Adventures in southern California
I've made the startling discovery that if you just take away the greed, the smog, the rampant materialism, and the incredible urban sprawl, that southern California is quite pretty :)
Ben and I found a botanical garden of native California plants this weekend right next to the Trader Joe's, and it was pretty darn awesome. Saw some good birds -- California and Spotted Towhees, California Thrashers (a new one to add to my life list), tons of Bewick's Wrens and Anna's Hummingbirds, and a giant Cooper's Hawk. Also saw some badass plant life, such as the fucking weird Joshua trees (so awesome, and so very very strange!), purple cacti, and pine cones literally as large as my head.
"OMGZ u guyz it are purple!"
Spiky.
Lurking lizard. I suspect he's dropped his tail at least once before, seeing as it's a different color than the rest of him. There were soooo many lizards!
"OMFG"
The Majestic Oak.
I thought Ben with his enormously long arms would be able to take a decent picture of us. It was a decent attempt, but oh well, lol.
Are these not Dr. Seuss trees, or what? Oh Joshua trees, you are so strange. Ben was like "Ooh, awesome, they have Joshua trees!" and I said "I know they're supposed to be weird, but what do they look like?" and he said "Oh, you'll know them when you see them." Rounded a bend and I was like "dude, that has got to be a Joshua tree. wtf."
Some of them actually formed complete arches with the ground, they were so heavy. They're also extremely sharp.
See?
Non-crazy-ass tree.
Some big-ass palms. There are a million different varieties here, actually.
These looked like something you'd see on a Christmas card -- silvery bark, no leaves, golden fruit.
Dude, what is that thing???
Ben spied and photographed this gorgeous Cooper's Hawk sitting a mere thirty-forty feet away from us.
Pretty flower thing.
So, yes, if you make an effort you can find beauty here. It just doesn't stare you in the face like Oregon's does... you have to put some effort in. But it's worth it, in a different kind of way.
Ben and I found a botanical garden of native California plants this weekend right next to the Trader Joe's, and it was pretty darn awesome. Saw some good birds -- California and Spotted Towhees, California Thrashers (a new one to add to my life list), tons of Bewick's Wrens and Anna's Hummingbirds, and a giant Cooper's Hawk. Also saw some badass plant life, such as the fucking weird Joshua trees (so awesome, and so very very strange!), purple cacti, and pine cones literally as large as my head.
"OMGZ u guyz it are purple!"
Spiky.
Lurking lizard. I suspect he's dropped his tail at least once before, seeing as it's a different color than the rest of him. There were soooo many lizards!
"OMFG"
The Majestic Oak.
I thought Ben with his enormously long arms would be able to take a decent picture of us. It was a decent attempt, but oh well, lol.
Are these not Dr. Seuss trees, or what? Oh Joshua trees, you are so strange. Ben was like "Ooh, awesome, they have Joshua trees!" and I said "I know they're supposed to be weird, but what do they look like?" and he said "Oh, you'll know them when you see them." Rounded a bend and I was like "dude, that has got to be a Joshua tree. wtf."
Some of them actually formed complete arches with the ground, they were so heavy. They're also extremely sharp.
See?
Non-crazy-ass tree.
Some big-ass palms. There are a million different varieties here, actually.
These looked like something you'd see on a Christmas card -- silvery bark, no leaves, golden fruit.
Dude, what is that thing???
Ben spied and photographed this gorgeous Cooper's Hawk sitting a mere thirty-forty feet away from us.
Pretty flower thing.
So, yes, if you make an effort you can find beauty here. It just doesn't stare you in the face like Oregon's does... you have to put some effort in. But it's worth it, in a different kind of way.