Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Life's journey.
Keeping in mind the "life's a journey not a destination" quote, one must hop on every bus on every bus stop we come across to our next destination. The last thing we want is to be in the same bus we started in when our time is up.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
New Zealand Myoporum
New Zealand Myoporum (Myoporum laetum)
It's name comes from the Greek word 'poros' (pores) the leaves of the Myoporum has small pores that from which light can be seen through when a leaf is held against the sun or light. Myoporum trees can be a difficult tree to keep either on the streets or at the backyard due to the multidirectional growth of its branches and roots. Roots in particular are strong enough to mess up your pavement, reason why this tree is so densely seen on the west side of the Golden Gate Park where winds coming from the ocean are particularly devastating on trees without strong roots. These trees are also prone to disease, many trees out there can be seen with some of its leaves wrinkled. You can see in the first picture a cluster of wrinkled leaves.
New Zealand Tea Tree
New Zealand tea Tree (Leptospermun scoparium)
Was baptized with the name (Leptospermun scoparium) by none other than Captain Cook himself. Captain cook was introduced to this tree rich in vitamin c on one of his voyages to New Zealand in the 1700's. It was said that people used its leaves to make tea. The tree photos are from a tree on Sloat Blvd. going north just past 19th Ave.
Was baptized with the name (Leptospermun scoparium) by none other than Captain Cook himself. Captain cook was introduced to this tree rich in vitamin c on one of his voyages to New Zealand in the 1700's. It was said that people used its leaves to make tea. The tree photos are from a tree on Sloat Blvd. going north just past 19th Ave.
Animal pictures in Marin County Parks
Black-tail deer grassing on the lawn at Paradise Beach Park in Tiburon.
Brown Seagull at Paradise Beach Park.
Arboreal Salamander (Aneides lugubris)
These two appeared as i lifted the tree root i was digging out at Paradise Beach Park in Tiburon. Pardon me gentlemen!
You sir are the hippest squirrel i have ever seen in my life, might be a San Francisco thing. I bet dogs might even like you! Spotted this guy as i was taking pictures of a Liquidambar tree, check previous post, on John F. Kennedy Drive in Golden Gate Park.
Herring Gull at McNears Park in San Rafael. The Herring Gull is identifiable by the pink legs and red spot on the lower mandible.
Beautiful Western Scrub Jay i spotted at Paradise Beach Park in Tiburon. This guy did not shy away from me as i got as close as 10 feet from him.
Snowy Egret by the side of the road near Mike's Bikes at Mill Valley.
Ranger Jim Slack keeping us from killing the only thing left intact of this Fin Whale, it's dignity. The Fin Whale is the second largest whale in the world after the blue whale. It can grow up to 80 feet. This baby was 43 feet and it lost track of its mom and ended up in Upton Beach just north of Stinson Beach.
Scientists are messy people! Scientists are conducting a necropsy to try and figure out the reason why this whale got lost and or died.
Sushi anyone?
Three beautiful Canadian Geese during the fall season at Paradise Beach Park in Tiburon.
Monday, October 21, 2013
Lemmon Bottlebrush
Lemmon Bottlebrush (Callistemon Citrinus)
Common on the streets of San francisco the Lemmon Bottlebrush has red flowers that are in the shape of a baby bottle brush, or maybe the baby bottle brush is in the shape of this flower. The flower has fine red color strands. It's brother, the Weeping Bottlebrush looks exactly the same except for it's shape. The Lemmon Bottlebrush is shaped like a mushroom and the Weeping Bottlebrush is taller and slim. The tree in the picture is next to a mechanic shop where Ocean Ave. meets Mission St.
Common on the streets of San francisco the Lemmon Bottlebrush has red flowers that are in the shape of a baby bottle brush, or maybe the baby bottle brush is in the shape of this flower. The flower has fine red color strands. It's brother, the Weeping Bottlebrush looks exactly the same except for it's shape. The Lemmon Bottlebrush is shaped like a mushroom and the Weeping Bottlebrush is taller and slim. The tree in the picture is next to a mechanic shop where Ocean Ave. meets Mission St.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Strawberry Tree
Strawberry Tree ( Arbutus Unedo )
The Strawberry Tree is a native tree of Western Europe, the Mediterranean Basin to be more precise.
