Heirloom Tomatoes at the Farmer's Market

Heirloom Tomatoes for sale at the farmer's market. Tomatoes in February is one of the benefits of living in a relatively warm, subtropical climate.

Phalaenopsis I-Hsin Sesame 'OX1178'

Phalaenopsis I-Hsin Sesame 'OX1178'. How do you know if someone has a LOT of orchids? When they given them clonal names like '0X1178' instead of things like freckles or spotted tiger, you know they have a LOT of orchids. Imagine if we started naming our kids like that? '007' could be setting a precedent!

The Immaculata

The Immaculata at University of San Diego. I figured, after all these years attending Law School at USD, I ought to snap a picture or two. Here's one of the Immaculata. Also featured is that funky, wind-blown norfolk island pine that gives it all just a bit of extra character.

Sinister Looking Old Kiawe Tree

Kiawe Tree, Prosopis pallida, Hanauma, Hawaii. It had a gnarled, twisted look that just reminded me of those old, twisted trees that attacked people in the scary movies. Or perhaps, it was just the stray mongoose that slinked up the trunk like it was his own private ramp up the cliff top. Either way, it looked like fun to snap a shot of. For you botanists out there, Kiawe is a species of mesquite that is native to Peru, Columbia and Equador, but was introduced to Hawaii as animal fodder (as was Haole Koa).

Puffing Away...

Porcupine fish, Diodon holocanthus, Hanauma Bay, Hawaii. This little fish was doing his best to stay out in front of me and just would not look into the lens. What's a diver to do?

Lesser Goldfinch

Lesser Goldfinch, Carduelis psaltria, on my persimmon tree. These have a more southerly distribution than the American Goldfinch and are particularly fond of thistle seed (actually Nyjer). They're quite gregarious and will crowd a sock full of thistle with perhaps 10 or 15 birds.

Just Like Spring

Anna's Hummingbird, Calypte anna, singing. It's like Springtime in Southern California. The peaches are blooming and the birds are starting to nest. This little hummingbird has staked out the top branch on my apricot tree.

Who was Anna anyhow? Was she a famous ornithologist? A California settler? No, she was Anna Masséna, Duchess of Rivoli. This little hummingbird was named after her by René Primevère Lesson, a French naturalist and surgeon, who served in the French navy during the Napoleonic wars.

Buckeye Butterfly

Buckeye Butterfly, Junonia coenia, Mission Trails Park. The adults are found in sunny/grassy fields and the caterpillars live on plantains.

Feels Like Spring

Aloe speciosa (or some close cousin in Asphodelaceae) blooming in the front yard. This year, probably due to the warm January and wet November/December here in Southern California, the Aloe are all blooming early. None of their flowers are quite as dramatic or as stately as the Aloe speciosa. Ironically, there are normally two Aloe speciosa blooming in the front yard each February. However, possibly because the bigger one is crowding out the smaller one, this year there was only one...but with twice the flowers as normal.

Nemo, is that you?

Percula clownfish, Amphiprion percula at the Waikiki Aquarium, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Spider Lilly in the Rain

Crinum amabile, Spider Lilly in the rain at the Ho'omaluhia Botanical Gardens in Kaneohe, Hawaii.

Prickly Pear

Prickly Pear Fruit, Makapu'u, Oahu. Do you suppose these brightly colored fruit have something to do with how the Opuntia cacti received its common name, Prickly Pear?

Boogie Board...

Boogie Board sans surfer, Makapu'u Beach.

Holy Tentacles!

Porites lobata, Coral head, Hanauma Bay, Oahu. Have you ever looked at a coral head up close? It's a wonderland community of tiny creatures. You can see the myriad of little tentacles waving in the current in this photo.

Smells Like Apricot!

Blc. Orange Digger 'Kiilani'. This lovely Cattleya has hard, waxy substance, a glossy sheen, rich orange color and, best of all, has the faintest smell of apricots and oranges.

Agave attenuata

Agave attenuata in bloom. These don't bloom very often but they make up in quatity what they don't do in frequency. The nectar is also a favorite with the birds.

