For the third year in a row, a hummingbird has nested in our yard then failed to raise a brood. We’ve had the wildlife camera on this nest for several days, but the mama has not been back. Two little unfed puffballs rest in peace.
r.i.p.
Month: April 2024
partial eclipse
birthday book
Looking forward to getting my hands dirty with this one.
Eriodictyon crassifolium
Yerba santa (“holy herb”) is a hairy perennial shrub that‘s found in chaparral and coastal sage scrub, most often at higher elevations. The very aromatic leaves are lance-ovate to oval, 5 to 15 cm (2 to 6 inches) long, with a scalloped margin. Soft woolly hairs grow on both sides. In traditional medicine, it has been used to treat respiratory infections. I don’t often hike in the highest parts of the Santa Monica Mountains, so it was a treat to get up there and encounter this plant growing in profusion along the trail yesterday.
for Pete
For my brother, who loves to eat fresh fruit. Unfortunately, he’s been experiencing the rough end of the pineapple lately. Hope things improve for you soon, Pete!
David
This week in life drawing, we concentrated on shadow shapes. I was struggling with my full body sketch so decided to focus on the model’s head.
week 14
This week in the PerpJo.
seen in malibu
I actually don’t mind doing laundry, so I guess I can risk parking here 😂
Sisyrinchium bellum
Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium bellum) is a perennial herb in the iris family, native to Oregon, California and parts of Baja California. It’s usually found in open places where there is some moisture, particularly grassy areas. It can also be found in woodlands and at altitudes up to 2,400m. It produces its pretty blue/purple flowers in spring and summer, peaking in April.
The Ohlone used an infusion of the roots and leaves as a cure for indigestion and stomach pain, and similar uses are recorded from other Native American peoples. It’s nice to see it blooming out on the trails now.
View from above
I visited my first presidential museum today. It’s an interesting concept, and one that doesn’t arise in Australia — individual prime ministers don‘t create museums to tell the history of their term in the best possible light. I mean, who would pay for them? I doubt many PMs have enough wealthy fans to finance such an institution.
hashiworks 