I ALWAYS TAKE MY CAMERA WHEN I GO TO LOWE'S OR A NURSERY

 I love the colors in these plants.  I can only take photos and admire the plants in this way  because I don't have enough room in my house to create a space for lots of plants but I would love to do that. 

TESTING TO SEE IF THIS UPDATES ON MY BLOG ROLL.

 been having trouble with sidebar blog list updating on other blogs.

A DAY OUT IN BIG BEAR

He was really little but  M saw him first.  We were walking along the footbridge enjoying the pelicans across the water when he  saw him - and he saw us at the same time.  I wonder if lizards get use to people walking near them.  He seems almost to freeze at some point and just give in to getting his photo taken.

There were so many pelicans yesterday -  they were all on a little island area where what water was left surrounded the area.   Stanfield Marsh aka Baker's Pond is definitely a seasonal pond and since we are into August there's still water but probably by October the pond will have shrank quite a bit more.  Some years it has been so dry and empty of water that the ground has cracked and just looks like a drought  ridden field.  Just a few months ago the water went under the bridge and close to the road.

 First time in days we felt fairly cool while walking as it was only in the mid 70's, compared to 90 plus we had for days.  

On the way back along the footbridge a few pelicans were flying so I was able to get some photos of them.  All this open land not long ago was under water.  i like seeing what grows when the water has evaporated.

Today the peaceful feeling of yesterday is filled with the sound of more big trucks trimming trees above the Edison lines and chipping the branches.  The last two years has had more activity by the power company than since we have been here in seven years.  It's actually a noise that is welcome because that means when Santa Ana winds come in the fall and then snow in the winter, more care has been taken to avoid trees falling on power lines.  Last year was unbelievable how much damage was done in winter.

ALONG HORSE TRAILS, BRIDLE TRAILS -

Just a friend  i made along the way - at least long enough to get his  photo.

FINALLY AFTER SEVEN YEARS THEY DON'T FLY OFF THE MINUTE I MAKE A MOVE

I have fed them, talked baby talk to them, or tried, ....and still...even at the slightest movement of a curtain they would fly off.  Two weeks ago everything changed.  More and more came to the yard and one or two actually listen when I try to make Raven sounds.   I've actually have had them stay for a bit eating what I put out while i stand at the screen door, open it and talk to them.

 Now...however, I expect treasures left at my doorstep.  I've read they will do that.  I never miss  a day without putting food out for them and at some point I will expect a gift every day I do that.    No, not really, I'm okay with them just staying put long enough for me to get a photo.  I have taken photos before but it was usually with me hiding behind a curtain waiting for them to turn their head and I could grab a few shots.

SLOW MOTION OF SUNFLOWERS TURNING TO FACE THE SUN

I was reading an article about this but didn't see a video so went in search of one.  I like this one.

SOME WILDLIFE IN THE BACK YARD

Putting a link up for myself to watch the videos there because my internet is slow right now and I can't get them to play. LINK

(This last week we have had a whole lot of ravens (A couple with their young raven kids)  and  their "kraa" sounds coming for food and it's getting a bit annoying).  Then the squirrels have this weird clicking sound they do.  They pat pat pat their feet and makes this awful noise that lasts for 5 minutes or so at a times.************************************************************************

A lone hunter heads out and this kitten clears the yard.

 First he deals with the squirrel.

Then the ravens

Then the birds on the feeders.

Then he comes back to where I'm sitting.

"Did I do good".  I said yes except for the bird feeders - it's all right that they are there.

Well okay then, he says, my job is done.

I put this video up for me - it probably won't be of interest to anyone else, lol

BRACKEN FERN

I was walking along a shoreline when I saw this plant and thought it looked so pretty.  I don't know if it starts out gold and goes green or vice versa.  I take that back... now that I think about it - in fall it's definitely goldish looking or maybe the one on top was the older of the fern and the one on bottom is newer.

I also read that it can be toxic to dogs but okay for cats if they nibble at it.

Magical, Healing, and Edible Plants to Celebrate Beltaine ... be sown with gems that glittered in a light as clear as that of the Summer sun, yet as ... everywhere beautiful little ladies and gentlemen, dressed in green and gold, ... Fern (Pteris aquilina) Bracken Fern is by tradition a powerful, magical plant.



Bracken fern from times past has been used by man as a delicacy and for animal forage. It grows everywhere in the world except Antarctica so it is a very common plant. It is, however, a toxic plant that is associated with tumour formation, ovotoxicity, genotoxicity, bone marrow depression, blindness, 


hmmm..maybe I'm not understanding but it's toxic on one hand and has magical properties on the other.  I need to read more about this.  

SOME THISTLE AT THE LAKE ON A BEAUTIFUL YESTERDAY WALK

Thanks to Wiki - this is a cirsium vulgare or known as a "spear thistle."

The monarch definitely likes thistle - something I didn't know before.  But now I do. 

The bees dive deep into the thistle - and there can be three or four bees  at a time (or maybe more) in one thistle bloom.  They are going after the nectar and the pollen.  They are sure doing their job - eating at the same time as collecting pollen.  Busy bees indeed. 

We saw these thistles over at Lake Arrowhead.   After photographing the thistle I really wanted to jump on one of those intertubes or  that raft and float away for a few hours.  It was perfect weather as in the afternoon the breezes kick up and it makes for a great walk in the summer.