water on Tuesday morning. Here's some grass with drops on the end - the drops would have been bigger if I hadn't bumped the grass a bit! Darn!

Dogwood

Dogwood leaves in the rain. Yes, I did get a little wet.

Spider web

A dew-spangled spider web with no spider in sight is beside the Bear Valley Trail in Marin County, California. Note the three water drops in the center of the web.