Only in the spring

This grape hyacinth grows in our yard and shows itself only for a few days in the spring.

Raindrips

It rained a lot here yesterday; sometimes it poured.  Then the sun came out and revealed rain dripping from everything, including the buds of this potato vine (a decorative vine, not the kind that grows potatoes!).

Acacias

Some people dread to see all these yellow blooms popping out in our early spring; they bring on their allergies.  And others consider their many varieties a nuisance.  But for some others (if you don't have them in your yard like the eucalypti I mentioned last week), acacias can be beautiful.  

You may recognize the same scene as in my Foggy Morning photo on February 15.

Mt. Tamalpais

Our 2571-foot Mt. Tamalpais in the fog last week.

Crows

Three crows on a fence.  Crows have extensive symbolism in world culture, but here there is simplicity - just an image of three crows on a fence.

Daffodils

Kent Middle School near the College of Marin campus has bed of several varieties of daffodils.  Wait - are they daffodils, jonquils or narcissus? 

According to The Flower Expert, daffodils, the flowers symbolizing friendship, are one of the
most popular flowers exclusively due to their unmatched beauty. Often the trumpet is in a contrasting color from the background. The name Daffodils includes the cluster-flowered yellow Jonquils and the White Narcissi, as well as the more common trumpet shaped flowers; all are members of the genus Narcissus.

Foggy tree

I cannot resist winter trees in the fog!  This one is beginning to bud and that gives it a lacy look.

EAT

Some of you may have seen this sign in Taylor's Refresher in the Ferry Building in SF.  I think you could say it is their corporate philosophy.

Tall timber

Part of the Corte Madera bike path is lined with some tall timber - eucalyptus trees.

Several eucalypts are among the tallest trees in the world. Eucalyptus regnans, the Australian Mountain Ash, is the tallest of all flowering plants (Angiosperms); today, the tallest measured specimen named Centurion is over 326 feet tall. Only Coast Redwood is taller and Coast Douglas-fir about the same; they are conifers (Gymnosperm). Six other eucalypt species exceed 260 feet in height.

California. In the 1850s, Eucalyptus trees were introduced to California by Australians during the California Gold Rush. Much of California has a similar climate to parts of Australia. By the early 1900s, thousands of acres of eucalypts were planted with the encouragement of the state government. It was hoped that they would provide a renewable source of timber for construction, furniture making and railroad ties. It was soon found that for the latter purpose eucalyptus was particularly unsuitable, as the ties made from eucalyptus had a tendency to twist while drying, and the dried ties were so tough that it was nearly impossible to hammer rail spikes into them.

"They went on to note that the promise of eucalyptus in California was based on the old virgin forests of Australia. This was a mistake as the young trees being harvested in California could not compare in
quality to the centuries-old eucalyptus timber of Australia. It reacted differently to harvest. The older trees didn't split or warp as the infant California crop did. There was a vast difference between the two, and this would doom the California eucalyptus industry."

One way in which the eucalyptus, mainly the blue gum E. globulus, proved valuable in California was in providing windbreaks for highways, orange groves, and other farms in the mostly treeless central part of the state. They are also admired as shade and ornamental trees in many cities and gardens. Eucalyptus forests in California have been criticized because they compete with native plants and do not support native animals. Fire is also a problem. The 1991 Oakland Hills firestorm which destroyed almost 3,000 homes and killed 25 people was partly fueled by large numbers of eucalypts close to the houses. In some parts of California, eucalypt forests are being removed and native trees and plants restored.

Personally, I like them, but then I don't have any to clean up after or to worry about falling on my house or burning!

Who won?

David and Goliath?  Friend Bob T., the owner of the Saturn was not present when the altercation took place and came upon the scene a few minutes later.  Although the Saturn suffered some injury it seems to have stood its ground while the Lexus lost its footing and lies vanquished. In this photo you can see the sleeve of Bob T on the left, and on the right the sleeve of the Lexus driver (who was unhurt).  So who won?

All this took place in the normally peaceful parking lot where we all park our cars on Thursday mornings.

A day at the beach

Actually it's just a water puddle on a gravel road at the ponds; the blackbirds are having a ball!

