Porcelain Wall Art

The artist, Pierre Bounaud, with his Porcelain Saggar piece at the Kellogg Gallery at Cal Poly Pomona.

Anna's Hummingbird

Anna's Hummingbird, perched on my apricot tree.  I never tire of watching these guys.  This one is keeping a wary eye on the feeder.

Classroom, Laboratory and Administration building at Cal Poly Pomona

Classroom, Laboratory and Administration building at Cal Poly Pomona.  This triangular building is totally distinctive, particularly in the setting sun.  It was designed by Antoine Predock and built in 1993.  Sadly, this building sits on the San Jose Hills Fault and was not built to California Earthquake Safety Standards.  It is currently targeted for demolition.

San Diego Panorama

San Diego Panorama, shot from Coronado.  Click on the picture to see a larger version.

Setting Sun Over San Diego Harbor

Setting sun over San Diego Harbor, a lone seagull flying past one of the air craft carriers.

Seagull Beats the Heat

Seagull resting atop a shallow fountain, in the form of a whale's tail, to keep cool on a warm Summer's day.

Praying Mantis Eye to Eye

Praying Mantis, most likely a male Stagmomantis limbata or perhaps a Stagmomantis californica, giving me the look over.  I suspect he had a run in with the local Orb Weavers, as his right front leg (viewer's left) seems to show a little big of web residue.  The male S. limbata are attracted to lights and are a bit skinnier.  The females apparently do not fly.  This picture reminds me of some of the critters in the Sci-Fi movies.  You can almost imagine that him holding a cup in one hand, chatting on a bar stool (name that movie!).

The Orb Weavers Are Back

An Orb Weaver Spider, Neoscona crucifera, fixing its web in preparation for a busy night of activity.  These tend to be most prevalent in the hot days of late Summer as they spin their webs off of low hanging branches, overhangs and decks.

Chinese Moon Festival and Mooncakes

 

Mooncakes (Lotus seed with double yolks!).  Mooncakes (yuè bĭng) are a traditional Asian treat for the Asian Lunar Mid-Autumn Festival, a.k.a, the Moon Festival.  The Moon Festival is one the 15th day of the eighth month in the Asian Lunar Calendar which coincides with the full moon.  This typically translates into somewhere between mid-September and early October.  This year, the Moon Festival is on September 19th.  The moon cakes are typically only made just prior to the moon festival and, along with a host of other treats such as candied fruits and vegetables and sweet nut bars, are eaten to celebrate the festival (and traditionally, the fall harvest).  It was also a time for the children to visit and honor their parents and grandparents, sometimes by pouring tea for the elders.  In today's non-agrarian society, the festival remains an Asian holiday and, for the rest of us, an opportunity to enjoy some of the seasonal treats and a nice excuse for a little celebration.

September American Orchid Society Judging

Dracula gorgona variety Xanthina 'Windflower' HCC/AOS, 79 points

Hibiscus

A hybrid Hibiscus, a member of the Mallow family.  These always remind me of home...

Red Saddleback Anemonefish - Amphiprion ephippium

Red Saddleback Anemonefish - Amphiprion ephippium - guarding a large anemone.  The anemone protects the anemonefish with its stinging tentacles and the fish, in return, has been known to both pugnaciously guard and occasionally feed the anemone.

Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus

The Weedy Seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus, is a native of the Southern Australian Coast and Tasmania.  Their seaweed-like camouflage helps hide them from hungry fish.  As with their seahorse relatives, they live on small crustaceans and invertebrates that they suck in through their straw-like mouths. The long mouths enable them to find food in tiny crevices in the reef.  As opposed to the seahorses, the Weedy Seadragon's tail is not prehensile (i.e., it is not used to curl around seaweed and other objects to anchor it).