Bull Thistle

I find Bull Thistles beautiful at every stage of their two-year life-cycle. This one at Bel Marin Keys.

 

Mt. Tam Again

Another view of Mount Tamalpais. This time from Bel Marin Keyes. Taken a few days ago.

 

Eucalyptus Baby

Here's a Eucalyptus baby I photographed on Tuesday at Bel Marin Keys. It's hard to imagine that it may grow to a height of over 100 feet. Eucalyptus trees were introduced to California by Australians in the 1850's. While they have many qualities useful to man, there are also some serious downsides. One of these is the fire-hazard they present. A prime example was the 1991 Oakland Hills firestorm, which ultimately killed 25 people, partly fueled by Eucalyptus trees, growing too close to homes.

 

Anise - The Prequel

A couple of days ago I presented a picture of an Anise plant which, sadly, but beautifully, was no longer among the living.

 

Today, we have here, a baby anise plant, ready to pop out of its sheath. Beautiful, isn't it? Photographed at Bel Marin Keys.

 

Please, don't quote me, but I believe we are dealing with Pimpinella anisum, used to flavor food, drinks, and candy.

 

Bees

Bee-hive at Bel Marin Keys this morning. The hives are marked "Tauzer Apiaries ~ Woodland, CA". And here's where the expression "As busy as bees" originated ~

 

Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, (the Squire's Tale), 1386-1400:

Ey! Goddes mercy!" sayd our Hoste tho,
Now such a wyf I pray God keep me fro.
Lo, suche sleightes and subtilitees
In wommen be; for ay as busy as bees
Be thay us seely men for to desceyve,
And from a soth ever a lie thay weyve.
And by this Marchaundes tale it proveth wel.

Anise

Anise, this morning on the Earthquake Trail in Point Reyes.

 

It Must be Love

People are always asking me whether deer kiss. Finally, this morning, I came up with a definitive answer. Which is, a big, and resounding, YES!

 

To no-one's surprise, it happened right outside my kitchen window, scene of many a spell-binding wildlife performance.

 

Moth

Sorry, but all I know is that it's a moth. And, in my opinion, a good-looking one at that. It's been sitting, motionless, on the staircase wall for four days.

 

Henry

I'm sure you have been breathlessly following the adventures of Henry, the spider on my kitchen window. I took the attached picture last night, as the sun was setting. You will see Henry on the left. This morning he was gone. And so was the web. Will he return?

 

All of which brings me to our delightful American vernacular. We can say that Henry split, skidaddled, flew the coop, skipped town, boogied, sang his swan song, went AWOL, or is on the lam. I am sure there are many more ways in which to report his departure.

 

Whatever the term, I sit here and feel a little abandoned and lonely.

 

My Kitchen Window

Looking out my kitchen window is more fun than watching television or Googling. But what I'd like to know is why the deer on the right is sticking out its tongue at me. Was it something I said?