IT’S NATURE TIME!

Last week Hubby and I went to have an adventure at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens. It was very pretty and the weather was great. Here are some pics:

Snowy mountains in the distance.

More snowy mountains in the distance.

Blossoms on a Manzanita plant.

Purple Sage.

Either holly or toyon berries, not sure which.

A cute little mushroom.

A cute little cactus.

A gray squirrel. These are native to California, but the Eastern Fox squirrel, which you see all over the place, have pushed this cute furry native out of its habitat so you mainly see them when you get closer to the mountains.

A cute little bird, although not sure what it is.

A California Thrasher, notice the long curved beak.

Hubby is demonstrating the camouflage capabilities of his plaid shirt. Can you spot him?

Hubby hiding again. He's like a chameleon!

 

 

 

THIS IS HOW PINE TREES ARE REALLY MADE

Hubby and I were at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden when we came upon this rare site: pinecones mating!!

 

BOTANIC GARDEN PART TWO: ANIMALS

Here’s installment two of my trip to the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. Here are all my animal pictures. I love photographing wildlife. If only the animals would sit still long enough for me to get a shot! These are some of the more cooperative critters:

 

Here is a bunny. Look at the light shining through his ears!

 

 

Here is a yellow finch. It was harder to get a good picture of him because he was so backlit by the sun.

 

 

Here is a sunbathing lizard.

 

 

Here is a Western Gray squirrel. These aren't seen as often because the Eastern Fox squirrel has taken over their habitat in the cities and suburbs.

 

 

Look at his cute little feet!

 

 

This picture is a bit blurry but you can see how big and bushy his tail is.

 

 

RANCHO SANTA ANA BOTANIC GARDEN SCULPTURE

This past weekend Hubby and I went to the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden in Claremont. It’s part of the Claremont colleges, I think. They only have California native plants. I took a lot of pictures so I’m going to break them up into different posts. First I will post the pictures of some of the sculptures that were around the Garden that I thought were pretty or interesting.

The Sentinal

The Sentinel from a different angle.

Root Sculpture

I think this represents a hummingbird.

Hummingbird statue, different angle