Flora of Lake Tahoe

One of our days at Lake Tahoe we went on a little walk. I hesitate to call it a hike because it was not too far and mainly level ground. Above is a flower-filled meadow we walked through.

I'm not nearly as good as Mary, but I do try to take photos of flowers when I'm out walking. I don't know what any of these are, maybe someone can tell me?

Aren't they beautiful? This orange lily really caught my eye. I can't grow these in my garden, but here they are growing wild and perfect.





A pretty creek along the way.

This should have been in the "Fauna" post on Friday, but I missed it. Sorry

Happy Sunday from Amongst The Oaks.

Creek Creatures

Remember the other day when I walked along the creek and thought I saw creatures? And one thing looked like leaves swimming upstream. With my old eyes I couldn't tell what it was, but when I got home I zoomed in on the photo and realized it was a turtle carrying leaves. Was it camouflage, nest materials, or breakfast? Any ideas?

So the next day I went back again and caught some turtles sunning themselves on submerged branches. Both adults and young ones kept climbing out at the same spot, and when I'd get close enough to take a photo, they'd jump back in almost before I could focus. It was like a game, but I persevered and got a few snaps.

This little guy is on the same branch as the adult above only he can't get as high, but isn't he cute? We are so lucky to live Here Amongst The Oaks surrounded by wild creatures. Isn't it grand?

P.S. I walked today; 45 minutes/5166 steps.

Along the Creek

The other day I went for a walk to the park by the High School. It has a wild little creek running through it which is pretty amazing considering it's in the city. It has a nice sunny stretch, but I gravitated to the shady section because it was already warm at 8:00am.

I was just enjoying the shade when I looked across the creek and thought I saw two bright eyes looking back at me. But then I blinked and they were gone. Do you suppose it was the Rat? Or Mole? Or maybe my eyes playing tricks on me?

I'm sure it was just my imagination, but for a minute there, I felt all Wind-In-The-Willow-ish.

A Walk

I went on two walks yesterday. The one for exercise like Tara suggested. And the one to hunt black berries. We had found them in the past along a certain walk path around a chi-chi neighborhood. So that's where we started. First we walked along the backwaters of the sailing club and then along the riverbank path.

We saw the Lord of the Manor's national flower.

We saw this odd globe shaped flower on a large shrub. Does anyone know what it's called?

We saw wild roses.
We saw our state flower, the California Poppy.

We saw our state bird, the California Quail.

But we didn't find any berries there so we ended up at the Sailing Club where there were lots of vines. I had a nice second walk and it's a good thing too, because I ate this for dessert!

P.S. haven't walked yet today unless walking to the kitchen for more pie counts.

P.P.S. I felt so guilty about the pie for breakfast that I went for a walk; 6398 steps.

Playground Supervisor

My usual walking route takes me past the elementary school. East of the school near a drainage canal is a grassy playground with several trees. Frequently I see two large birds either in the trees or foraging in the grass. We have lots of hawks here Amongst The Oaks, and they look like hawks to me, but they don't act like hawks.



Sunday I finally remembered my camera and got this photo of one of the birds perched in the tree. Then while I was watching, it swooped down to the lawn and after digging around a bit, ate something.






I watched it for quite a while and got this shot of it on the ground. Isn't it beautiful?



When I got home I looked it up using Cornell's excellent site and discovered that it is a red shouldered hawk. They eat small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and crayfish. They are a year-round California species and live in forests and riparian areas, often near water. They drop down on their prey from the canopy just like I'd observed. So you kids better shape up, 'cause there's a new playground supervisor, and he looks serious.

Along the Hedgerow

Just North of the High School is a section of homes that are set way back from the road. Most of them have chain link fencing along their property lines. These homes are old by California standards; maybe 50 years. The owners have planted and allowed all kinds of shrubs and vines to grow on the fences to hide them.

Saturday morning after I dropped Teen1 off for her Winter Guard performance (they got a FIRST!) and Teen2 for Saturday School (we don't even want to talk about that!), I happened to drive along there and the morning sun was highlighting those plants. It reminded me of the hedgerows of England. A tangle of plants supporting each other and sheltering all kinds of little animals. What a lovely little ecosystem right here in the middle of town.

The showiest plant was Clematis armandii. Our neighbor has one that has grown way up into a tree. Sometimes when I'm out in my front garden, I can catch its heavenly scent. I feel very lucky that a volunteer (seedling for my UK readers) has appeared in my garden and hope to transplant it to climb over a trellis in the back garden.

Along the feet of the "hedgerow" is Vinca. I remember this growing in our next door's garden when I was a kid. It seemed so pretty and carefree. But I think it can be invasive.

And then there were these Callas. We had these along the West side of our house when I was a kid. They were definitely carefree. Bloomed every year with no care whatsoever, but beautiful and dramatic.

I hope you enjoyed our visit to the hedgerow here Amongst The Oaks.

Saturday Walk

I'm glad to report that the Lord of the Manor is recuperating nicely. He has to wear his sling every day, but he's managing to drive himself around, eat, dress himself, and go to work. He still can't tie his shoes so he's wearing slip-ons, but he's doing quite well.

He felt so good this morning that he wanted to take a walk so we walked over to the college. I suggested checking out their garden so that's where we ended up. I can always seem to find a garden to visit. The daffodils and spring bulbs were blooming so I think it's time for - guess what - more flower photos!

King Alfreds and ornamental cabbage

Tete a tete daffodils

Crocus


More daffodils

Summer snowflake

Hyacinth

More tiny daffodils

Signs of Spring

One of my favorite signs of spring is surely violets. I just love how they pop up so early. Whether it's cold, warm, wet, or dry, they dependably make a purple carpet every February. These violets were given to me many years ago by my dear old neighbor Lois. I was careful to dig them up and take them with us when we moved 11 years ago. She is gone now but every spring when they bloom I remember her fondly.

Another sure sign of spring is my English Home magazine with a decidious magnolia on the cover. I've always wanted one of them and they grow here quite well. Maybe this year.

The magazine has some lovely vignettes. This one showing a serene tidy kitchen with the morning sun slanting in is particularly appealing to me. It looks so clean and fresh.
And isn't this a cozy looking room?

And I love this peaceful sitting room with its view over the river. Positively dreamy.

And here is my sofa that I need in my living room. Bookbinding red with a scrummy fringe. Speaking of passementerie - has everyone had a chance to guess how many tassels I have? I'll give you until 6:00 tonight.

You can subscribe to English Home here in North America too.

A Walk

Would you like to go for a walk with me this morning? I don't have a lovely woods to walk in, but I'm sure we'll find something of interest. This is my usual route; along this sidewalk here beside the elementary school. It doesn't look too exciting, does it? But let's look more carefully....look up there. It's a beehive in the oak tree.




And over there is a cedar waxwing. And look there on that shrub - three spiderwebs.

This bottle brush is blooming. And look at those tracks in the mud along the creek. Racoon maybe? And those pine cones are pretty.

And look at how the sun shines through the turning leaves. Beautiful, isn't it? There's beauty all around us, sometimes we just have to look a little to find it. Ahhhh..... the beauty of nature.

And the beauty

of

a

GARGAGE SALE! And now the beauty of a place to rest after my walk here Amongst The Oaks.