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I like to multitask

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

Picture of the moment
PICTURE OF THE MOMENT

 

It never fails that when I go out with people to do anything, they make fun of me because I do something else, too.

For example, I went birding with the San Diego Beginning Birders. Sure, I saw birds, but I also saw lots of other interesting things, and since I like to multitask….

I thought the paths we were walking on were quite beautiful, so I took pictures:

Path through Tecolote Canyon Nature Park

 

Path through Tecolote Canyon Nature Park

 

I saw a bench for the weary, so I took a picture:

Bench in Tecolote Canyon Nature Park

 

I saw a Los Angelesized stream, so I took a picture:

Stream through Tecolote Canyon Nature Park

 

A “Los Angelesized stream” is a stream that has been rebuilt with concrete. When I moved to San Diego in April 1993, San Diego had started doing that to its streams. The citizenry had a fit and put an end to it. I think Los Angeles has put an end to it, too, letting many streams revert to what Mother and Father Nature meant them to be. You can see that the stream above is reverting to nature. For a great look at Los Angeles streams and rivers, watch “The Terminator” when they are driving vehicles in the river. That’s a Los Angeles river.

I saw a plank bridge over the stream, so I took a picture:

Plank bridge over a stream in Tecolote Canyon Nature Park

 

Reminded me of my childhood when I built plank bridges over streams.

At one stop near some Western Sycamores (Platanus racemosa), I couldn’t see the tiny birds that everyone else was watching, so I took some pictures of this:

Poison oak in Tecolote Canyon Nature Park

 

Poison oak in Tecolote Canyon Nature Park

 

Poison oak in Tecolote Canyon Nature Park

 

That’s Western Poison Oak or Pacific Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum) in its “green phase.” During the fall it has a “red phase” (and they say we don’t have fall colors here — ha!), and the beautiful flowers you see will eventually result in berries that the wildlife like.

As I was taking pictures, a couple walked up and asked me what I was taking pictures of. I said, “Poison oak.” They asked, “Why?” I had no good answer. For blogging? :)

Taken at the Tecolote Canyon Nature Park on March 24, 2012.

Tecolote Canyon Nature Park

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I'm Zoey the Cool Cat, and I approve this post

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

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Fourteen flora pictures from the Blue Sky Ecological Reserve

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

Out & About San Diego

 

I’m still trying to find a good slide show program that works within WordPress. I’d like one that allows me to choose which photos are in the slide show — let’s say that I want one photo to use as a main image but not in the slide show — and a choice of transitions, speed, and, possibly, special effects. If anyone has any ideas….

Meanwhile, here is a selection of fourteen pictures (which I would have liked to put in a slide show) of the flora at the Blue Sky Ecological Reserve. I hope everyone is familiar with pictures 1, 2, and 3….. leaves of three, let ‘em be.

Poison Oak

 

Poison Ivy

 

Poison Ivy

 

Blue Sky Ecological Reserve

 

Blue Sky Ecological Reserve

 

 Blue Sky Ecological Reserve

 

Blue Sky Ecological Reserve

 

Blue Sky Ecological Reserve

 

Blue Sky Ecological Reserve

 

Blue Sky Ecological Reserve

 

Blue Sky Ecological Reserve

 

Blue Sky Ecological Reserve

 

Blue Sky Ecological Reserve

 

Blue Sky Ecological Reserve

 

If you don’t know about leaves of three, it applies to Poison Oak (Picture 1) and Poison Ivy (Pictures 2 & 3). The leaf has three leaflets on it and can cause severe dermatitis in most people, like me!

 

Blue Sky Ecological Reserve

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This post approved byThis post approved by Zoey the Cool Cat

Pictures copyright 2012 Russel Ray Photos

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