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| orange sticky monkeyflower - Franklin Canyon |
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| oak titmouse |
Seen at both places - a charming little energetic gray bird with its crest. Hopped onto our picnic table to pick up a sunflower seed someone had left there.
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| Calochortus clavatus var. gracilis; Slender Mariposa Lily Seen trailside at Placenta Canyon. A local unusual variety of Mariposa Lily/Tulip. My most scientific field guide, by Niehaus, lists neither of these flowers. |
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| turtles sunning - Franklin Canyon Reservoir |
My brother who lives in Iowa came to stay for a week to recover from wrist surgery. He tends to the acerbic when contemplating LA lifestyles - traffic, home values, big city indifference, all quite valid, yes?
I wanted to take him to see an "urban greenspot", so we started out for Franklin Canyon. Of course, another LA water main had broken and a detour was necessary. And the popular park was that day a site for a movie shoot. The little pond was going to be filled with kayaks and inflatables. Loud conversations concerning setups, placement, floated over to us as we circled the small lake, as we sat and listened to the peculiar comforting sound of ducks as they strained water through their beaks for food (combination of a gurgle and suck).
This he found to be of interest, to my relief, and once away from the large pond, well known as the lake where Andy Griffith went fishing in the TV show's title sequence, we found a picnic spot under the oaks to relax and watch ducks, turtles, and a few birds. Marvelous sunny weather with a slight breeze and moderate temperature.
Next day up early to drive to Newhall for another bird walk. It was Open House at the Nature Center, and after the walk we strolled about chatting with exhibitors, enjoying displays of natural history.
Best bird seen at Placerita - male Western bluebird. Placenta Canyon has a lovely stream (winter/spring water only). There's a cabin actually used by the Walker family. I want to live in it in summer. Sorry, display only. Visitors could try washing clothes on a hand-operated wringer washing machine, with a scrub board, and sawing logs with an ancient two-man saw. Really comical.
The docents/volunteer group was impressive, and the community turnout so large shuttle buses ran the crowds. Glad we got there early.
I wanted to take him to see an "urban greenspot", so we started out for Franklin Canyon. Of course, another LA water main had broken and a detour was necessary. And the popular park was that day a site for a movie shoot. The little pond was going to be filled with kayaks and inflatables. Loud conversations concerning setups, placement, floated over to us as we circled the small lake, as we sat and listened to the peculiar comforting sound of ducks as they strained water through their beaks for food (combination of a gurgle and suck).
This he found to be of interest, to my relief, and once away from the large pond, well known as the lake where Andy Griffith went fishing in the TV show's title sequence, we found a picnic spot under the oaks to relax and watch ducks, turtles, and a few birds. Marvelous sunny weather with a slight breeze and moderate temperature.
Next day up early to drive to Newhall for another bird walk. It was Open House at the Nature Center, and after the walk we strolled about chatting with exhibitors, enjoying displays of natural history.
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| matalija poppy |
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| woolly blue curls-rosemary like leaves |
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| interior, Walker cabin |
The docents/volunteer group was impressive, and the community turnout so large shuttle buses ran the crowds. Glad we got there early.
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