Tree - no reflection

This is the same small tree that I posted recently with its reflection in water.  That photo was taken 10 days ago, after a lot of rain had made a temporary pool.  Now the pool is no more - so no reflection - just a shadow!

Food for thought

Rorschach test: is this photo upside-down or right-side up?  Or?

Yesterday on Corte Madera Creek.

Foggy morning

Foggy mornings - do we ever have anything else anymore?  Still, the fog burns off and we have a beautiful day to follow (if it doesn't rain!).

Valentine's Day heart

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Rupert Garcia's Elan Vital appropriately decorates the lobby of The Kaiser Hospital in San Francisco where heart surgery is performed.  The fiber-glass heart sculpture is 5 feet tall, 5 feet 9 inches wide and 3 feet 3 inches thick.  It was created as part of 'Hearts in San Francisco'.

Hearts in San Francisco is a Bay Area-wide "heart installation" that debuted in the spring of 2004. While similar to Chicago's "Cows on Parade," the San Francisco version uses a heart icon, appropriate for a city that is recognized for its acceptance and tolerance, as well as being perennially open-hearted. The goal of this project is to become a unique hybrid of fund-raising, compassionate community involvement, and a positive nurturing of artistic expression at a time when it is sorely needed. The financial beneficiary of Hearts in San Francisco is the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation, whose sole purpose is to fund projects that will enhance patient care and comfort at San Francisco General Hospital Medical Center (SFGH).   New hearts are added each year, including table-top hearts if you want one to decorate your own home.

Creek

There is a small creek that flows through the marshes near The Ponds (Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District Sewage Treatment Plant), known by some as the Wildlife Ponds because of the prolific birdlife.  The recent rains brought the creek near to its banks.

Permanent

When I was about 10 years old, I got a permanent on one of these machines, and it really worked: my hair is wavy to this day!

If you have never visited funky Bogey's Cafe across from the Marin Civic Center, I recommend both the food and the decor.  This poster appears in the single unisex restroom.

Reflection

Our recent rains have created little pools here and there.  This one is in a pasture and gives us the reflection of a small tree on a levee.

Out the window

My photo buddy Hans sometimes posts pictures he takes from his kitchen window, noting how much variety one can find right at home.  Yesterday he and Bob visited my husband Dick who is recuperating from heart surgery 3 weeks ago - doing very well, thank you.  Sitting at the dining table, Hans says 'Get your camera - look at this wonderful tree right outside your window'.  And so you see it here, framed just as we saw it out the window!  Thanks, Hans.

Jewels

A rain shower leaves jewels on blades of grass.

Raindrops

After a shower Toyon berries show sparkling raindrops.  This is the end of the berry series!

Pyracantha berries

In California the most common winter red berry is the Pyracantha, a member of the rose family, as is yesterday's Toyon.  Both of these plants grow on the road to The Ponds.

In spring the Pyracanthas begin an exceptional white flower display. While individual flowers are small, they typically cover the plant. Flowers are borne outside the dark evergreen foliage, so they stand out like white sparklers. Plants tend to flower even when young, and mature plants bloom very heavily as long as they are in a good site. Like several other plants of the rose family (Rosaceae), the flowers do not have a pleasant odor.

Later those thousands of small white flowers turn into brilliant orange to red pea-sized fruits. The fruit display, like the flower display, is exceptional and typically lasts until late winter when they are eaten by birds. In California we see drunken robins that have eaten the fermented berries.

Adapted from University of Arkansas Dept of Agriculture

Toyon berries

This toyon bush near The Ponds displays its brilliant berries most of the winter and it's sometimes called the Christmas Berry.  In summer it has white flowers; its leathery leaves are evergreen.

Crows

A congress of crows one foggy morning.

Sunrise

Sunrise on Corte Madera Creek with a fog bank in the distance.  You can see it in two places, just lurking.

Miss Liberty

In San Francisco, a temporary tax preparation company has set up several locations, calling themselves Liberty Tax.  And they advertise with Miss Liberty(s) dancing on nearby corners; that is, most are Miss Liberty but some seem to be Mr. Liberty!

Stilts

A couple of black necked stilts with their pink legs search for breakfast at The Ponds.

Tiffany window

These vines on a fence along Corte Madera Creek remind me of a Tiffany window.