Fishing for Christmas Dinner

This family was out fishing for Ulua (big Jacks) that run along the Makapu'u coast for Christmas dinner. I didn't notice them in the picture at first but when I zoomed in to the scenic shot, there they were! It's amazing how pictures reveal details that we might otherwise miss.

Taking Shelter from the Wind

Gulf Fritillary Butterfly (or Passiflora butterfly) taking shelter on the ground from strong gusty winds blowing over Makapu'u.

Happy 2011!

Wishing you all the best for 2011! Happy New Year! Goong Hee Fat Choy! Goong Hee Fa Tsai! Haouli Makahiki Hou! Bonne Annee!

O'io for dinner?

Bonefish, O'io, Albula glossodonta. O'io are fast swimming fish that live off of crabs, shrimp, small fish and crustaceans. True to their name, they're pretty bony so the locals scrape the meat off the bones and make them into seasoned fishcake patties. This nice man was willing to pose with a huge O'io (bonefish) that he had just caught with a thrownet (you need to be realy fast to catch an O'io with a thrownet so he's pretty doggone talented in my book). He said he was having O'io fishcake for dinner.

The Amazing Mr. Frog

Frogfish, Orange Frogfish, Antennarius species. The frogfish is capable of walking (alternating fins forward) or "galloping" (two fins in unison) on its pectoral (and pelvic/ventral) fins and also of swimming. Young frogfish can even jet around by forcing water out of their gills!

Frogfish are also called angler fish because of the "bait" or lure that they can waive around to attract a good meal. The rod is called the illicium and the "bait," the esca, all part of a modified series of dorsal fins. When not in use, the illicium and esca can be withdrawn into a cavity between the second and third dorsal fins. When prey is successfully lured to the frogfish, the frogfish rapidly (6ms!) opens its mouth creating a sudden suction that draws the prey into its mouth. They can consume prey as big as themselves, even toxic lionfish, without ill effect.

The Angry Myna

Common Myna, Acridotheres tristis, Waikiki, Oahu. This mynah appeared wet, possibly from the recent heavy rains. Whatever the cause, he sure looked cranky!

A'ama

Grapsus tenuicrustatus, a'ama, thin shelled rock crab, Oahu, Hawaii.

Makapu'u

Makapu'u, Oahu. The waters off of Makapu'u are deep and are known for harboring large ulua (jacks), a favorite of Hawaiian fisherman.

Surfing

Surfing! What did you spend Christmas doing?

Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!

Indulge your inner Santa with a little Christmas cheer! Hope this holiday season finds you all with friends, family and loved ones. Merry Christmas and best wishes for the holidays!

The Shopping Center Holiday Train

Holiday train for the kids at the shopping center.

Pleiospilos nelii or Split Rock Plant

Pleiospilos nelii or Split Rock Plant. The Split Rock is blooming again and, in the setting sun, proved too tempting to not take a picture of. For something that looks so rock-like, it really has a flamboyant bloom.

Stanhopea tigrina var. nigroviolacea 'Predator' FCC/AOS

Stanhopea tigrina var. nigroviolacea 'Predator' FCC/AOS. This species grows on the Eastern plateau in Mexico from around 2000 feet to 4500 feet in altitude. The flowers smell like sweet vanilla.

Seraphyta diffusa

Seraphyta diffusa. Warm growing from Cuba, Jamaica, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Surinam and Brazil. The flowers remind me of a swarm of...well, mosquitos!

The Amazing Kelp-Eating Dog

The dog thinks kelp is a huge squeeker toy!

Happy Holidays!

Poinsettia draped with morning dew. There was a dense marine layer (a.k.a. fog) hovering low over San Diego last night. When I awoke and poked my head out to snatch the morning paper, everything was covered with dew. The poinsettia was particularly beautiful, with the drops glistening in the morning sun.

Gongora amparoana

Gongora amparoana. This little Gongora was purchased as a Stanhopea seedling. However, low and behold, when it bloomed it turned out to be a Gongora! These are from Costa Rica at around 3,000 feet and tend to grow on the hot side which is why this one has grown a bit slow for me. It's seldom seen in cultivation so it's still kind of fun. I find Gongoras in general to be a little more sensitive to cold and weather than Stanhopeas which means they stay inside the greenhouse or the house. As for the pretty red background...that's one of those nice Christmas flyers that show up in great numbers at this time of year! McGyver would be proud.

