Happy Halloween!

Pierre and I carved jack-o-lanterns for Halloween.  It seemed pretty festive and, if we carve them tonight, they should still be fresh and sassy for Halloween.  I used a paring knife to carve the holes and an old teaspoon to scrape out the seeds.  Pierre had some really cool micro-saw like tools that he uses for pottery.  I think they both worked out just fine!  Here are the results.

The Pumpkins, pre-carving.

Arnold's pumpkin, the one toothed wonder!

 

 Pierre's pumpkin, with the shy pumpkin grin.

 

 The finished Jack-o-lanterns in all their glory.  A little candlelight made them look positively scary (boo!).



Dendrobium victoria reginae

Dendrobium victoria reginae, hails from the mountains of the Philippines where it grows at about 4000 to 8000 feet.

Masdevallia macrura

Masdevallia macrura.  These hefty Masdevallias are found in Columbia and Ecuador from around 6000 to 8000 ft. elevation where they grow on mossy rocks.

Cattleya guttata

Cattleya guttata.  This clone resulted from the selfing of a coerulea type.  This species is native to low coastal dune habitat in Brazil.  At just under 3 feet tall, this is a first bloom seedling; they can grow upwards of 5 feet tall.  They pass along the glossy sheen and the upright multi-floral habit to their offspring.

Orchids from the Sunroom: Masdevallia princeps

Masdevallia princeps.  These little beauties are native to Peru.

San Diego County Orchid Society Fall Show AOS Awards

Lc Little Irene 'Lise' AM/AOS 80pts

Onc Alosuka 'Claire' AM/AOS 80pts

Phal Malibu Bistro 'Richard Waugh' HCC/AOS 76 pts

Guarianthe bowringiana

Guarianthe bowringiana blooming in the Sunroom.  This easy growing bifoliate forms specimen sized clumps with huge heads of flowers.  These are native to Belize and Guatemala.

Fall Color

A bit of color to brighten up your Fall Season.

Cycnoches herrenhusanum

Cycnoches herrenhusanum blooming in the sunroom.  This species is native to Columbia and Ecuador.

Scott Lost, Cartoon Artist

Scott Lost (a.k.a. Scott Epperson), former Pro wrestler, and now accomplished cartoon artist, displaying one of his first published works, Johnny Wrestling "Man of a Million Holds", at Comic Fest.

Jorge Pacheco at San Diego Comic Fest

Jorge Pacheco, one of the amazingly talented artists and comic book illustrators at the San Diego Comic Fest.  The San Diego Comic Fest was started by the founders of Comic Con, to refocus on comic book art and illustration.  His portfolio included my favorite Looney tune characters, Scooby Doo and many more!

Camp Pendleton Fire

The Camp Pendleton Fire as seen from Mission Valley.  It reached around 1,500 acres.  I'm glad it didn't head South.

San Diego International Orchid Fair Awards

 

AOS Awards granted at today's judging at the San Diego International Orchid Fair at the San Diego Botanic Gardens.



(Blc Lois McNeil X C Valentine) 'Kathleen' HCC/AOS  

Cycnodes Richard Fulford 'Tyrone' HCC/AOS  

Lc Little Marmaid 'Lise' AM/AOS



Stanhopea florida

Stanhopea florida, in bloom in the back yard.

American Orchid Society San Diego Judging Awards for October 1, 2013

Cattleya Landate 'Feuerbach' AM/AOS, 81 points, owned by Renate Schmidt

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).

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?

Anna's Hummingbird

Anna's Hummingbird on the apricot tree in the back yard.  This one is keeping an eye on both me and on the feeder.

Stanhopea shuttleworthii

Stanhopea shuttleworthii growing on the North side of the house under shade cloth.

Epidendrum raniferum 'Arnie'

Epidendrum raniferum 'Arnie'.  Note that the canes rebloom each year from the apex.  These get big, this particular plant current being around 4-5 feet tall.

Giant Leaf-Tailed Gecko, Uroplatus fimbriatus

Giant Leaf-Tailed Gecko, Uroplatus fimbriatus, hiding in a small crevice.  These nocturnal, well camouflaged lizards are native to Madagascar, where they rely of their bark-like skin to hide them during the day.

Big Hair!

These ladies were showing off some seriously BIG HAIR.

Baja California Treefrog, Pseudacris hypochondriaca

Baja California Treefrog, Pseudacris hypochondriaca on my Bifrenaria (orchid).  These little guys are doing just fine in my back yard.

The Qualcomm Contingent at San Diego Pride 2013

The Qualcomm contingent at San Diego Pride 2013.  There were over 250 company participants including the CEO and his wife, showing the company commitment to diversity.