Basking in the Sun

Basking in the sun on a nice, soft armchair. Food, sun and cushy armchairs...what more can you ask for?

Hooded Oriole

Male Hooded Oriole, Icterus cucullatus, from the pair that nests in the back yard under the banana tree leaves. Spring is here...

Mourning Dove

Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura, lounging on my railing. They're noisy, they're messy...but they are admittedly kind of cute.

Finals Are Almost Final

I'm down to the last class (tomorrow) in the last year of law school. It's kind of sad to see everybody go but it is also a relief to be finishing things up. Meanwhile, the weather has warmed up again, just in time to taunt you from outside the classroom windows. Oh wait, we were in the basement, weren't we? At least the long walk from the parking garage to class was just a bit cheerier.

Puffed Out to Stay Warm...

Western Scrub Jay, Aphelecoma californica, puffed out to stay warm in a cool coastal breeze.

Taro

Taro, Colocasia species, on a rainy day at the Hoomaluhia Botanical Gardens.

Up Close

Close-up of the Daisies at USD. Easy to grow, always in bloom and a riot of colors! What more could you ask for?

Spring Daisies at USD

Spring Daisies at USD

The Immaculata

Peace and silence at the Immaculata Church at USD on the Saturday before Palm Sunday. Note palm fronds. This was a long exposure as the church was dark at the time.

Immaculata Church

Virgin Mary Statue above the entrance to the Immaculata Church at USD. Alas she had a broken thumb which just seemed so unseemly that I edited in a new thumb in for her.

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias, sunning on the rocks in Mission Bay. He was keeping a keen eye on me but otherwise did not budge an inch.

Tiptoe through the Daisies

Crown daisies (Chrysanthemum coronarium) in bloom along the Mission River.

Tree-Face

Just for fun!

Carl Durant's Big Debut

Carl Durant and his band debut their new album, Last Place, at LeStat's last night.

U4BA (get it?!)

Euphorbia characias(?) blooming in the back yard. Note that the female part of the flower in the center is separated from the male parts of the flower on stalks (sorry, still in closed bud). This is likely to discourage self-pollination.

California Pond Turtle

California Pond Turtle (or Northern Pond Turtle), Actinemys marmorata marmorata. Found from San Francisco north through British Columbia. They survive Summer dry spells by estivating in the mud (like hibernating but during the Summer...).

Starfish on the Prowl

Starfish cruising among a colony of mussels.

Masdevallia ignea

Masdevallia ignea. These glowing little orchids are from the Columbian rainforest at around 10,000 ft. They tend to grow on the cool side and need good water.

Five Spot

Five Spot, Nemophila, blooming in the back yard. This native wildflower grows well in partly shaded areas after the Winter rains.

Stanhopea impressa

Stanhopea impressa. These are from Columbia and Ecuador at 1000-6000 ft.

University of San Diego Sunset

University of San Diego Sunset. One small benefit of working during the day and going to school at night is the occasional, gorgeous sunset.