This tree has become very popular in San Francisco. You can find one on nearly every street from the Excelsior district to the Haight to the Mission. Distinctively recognizable by its reddish trunk, similar to that of a Manzanita tree, and clusters of pink flowers in the shape of jellyfish. Its fruit is a grape-size ball with changing colors from green to yellow to red when ready to eat. The fruit is a favorite of birds. The tree fills completely with fruit, so much, that a lot of the fruit falls to the ground making sidewalks into a mess as people step on them when passing through. The fruit is edible, however, its weird taste allows you to eat only one. The tree in the picture below i found on Stanyan next to the Kezar Stadium parking lot. The tree of the two pictures below is located at a small park on Clay and Drumm Streets next to the poplars home of the wild parrots.
The Strawberry Tree is a native tree of Western Europe, the Mediterranean Basin to be more precise.
This tree has become very popular in San Francisco. You can find one on nearly every street from the Excelsior district to the Haight to the Mission. Distinctively recognizable by its reddish trunk, similar to that of a Manzanita tree, and clusters of pink flowers in the shape of jellyfish. Its fruit is a grape-size ball with changing colors from green to yellow to red when ready to eat. The fruit is a favorite of birds. The tree fills completely with fruit, so much, that a lot of the fruit falls to the ground making sidewalks into a mess as people step on them when passing through. The fruit is edible, however, its weird taste allows you to eat only one. The tree in the picture below i found on Stanyan next to the Kezar Stadium parking lot. The tree of the two pictures below is located at a small park on Clay and Drumm Streets next to the poplars home of the wild parrots.
Silver Dollar Gum
Silver Dollar Gum ( Eukalyptus Polyanthemos )
Native to Australia, this evergreen tree grows to a medium size and it has a gray-brown bark trunk. It's leaves are roundish in shape and are green-white almost bluish in color.
This tree stands at the corner of Elk and O'shaughnessy on Glen Canyon Park.
Native to Australia, this evergreen tree grows to a medium size and it has a gray-brown bark trunk. It's leaves are roundish in shape and are green-white almost bluish in color.
This tree stands at the corner of Elk and O'shaughnessy on Glen Canyon Park.
Western Yew
Western Yew ( Taxus Brevifolia )
From the conifer family and native to the Pacific Northwest of North America, this tree's reign stretches from central California to Alaska. This evergreen produces a cone that later turns into a bright red berry-like structure called aril. The aril has a single seed that birds eat and gets dispersed to a wide range of territory. This beautiful tree can be found at Golden Gate Park. The first one with the aril i found on Stanyan St. just past John F. Kennedy Drive on the bushes on the left hand side. Almost all those bushes above the stone wall are Western Yew. The tree on the picture below with the bench i found near the Japanese Tea Garden.
From the conifer family and native to the Pacific Northwest of North America, this tree's reign stretches from central California to Alaska. This evergreen produces a cone that later turns into a bright red berry-like structure called aril. The aril has a single seed that birds eat and gets dispersed to a wide range of territory. This beautiful tree can be found at Golden Gate Park. The first one with the aril i found on Stanyan St. just past John F. Kennedy Drive on the bushes on the left hand side. Almost all those bushes above the stone wall are Western Yew. The tree on the picture below with the bench i found near the Japanese Tea Garden.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
California Buckeye
California Buckeye (Aesculus Californica)
A San Francisco native, this tree can grow up to 20 feet provided it is well protected from the wind in windy San Francisco. The tree has long elliptical dark green leaves and produces long clusters of white flowers in May and June. The Native Americans used it's poisonous seeds to stupefy fish, making them easy prey. A good specimen can be found at the south side of Golden Gate Park's Mallard Lake. The pictures below are from a big tree at the corner of Mcallister and Willard Sts. Two blocks away from GGP.
A San Francisco native, this tree can grow up to 20 feet provided it is well protected from the wind in windy San Francisco. The tree has long elliptical dark green leaves and produces long clusters of white flowers in May and June. The Native Americans used it's poisonous seeds to stupefy fish, making them easy prey. A good specimen can be found at the south side of Golden Gate Park's Mallard Lake. The pictures below are from a big tree at the corner of Mcallister and Willard Sts. Two blocks away from GGP.
Giant Sequoia
Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum)
This unbelievable tree is a permanent resident of the Sequoia National Park just 45 minutes east of Fresno. This wonder of the world is the largest tree on Earth in mass. The largest specimen alive today is a tree named General Sherman and this gentleman is 275 feet tall with a diameter of 36 feet at its base, and believe it or not, scientists say it is still growing. The diameter at the base of its trunk is like 18 people joining hands around. The tree was named after General William T. Sherman, a soldier from the American civil war. This amazing species is unlike any other tree on Earth because it thrives on forest fires. As a matter of fact, it needs fires. Why? Because fire is what gives them the nutrients they need and it clears its surroundings of unwanted neighbors. The fire also opens the seed cones and the seeds are released from the inside. When they are released the ground is ready with large amounts of nutrients left by the fire and allows the seeds to germinate and take off. The thick bark, sometimes as thick as two feet, contains a natural chemical that makes it somewhat fireproof. It is common to see, after fires are contained, fallen trees on the ground whose wood is completely burned with only the cylinder shape of the tree formed of the unburned bark. The oldest documented Giant Sequoia has been estimated at 3,600 years old. General Sherman is been estimated to be 2,600 years old, so we can expect many more b-day cakes to come for this big guy.
