Puppies for Adoption

Looking for a good home, even a foster home, willing to offer boundless love and affection.  Ask for me at http://www.fuzzyfeetdogrescue.org.

Fuzzy Feet Dog Rescue brought a whole group of puppies to Petsmart today.  They were really cute and incredibly friendly.  It was tough getting out of the store without adopting another dog...  Dogs have an amazing knack for worming their way into your heart.  It's hard to not to love them, even when they're naughty.  You would think that dogs and people are pre-programmed to love each other.

Bad Hair Day (Black-Crowned Night Heron)

Black-Crowned Night Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax, having a bad hair day.  Ever get out of bed and just not want to do anything about that mop of hair?  I guess Herons get those days too.  ;-P

Perseid Meteor Shower

Long Exposure of the night sky during the Perseid meteor shower.  If you look carefully, you will see three light trails in the photo.  Also of interest, you can see the glow of San Diego lighting up the horizon, highlighting the tremendous amount of light and power that emanates from San Diego (or from any big city for that matter).  I suspect that the glow is further heightened due to the marine layer and smog/particulates scattering the city light over the horizon.

Love is Love

Speckled Mousebirds, Colius striatus, looking on longingly. Bars will not keep us apart!  Kind of makes you want to let them in together, doesn't it?  Poor little lovesick birds...

Allen's Hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin

Allen's Hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin, visiting the feeder in my back yard.  The vast majority of the hummingbirds in my neighborhood are Anna's Hummingbirds.  However, this year a pair of Allen's moved in and occasionally show up at the feeder.  By putting out two feeders, it appears that the hummingbirds are actually sharing the feeders (for the first time ever), particularly first thing in the morning and in the evening just before the sun sets.  Allen's Hummingbirds are normally found North of Santa Barbara.  However, there is a colony in the Channel Islands and another in Los Angeles.  The Allen's hummingbirds in the back yard could be part of the migratory population on it's way to/from central Mexico or it could be an offshoot from the Los Angeles population.  Either way, they are a welcome sight at the feeder.

Anguloa eburnea 'Arnie' AM/AOS

Anguloa eburnea 'Arnie' AM/AOS, just awarded last Saturday.  These are wonderfully fragrant, reminding some of anise and grow outdoors in Southern California.  In nature, they are found at around 5000-7500 feet on open slopes in Columbia, Ecuador and Peru.

Hoya pubicalyx

Hoya pubicalyx blooming on the back porch.  These lovely Hoyas will grow outdoors in Southern California and have wonderful, waxy deep green leaves with silver flecks.  The flowers are waxy but covered in tiny silver hairs that give off a glossy sheen.  This one was a gift from one of my orchid friends.

Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis

Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis, perched on dried lotus leaf.  This California dragonfly favors still ponds where it is often seen with the wings pitched forward, primed to sweep its wings backward to launch the Dasher upward into the air for a hasty escape.

Just One Kiss...

Bullfrog on lily pad.

Mystery Photo of the Day

I thought the patterns and the texture were really cool.  What is it?