Liquid Amber Tree

Liquid Amber Tree (a.k.a. American Sweetgum), Liquidambar styraciflua. The liquid amber trees have gained their "Fall" colors and oh what a glorious sight it is! It gets cold a little later in San Diego but it is finally cold enough to get some great colors.

Phalaenopsis cornu-cervi var. alba

Phalaenopsis cornu-cervi var. alba. The typical form is found widespread throughout Southeast Asia in lowland forests.

Oddities of the Orchid World

Dendrochilum cootesii var. alba. Perhaps the non-albanistic form is prettier with its lime and peach tones; however, this albino cootesii is still an awesome sight, with it's crystalline white, upside-down flowers. This species is native to the Phillipines where it grows at around 5,000 to 6,000 feet.

That Cattleya labiata time of year...

Cattleya labiata 'Schuller's' blooming on time along with the other Cattleya labiata (var. autumnalis) in the fall.

Lc. Ruby Cheer

Lc. Ruby Cheer = Lc. Orglade's Cheer x Lc. Elaine's Ruby. This was blooming at the San Diego International Orchid Fair.

Bad Day?

A dog looking grumpy... I suppose, being chained up on the driveway all day can do that to just about anyone.

Dombeya cacuminum

The lovely pendant flowers of Dombeya cacuminum are pollinated by bats and drip nectar.

Spotted Boxfish tete a tete

Spotted Boxfish, Ostracion melealgris, female. The water was a little murky due to the wave action (imagine being swept back and forth while you try to shoot pictures); however, this little fish came right up to say hello.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo variety intermedia, on the wing near Julian in the fall. This turkey was lucky enough to be born wild rather than in the queue for my oven. Families of wild turkeys will walk along the roads and foot paths in small flocks, making for good photo opportunities. As opposed to domestic turkeys that have been line bred for size, wild turkeys are relatively sleek and fast.

I hope this Thankgiving finds you all in good cheer, sharing even better food with great company.

Fall Comes A Little Later in San Diego

The last hurrah for the season for my persimmon tree. Well, the old Fuyu persimmon tree did a magnificent performance this year, having fruit for the very first time. The fruit were totally huge and sugar-sweet (so not on the diet)! However, the cold weather is finally here and the leaves are about to drop for the Winter. I really enjoyed the color show it put on so I figured I'd share.

Laelia anceps 'SVO' HCC/AOS

Laelia anceps 'SVO' HCC/AOS. These are native to Mexico and actually grow outside quite nicely here in San Diego. I even have one growing on a tree in the front yard! However, this beauty was purchased from Fred Clarke, one of the nation's best orchid growers, at Sunset Valley Orchids. The flowers on this Laelia anceps are absolutely huge and float on 2 foot stems!

Lc. Miss Wonderful 'Arnilicious' AM/AOS

Lc. Miss Wonderful 'Arnilicious' AM/AOS. The parents are Lc. Mari's Song x Laelia anceps. Hot off the press. 80 pts. Three nice sized flowers on a long arching stem with color that just jumps out and grabs you. Better yet, this plant likes the dry corner of the greenhouse, virtually thriving on neglect! What more could you ask for?

Search for the Black Orchid

Cymbidium Kiwi Midnight 'Geyserland' FCC/AOS. Black is one of the rarest colors in the orchid kingdom. This Cymbidium gets close with a deep, sparklng, chocolate-burgundy.

Phalaenopsis bellina variety coerulea

Phalaenopsis bellina variety coerulea. A rare "blue" varient of the wonderfully fragrant Phal. bellina. These grow hot and humid in their native Borneo. While the typical Phalaenopsis you find in your grocery store have absolutely no fragrance, these lovely phalaenopsis have the frangrance of fruit loops!

You say you want one?!! This came from Randy Tajima at E-Orchids Online. Thanks Randy!

Bulbophyllum macranthum

Bulbophyllum macranthum blooming in August.

Bungee Jumping at the Fair

Bungee Jumping at the Del Mar Fair. I think the face tells it all.

Surf Sunset

Surfer, Sunset Beach.