Night Fountain

I wish you could hear the geese-at-dusk sounds, which always make me sleepy. There was also a really interesting traditional Indian dance with live music going on in the community center near by, and dancers practising under the stairway outside when I walked by.

At dusk you get: water and bugs. Wish I could have also filmed the really gigantic dragonfly that was swallowing the bugs whole like a famished helicopter around my head. There was a chimney swift snacking in mid-air as well. Quite exciting--what didn't get filmed.

Ruth Bancroft Garden - Sculpture Show

Sculptures in the Ruth Bancroft Garden, now through July 16th. Lots of sculptural surprises, and very excellent sculptural-like plants, as always.

Summery

It's Raining

I will remember sunnier times with this photo from last week. Supposedly it will get up to 90 degrees this weekend, so I'm also going to enjoy the cloudy dampness while I can.

Balmy Alley - San Francisco (and environs nearby)

I had an assignment for a photo class to take 100 shots without worrying about whether they would make "good" shots or not--just take 'em and decide later.

On the day of this assignment, my parents and I started our journey to San Francisco to visit my cousin, who was in a serious car accident this week. She's going to be all right, but she has some long-term healing to do. I thank the car gods for sparing her. Her good spirits were something to behold. Heal quickly, Maria! This was just outside SF General Hospital, which is undergoing construction for a new building.



We were hungry after leaving the hospital, so we stopped for burritos at La Taqueria on 25th & Mission. Do you crave an authentic, fresh and delicious burrito in San Francisco's Mission District? Look no further! I've been going to this place for more than 30 years. Same menu. Absolutely fresh and tasty. Be sure to order avocado for your burrito. It is worth the extra price.

While we were driving along 24th Street, watching all the murals out the car windows, I snapped this, not realizing it was a shop for Mexican wrestling masks. A little blurry (I was in a moving vehicle), but look, a Mexican wrestling-mask store!



Then we passed Balmy Alley and I realized my parents had never visited, so my dad kindly zipped around the block and they drove along slowly through the alley while I hopped out of the car and took some photos. This is the original "Mural Alley" of the Mission District. Now there are hundreds of murals throughout the large neighborhood, but I remember Balmy as being the first where a group of artists totally took over a street and did it up right. Here's a smattering of their work, which is always evolving throughout the years, since the 1980s.










To summarize:
-La Taqueria - at Mission & 25th Streets.
-24th Street murals (all the way down from Mission to Potrero--an incredible array of painted buildings for blocks and blocks).
-Balmy Alley - between 24th and 25th Streets and Treat Ave. and Harrison Street.

Highly artificial spring-time at the Hyatt Regency San Franicsco

Perhaps the most artificial environment in San Francisco, the Hyatt Regency atrium never fails to deliver the weirdness. The giant puffy flowers are a new element alongside the cold 70s-era modern decor.

Alas, the formerly revolving restaurant, Equinox, is now stationary, and for private guests only. I remember my dad taking us there when I was around nine and not only was it amazing to revolve 360 degrees throughout the course of our meal, but the ice cubes in my water glass were ROUND with HOLES in the middle! I'm not kidding! I was really impressed.

Jackson experiences the wall-o-water in the giant fountain.


Mel Brooks used the Hyatt's atrium and its zippy glass elevators to great effect in 1977's High Anxiety.

Mitchell Canyon Loop - Mt. Diablo

Mostly shady hike along Mitchell Canyon loop on Mt. Diablo. The creek alongside the road is really running. I never even knew there was a creek alongside this hike. It's always been dried up when I've gone in the past. Always a surprise. We technically did not do the loop, stopping somewhere near the top and heading back down the easy way. Next time. Still exhausted today due to strenuous climb near the top.

Animal count: 2 fence lizards, ground squirrels, bunny, birds of prey, giant black beetle in middle of road, hearsay of rattlesnake along trail (not spotted by us), tick on my calf--discovered at home--yuck.

Beware Heather Farm's Geese!

Heather Farm Park is getting tough, setting up two rubber coyote dummies to scare the geese away from this particular lawn. The geese have completely taken over both waterways in the park, which isn't a problem in the natural-habitat setting north of these photos. But the unnatural cement pond and surrounding lawns are completely covered in goose shit year-round. Here's hoping these stalking predator-like statuettes will offer some relief to clean-up crews and Frisbee throwers.

Shell Ridge - drying out

Breezy days in the low 70s, but already the green hills are turning to brown.

The Interesting Nature Sounds of Shell Ridge

Shadow Trees

It's really sunny here. Can you tell?

Miharu Takizakura in full bloom in Fukushima

A lovely story about Japan's famed Miharu Takizakura sakura cherry blossom tree in Fukushima. It has survived for a thousand years and hopefully will keep blossoming for more centuries to come.

Photo by Nemo's Great Uncle.

Springtime Fresh

Woodwork Trees

Guy Lewis sent me this photo of his excellent tree sculpture. He makes really cool guitar boxes too. Working with wood must be very satisfying, and look how beautiful. Thanks, Guy.

Sun! Spring!

More rain, more blossoms

Actually the rain is letting up, after days and days of clouds and downpours. When it rains in Northern California it's often of the monsoon variety, which helps make up for the entirely dry summers we have. So, although waterlogged, I managed to squeeze off a few of this lovely tree in downtown Walnut Creek this weekend. And now--the weather gets mild.

Your daily blossom

New Mt. Diablo photo book promises to be beautiful

The Contra Costa Times has a feature on photographer Stephen Joseph's new book "Mount Diablo: The Extraordinary Life and Landscapes of a California Treasure," published by the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association. Joseph will be signing books throughout March and April, and presenting a slide-show at the Walnut Creek Library on April 13th. The article lists the dates or you can visit his site here.

The slide-show in the article is small in scale, but the photos still look extraordinary. The Mt. Diablo color gallery on his site will dazzle you, especially the panoramics.

Let's listen to frogs

It's soothing, funny and odd all at the same time. From Castle Rock Park at the foot of Mt. Diablo. The creek is currently full of frog song.

Castle Rock Park in Technicolor

I know it looks like an episode of "The Simpsons" but the colors were truly this intense today. I finally got outside after a round-robin of cold viruses for the past five weeks. And what a day. Two coyotes met me on my path and stared me down for a bit before heading toward Borges Ranch. Making the loop, I guess. Anyway, they were not afraid of me, that's for sure but they wouldn't stand still long enough for a photo. I think I saw an eagle flying away from me from a nearby tree. It was either that or the biggest hawk imaginable.


Note the difference in landscape. This is private land where cattle have been grazing for decades, decimating the native tree-sapling population, leaving nearly barren hills with a few lone oaks standing.
While right across the trail, the city park side is in its natural state and full of trees.
Looking through a wind tunnel.