The sequoias have been isolated to a small area near Tulare, California and grow at an altitude of 5,000 to 7,500 feet of elevation. Like the Coastal Redwoods, the Giant Sequoias were love at first sight for poachers and businessmen back in the day, but they soon found out that the Giant Sequoia shatters into a million pieces upon hitting the floor when cut. That is part of the reason why the Giant Sequoia has survived until today.
You can get a glimpse of this magnificent tree at Garfield Park here in the city of San Francisco. However, if you want to be blown out of your socks, plan a trip to Sequoia National Park. Four hours away, the memories are ones you are going to treasure for the rest of your life and that is worth the trip.
This unbelievable tree is a permanent resident of the Sequoia National Park just 45 minutes east of Fresno. This wonder of the world is the largest tree on Earth in mass. The largest specimen alive today is a tree named General Sherman and this gentleman is 275 feet tall with a diameter of 36 feet at its base, and believe it or not, scientists say it is still growing. The diameter at the base of its trunk is like 18 people joining hands around. The tree was named after General William T. Sherman, a soldier from the American civil war. This amazing species is unlike any other tree on Earth because it thrives on forest fires. As a matter of fact, it needs fires. Why? Because fire is what gives them the nutrients they need and it clears its surroundings of unwanted neighbors. The fire also opens the seed cones and the seeds are released from the inside. When they are released the ground is ready with large amounts of nutrients left by the fire and allows the seeds to germinate and take off. The thick bark, sometimes as thick as two feet, contains a natural chemical that makes it somewhat fireproof. It is common to see, after fires are contained, fallen trees on the ground whose wood is completely burned with only the cylinder shape of the tree formed of the unburned bark. The oldest documented Giant Sequoia has been estimated at 3,600 years old. General Sherman is been estimated to be 2,600 years old, so we can expect many more b-day cakes to come for this big guy.
The sequoias have been isolated to a small area near Tulare, California and grow at an altitude of 5,000 to 7,500 feet of elevation. Like the Coastal Redwoods, the Giant Sequoias were love at first sight for poachers and businessmen back in the day, but they soon found out that the Giant Sequoia shatters into a million pieces upon hitting the floor when cut. That is part of the reason why the Giant Sequoia has survived until today.
You can get a glimpse of this magnificent tree at Garfield Park here in the city of San Francisco. However, if you want to be blown out of your socks, plan a trip to Sequoia National Park. Four hours away, the memories are ones you are going to treasure for the rest of your life and that is worth the trip.
Coast Redwood
Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens)
The Coastal Redwood is tallest growing tree on Earth. This amazing tree can grow from 300' to 350' feet high. It extends from Northern California to Oregon state. The Coast Redwood can live a very long time, some trees have been estimated to be 700 to 800 years of age in the redwoods of Ukiah. Its wood has always been very attractive and widely used for the construction of houses and furniture.
In the city of San Francisco, the Coastal Redwood has been taking attention away from the Transamerica Pyramid since it was built. Next to the building is a half an acre park dedicated to Coastal Redwood trees brought from the Santa Cruz Mountains where people could escape their office to. The resemblance of the Pyramid and trees in shape and height is metaphorically captivating to think about. Both are triangular in shape and are super tall. Here are some pictures i took at the redwood park by the Transamerica Pyramid.
The Coastal Redwood is tallest growing tree on Earth. This amazing tree can grow from 300' to 350' feet high. It extends from Northern California to Oregon state. The Coast Redwood can live a very long time, some trees have been estimated to be 700 to 800 years of age in the redwoods of Ukiah. Its wood has always been very attractive and widely used for the construction of houses and furniture.
In the city of San Francisco, the Coastal Redwood has been taking attention away from the Transamerica Pyramid since it was built. Next to the building is a half an acre park dedicated to Coastal Redwood trees brought from the Santa Cruz Mountains where people could escape their office to. The resemblance of the Pyramid and trees in shape and height is metaphorically captivating to think about. Both are triangular in shape and are super tall. Here are some pictures i took at the redwood park by the Transamerica Pyramid.
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