CaliforniaGirlinOz (now just California Girl)

 What a lovely time!  The Sonoma Botanical Gardens (formerly Quarryhill) had a reception last evening to mark the opening of a new exhibition, Winged Wonders -- a collection of enormous bird sculptures made into open structures that suggest various birds that are frequently seen in our area.  They are astonishing and lovely -- and I forgot to take a single picture of them! That's partly because they had two exquisite owls...actual owls...there at the event.  A small Western Screech Owl, who is gorgeous -- very calm and experienced.  I think his handler said this little owl has done 13 events like this.  Western Screech Owl  The other was a much larger, very beautiful Banded Owl, who has only been doing events like this for 4 years, so he got a bit more anxious as the number of visitors around him increased.  You could tell because while he stayed calm, he opened his beak and panted a little, which are signs of agitation. This is the Banded Owl The...

 Perfect morning for a 3-miler in the Sonoma Valley Regional Park in Glen Ellen.  The wildflowers are lovely, as the Baby Blue Eyes begin to fade and the Poached Egg Plant explodes with cream and yellow everywhere. The streams are receding quickly and the little streamlet are already gone.  Everything is still vibrant green and lush, but it's clear drier days will be here quickly.  We have to enjoy this bounty while we have it! Poached Egg Plant,  Limnanthes douglasii Baby Blue Eyes are fading fast. Water levels are dropping quickly now. It isn't often I get to share the road with a lovely horse!