Images

limuw

Published on by HashiLeave a comment
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.

Me at Potato Harbor overlook, Santa Cruz Island
Photo by Jeyla

Solanum lycopersicum

Published on by HashiLeave a comment
cherrytomato

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.

Oenothera elata

Published on by HashiLeave a comment
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

Published on by HashiLeave a comment
0917_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.

Heliotropium curassavicum

Published on by HashiLeave a comment
Heliotropium curassavicum

Wild heliotrope (a.k.a. seaside heliotrope, salt heliotrope, monkey tail, quail plant) is native to and widely distributed in North and South America, and has naturalized elsewhere. It is sometimes considered a weed.

In California, this perennial herb usually grows in saline or alkaline soils, often in areas near a permanent or temporary source of water. It is often found in disturbed coastal sites.