Flower Hat Jelly, Olindias formosa

Flower Hat Jelly, Olindias formosa, at the Osaka Aquarium. These little jewels are native to Southern Japan where they live mainly on fish. They pack a nice little sting, as you would imagine.

Phragmipedium Grande

Phragmipedium Grande, (Phragmipedium longifolium x caudatum), Southland Orchid Show.

Tis the Season for Western Bluebirds and Boughs of Holly

Western Bluebird, Sialia mexicana, hopping off of a bunch of holly after a brief meal of holly berries. Western bluebirds are quite fond of berries, thus helping to spread the sticky holly berry seeds from tree to tree.

Magnolia 'Little Gem'

Magnolia hybrid, likely Magnolia 'Little Gem,' in bloom at the Huntington Botanical Gardens. I have loved Magnolias since I first saw the double rows of them in bloom along University Avenue in Palo Alto, California. Their flowers are positively huge with a stiff leathery texture contrasted by their pristine white color and plastic-like stamens. These are particularly striking with their hot pink centers.

Apparently, ancient Magnolias evolved more than 20 million years ago, before bees became a major pollinator. Thus, the Magnolia evolved to be pollinated by beetles, including the heavy, leathery segments (tepals) that prevented significant beetle damage. You may see similarly tough flower segments among water lilies which are also pollinated by beetles.

Mormodes Exotic Treat 'SVO' AM/AOS

Mormodes Exotic Treat 'SVO' AM/AOS, 85 pts, was just awarded in October at the Southland Orchid Show. Mormodes are native to South America and are known for their gracefully twisting segments and exotic coloration.

American Orchid Society San Diego Judging Center November Awards

Wilsonara Tiger's Answer 'Ushi' HCC/AOS displayed by Helmut Rohrl.

Just a Little Squirrely

Western Grey Squirrel or California Grey Squirrel, Sciurus griseus, hunting around for scraps and stray acorns. As opposed to the familiar California ground squirrel found in burrows along the coastal scrub, these squirrels live in trees (arboreal) up in the coastal mountain ranges (from Washington through California). Some get quite large and are quite inquisitive, chittering at you from the trees. This one came down from the tree to get a closer look at me.

Acorn Woodpecker in the Act

Acorn Woodpecker, Melanerpes formicivorus, stashing and guarding acorns on an old oak "grainerie" (acorn tree). The woodpeckers drill holes in the bark of the tree and insert acorns into the holes in storage for the Winter. They will guard the granerie from would-be thieves such as jays. These little birds nest in hollowed out cavities in dead trees although they have been known to use telephone poles, houses and other sources of dead wood.

A Favorite with the (Painted) Ladies

Painted Lady Butterfy, Vanessa cardui, on unknown blooming tree. I kid you not, this tree was covered with Painted Lady Butterflies. I have never, ever seen so many Painted Ladies as covered this huge, fragrant, blooming tree. I chatted with the owner but completely forgot to ask what kind of tree it was. I, of course, was very much enjoying shooting pictures of all the butterflies.

The Reddest of the Encyclias: Encyclia atrorubens

Encyclia atrorubens. These like to grow dry and warm. The color comes through in hybrids as, unfortunately, does the pinched lip.

Huntleya burtii

Huntleya burtii; this glossy, spectacular flower is native to the cloud forests of Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Peru where it grows epiphytically on the trunks of trees.

Oaks Showing Fall Colors

Oaks showing some nice yellow tones for the Fall Season and Halloween. With the sun shining through and illuminating the colors, I just couldn't pass up a quick picture. Wishing you all a safe and happy Halloween and a great Fall Season!

Laelia anceps 'Rustic Canyon' HCC/AOS

Laelia anceps 'Rustic Canyon' HCC/AOS, blooming now. It's fall and the Laelia anceps are blooming. The ones grown in a lot of sun bloom a little earlier than those bloomed in shade. If you want to spread out the season, just grow some cooler and some warmer! This is one of the modern cross-varietal anceps with decent sized, bright flowers.

