Mendocino~

On By cindy knokeIn Conservation, Flowers, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS217 Comments

(click/tap to enlarge and be sure to look at mystery plant at the end)

in Northern California,

is a blooming,

splendor.

Rhododendron grow riotously,

and water lillies,

abound.

Mendocino is less traveled,

allowing nature and people,

room to breathe.

Note: This last plant puzzled me. Do you know what it is without peeking? The flowers suggest foxglove, but the stalk was a mystery. I did lots of internet sleuthing to no avail, until I finally searched for mutant foxglove and found one example from Clemson University. Here is the citation:

What is it Wednesday?

Did you guess correctly? I certainly could not.

Cheers to you from blooming Mendocino~

WAYMO Better~

On By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Tech Marvels, TRAVEL REVIEWS218 Comments

(click/tap to enlarge to see the happy passenger!)

We are on the road again.

A Jaguar driverless taxi,

is a great way to roll!

No need to keep up conversation with your taxi driver.

There isn’t one!

Optimal for cruising over-crowded San Francisco.

You can fully enjoy the scenery without bickering about directions.

Back seat drivers are pointless because the car doesn’t care!

There are lots of these taxis ferrying people around Presidio National Park in San Francisco.

The Presidio,

is a blooming beauty this time of year.

Cheers to you from Presidio National Park in San Francisco~

(Note- WAYMO is a fleet of fully autonomous electric vehicles owned by Alphabet the parent company of Google. It has taxis available throughout San Francisco, and in designated areas of Los Angeles, Austin and Phoenix).

Sea Creatures~

On By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Wild Life218 Comments

(click/tap to enlarge)

Have ocean eyes,

good for seeing,

in the murky depths.

Catching critters,

as they swim away.

Except for Squirrely,

who doesn’t even let his feet get wet.

Cheers to you from La Jolla’s sea creatures.

Critters in order are: Brandt’s Cormorant, Black Oystercatcher, Heerman’s Gull and California Ground Squirrel.

Goldies~

On By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, HOLLER HAPPENINGS, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES241 Comments

(click/tap to enlarge)

Flying,

sunbursts,

in the garden.

This handsome boy,

is a Hooded Oriole,

and this is a male Bullocks Oriole.

The males are clearly striking.

But the females,

have their own more subtle beauty.

Male Hooded and Bullocks sharing the jelly!

Cheers to you from The Holler flying sunbursts~

Greedy Gawpers~

On By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, HOLLER HAPPENINGS, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Wild Life183 Comments

(click/tap to enlarge to details)

Gulp grape jelly,

gobbling a gallon in a week.

They love to guzzle,

and gape,

at the odd creature,

who gives them grape.

They don’t grumble and nicely share,

as long as there’s generous gobs of grape.

Cheers to you from the glorious, glutinous, Holler Acorn Woodpeckers~

Nervous Napper~

On By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, HOLLER HAPPENINGS, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES211 Comments

(click/tap to enlarge or you won’t see the details of this tiniest-flying-wonder)

Holler Hummers,

are avid human watchers.

Especially when they need a safe siesta spot.

They know the nearby human keeps attacking hummers at bay,

allowing the tired hummer to nap-away.

Cheers to you from the nervously napping Holler hummer~

Did He Who Made the Lamb~

On By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS, Wild Life155 Comments

(click/tap to enlarge)

Notice the kids having a frolic on their own?

Not a chance! Clever Mama keeps a covert eye.

It’s best to let them think they’re independent!

The human interloper is quite a curious sight,

even the tiny tots,

pause,

to take,

a peek.

The teenagers have more freedom,

but the herd of ewes and lambs,

always stay together.

Cheers to you from The Southwest Desert Mountain Sheep~

Note: Desert Bighorn Sheep are a sub-species of Big Horn Sheep adapted to desert life. They are a federally designated endangered species.

Big Horn Welcoming Committee~

On By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS, Wild Life142 Comments

(click/tap to enlarge)

Near the Amagarosa Mountain Range Nevada.

Traveling now,

but will catch up soon.

Spent a good chunk of time with these beauties,

and their irresistible,

lambs.

Desert Big Horn Sheep are considered sensitive to extinction in the Southwest.

Beyond thrilling to hang with this herd.

The rain continues and they are healthy!

Cheers to you from The Southwest Desert Big Horns~