Saxicola rubicola
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limuw
After all these years of living nearby, I finally paid a visit to Santa Cruz Island (limuw) with the Channel Islands Nature Journalers. I was keen to spot the extremely cute, iconic Island Fox, and was not disappointed. Urocyon littoralis is a small fox species that is endemic to six of the eight Channel Islands of California, with a unique sub-species occupying each island. They are generally docile, show little fear of humans, and have figured out how to open backpacks to get at your sandwiches.
It was a lovely day spent with like-minded, happy folks. Thanks to Karen and Jeyla for organising the trip.
shakkei
Some days I forget to relish the view. Today I feel double gratitude, for the place that I live and for the partner who likes to sculpt a little surprise and delight.
Solanum lycopersicum
I’d never noticed that a tomato’s seeds were arranged radially inside the fruit.
Tomato seeds are remarkably resilient, surviving the heat of the compost bin and the acids of the mammalian digestive tract. Every time I spread compost on my garden, tomato seedlings pop up, and I’m happy to let these volunteers grow*. Given the competition from other hungry critters, I usually pick the fruit at first blush and ripen it indoors.
*Squash/pumpkin seedlings, on the other hand, are plucked at first sight. I don’t have room for their sprawl.
Poecile atricapillus
Charcoal and graphite. From a class with Maggie Hurley.
Platanus racemosa
just a little bite
Oenothera elata
Oenothera elata (Tall/Hooker’s/Hairy/Western/Marsh Evening Primrose) is a tall biennial native to much of western and central North America, with one or more upright stems bearing a profusion of large bright yellow flowers, 3 in (7 cm) across. I was intrigued to see a bee burrowing deep into the flower’s throat, rather than gathering pollen from the prominent stamens and pistil.
for sister
My sister and I invented Sisters Day a long time ago; we picked a date that was far from any other family commemoration, September 17. Little did we know that both our parents would die in the week prior to our special day, making this time of year a little more somber than celebratory. We considered changing the date, but decided to keep it, in light of the fact that on this day we are extra glad to still have each other.
Happy Sisters Day, Nettie. Can’t wait to see you again in November.
hashiworks 