Wilsonara Aloha Sparks 'Edna Flame'

Wilsonara Aloha Sparks 'Edna Flame' blooming in the kitchen!

Flaming Pachyderm

Flaming Pachyderm! At least that's what I see. It's kind of a rorschach test on the fly. What do you see?

Fire display from simulated battle conditions at Miramar MCAS.

Military Skydiver

Military Skydiver with flag at MCAS Miramar.

Jet Car Versus AT-6 Wardog

A race between the AT-6 "Wardog", a WWII Advanced (Military) Trainer piloted by John A. Collver, and Smoke-n-Thunder, a jet car that shoots 20 foot flames and has a top speed of up to 400 mph, driven by driver Bill Braack.

Viewing the Blue Angels from Above

Blue Angels in 6 member formation, screeching upwards and giving the audience an awesome top view shot of the formation. It was roasting hot at the airshow but the Blue Angels were totally worth the wait! Of course, I had a HUGE smoothie when I returned home.

F-22 Raptor Stealth Fighter

F-22 Raptor Stealth Fighter, at the Miramar Airshow, flighing straight up. They are quiet, incredibly maneuverable, and can seemingly hover in mid-air!

Blue Angels

Blue Angels, at the Miramar Airshow, completing a loop in unison. Miramar is famous for having been the flight training school in Top Gun.

Greater Flamingos in the South of France

Greater Flamingos, Phoenicopterus roseus, at La Camargue in the Bouche de Rhone region of France. These wild flamingos were feeding in a lake at the Camargue Bird Park. However, they range throughout the Mediterannean and down through Africa. They can also be seen along the coast of Marseille, sifting for food in calm bays. These flamingos are a little whiter in color than the Carribean Flamingos typically seen in the zoos. However, when they fly, the underwing is a wonderful, bright pink.

Bullfrog

Bullfrog in the lily pond with minnows getting perilously close.

Cactus graffiti

Cactus Graffiti. An old Opuntia that someone carved their love into. It appears to read: Nic & A.M. I hope their love lasts longer then that cactus pad will and is not nearly as prickly...

Windowsill in Vacluse, France

Windowsill in Vacluse, France, near the Fontaine de Vacluse. If you look closely, you can see the faded remnant of fern and floral patterns on the painted walls. Each apartment had an ornamental pot with plant to accent their sill.

Christ Illuminated

A painting of Christ, being lowered from the crucifix, illuminated by the morning sun at a church in Vacluse, France.

Calla Lily

Calla Lily, Saint Chamas, France.

Fall is Orchid Show Season

Cattleya Orchidom's leopard x Lc Loog Tone 'African Queen'. Fall is the season for orchid shows (as is Spring...). While some come for the amazing plants on display, a lot of orchid growers show up to hob nob with orchid vendors and buy a few plants, sometimes from vendors from exotic locations such as Ecuador and Brazil. This lovely orchid was purchased from Billy Baker at the San Diego Botanical Gardens Orchid Show.

Cattleya (Guarianthe) bowringina

Cattleya (now Guarianthe) bowringiana blooming in the sun room. These large lithophytic orchids are native to Belize and Guatemala where they grow near streams up at around 500 through 3000 ft. They are easy growing tolerant plants that will clump into large specimens fairly easily. As opposed to Cattleyas such as aclandiae or walkeriana which are not at all fond of wet feet, these will tolerate damp potting media, probably due to their lithophytic origin. I've always loved the diamond dust sparkle on these flowers when seen in the sun as well as the sizeable clumps of flowers.

Aerangis luteo-alba

Aerangis luteo-alba var. rhodosticta. This tiny epiphyte grows on twigs in riverine valleys in the Central African Republic, Cameroon, Congo, Zaire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda

KGB-FM Skyshow at Qualcomm Stadium

KGB-FM Skyshow at Qualcomm Stadium, viewed from the back patio.

