Snowy Egret - Heather Farm Park

Walking around the bird sanctuary today, I saw more types of birds than usual. A green heron squawking and flying around. At least three giant egrets sunning themselves (one in a tree--hardly ever see that around here). And the usual gang of cormorants, ducks and geese, several who were getting chased by a naughty little child whose dad probably never got pecked by brutish geese before. Otherwise, he would have put a stop to that. Plenty of birdwatchers too with their binoculars and giant camera lenses. They would never chase a goose being too busy pointing out the graceful hawk perched in the tree overhead.

Diablo Foothills Regional Park - Walnut Creek, CA

A beautiful foggy day hiking through Castle Rock Park and the Diablo foothills. An easy walk that's quiet, with sandstone pinnacles and wind tunnels full of hawks that fly overhead.

Cactus - Ruth Bancroft Garden

I revisited Ruth Bancroft Garden today but last week's freakish and unseasonal cold spell has zapped the garden in a frostbitten manner. I'd say half the more delicate succulents and cacti are beneath tented plastic at this time. Now, if you like gardening, you'll actually appreciate all the nicely made wooden frames with clear plastic staple-gunned all over in dozens of variations and sizes, including a walk-through greenhouse-sized awning over the central succulent garden by the pond. But if you're a regular plant-lover who just came to witness dry-garden layout at its finest--wait for the temperature to regulate around here.

Here's some cactus that are doing quite well.


It's worth seeing throughout the year.