Prosthechea radiata 'Pam's Delight' HCC/AOS

Rlc Toshie's Magic HCC/AOS

American Orchid Society San Diego October Judging Awards

Dendrobium Hibiki 'Sandra's Delight' CCE/AOS

Dendrobium Hibiki 'Sandra's Delight' FCC/AOS

Dendrochilum magnum 'Arnie' FCC/AOS

Dendrchilum magnum 'Arnie' CCM/AOS

Mtssa Aztec 'Uschi' HCC/AOS

Pacific Tree Frog, Pseudacris regilla

Pacific Tree Frog, Pseudacris regilla, cruising through the greenery in the back yard. Apparently, even the tiny bit of water in bromeliad cups is enough for these guys to survive.

Gould's Bubble Shell

Gould's Bubble Shell, Bulla gouldiana, plowing through the soft, muddy sand looking for food at low tide. Note also the slipper shells (Crepidula onyx) hitching a ride. Unlike many seashells, Bulla gouldiana cannot fully withdraw into its shell, depending on burrowing under the soft, silty sand for protection from would-be predators. These shells are quite fragile and very susceptible to crushing and bleaching, the shells being thinner than an egg shell (hence the name bubble shell). However, the quiet tidal waters were full of ones in near perfect condition that had been cleaned out by the scalpel sharp teeth of small crustaceans, needing no work whatsoever and harming nothing in the process.

An Orchid That Smells like Chocolate Mint!

Stanhopea occulata, blooming in the back yard. This somewhat variable orchid species is named for the red eye-like spots that cover the flowers. I can alway tell when there's an occulata blooming as there is a powerful chocolate-mint fragrance that carries a good 20 feet. The pendent flowers sometimes get caught in other baskets or in the growing media as they attempt to burrow down to hang below the plant (in nature, below the branch that they are growing on). This one was stuck in another basket. I would have never even known it was in bloom had that powerful chocolate-mint fragrance not alerted me to the blossoms. I feel kind of like an orchid sniffer dog...

Spotted Spreadwing, Lestes congener

Spotted Spreadwing, Lestes congener, resting on a banana leaf in the back yard. These little carnivores live near still water and, not being especially strong fliers, are often found resting on nearby foliage.

Anna's Hummingbird

Anna's Hummingbird, Calypte anna, resting on my apricot tree.

Western Meadowhawk Dragonfly

Western Meadowhawk Dragonfly, Sympetrum occidentale, drying off its wings before taking flight.

Orb Weaver Spider

Orb Weaver Spider, possibly Neoscona crucifera, devouring a wasp. I was wondering how the orb weaver catches the wasp without getting stung or bitten. It appears that it waits for the wasp to fully entangle itself in its web and then get exhausted trying to break free. Once the prey is too tired to fight back, the spider comes in and casually wraps it in silk before the prey rests enough to resume the struggle. What a way to go, eh?

Maneki Neko Cats

Maneki Neko Cats crafted by the Seto Kiln in Japan. These are on display at the Mingei Museum. These Maneki Neko were modeled after tricolor Japanese bobcats. Today, many people collect Neko cats as a symbol of financial good fortune.

Peter Cottontail

Cottontail Rabbit. These are the most common rabbit species in San Diego. They breed between December and June. In that 6 month timeframe, a mother rabbit can have between 2 and 4 litters of 1-6 young per litter! I guess the old phrase, breeding like rabbits, was well earned. This happy little rabbit was relaxing at the San Diego Botanic Gardens.

Dracula cordobae

Dracula cordobae blooming in the arboretum at the Huntington Botanical Gardens. These are from wet, Ecuadorian cloud forests at around 3000 feet.

Dendrochilum kopfii

Dendochilum kopfii. This lovely orange Dendrochilum species is blooming in the greenhouse. It tends to grow a little cooler and a bit slower than many of my other Philippine Dendrochilums but it makes up for it by being quite striking.

Tweety Bird Bubble

Tweety Bird Bubble. A guy was creating gigantic bubbles with two large ropes on a stick in the light breeze at Coronado Island. This one looked kind of like tweety bird.