What's Lurking under the Willow Tree?

Is That Hollow a Good Place to Hide?

If one passes by this willow tree and looks at it from the path, one sees this shady space, almost like a little hollow or cave that would make a good hiding place. But you aren't likely to find any lovers there making the most of solitude. Anyone who has any sense will stay away.

Let's take a closer look at what's hidden in the shadow of this tree. I approach it, stepping away from the trail. I use my flash to chase away the shadows. Does it look like a good hiding place now? It this a tree you'd like to climb? Would you like to gather these beautiful shiny autumn leaves? I don't think so. Not if you recognize that lovely patch of poison oak?

And If You Did Not Recognize the Poison Oak in Time or Fell Into It?

Use this. It should offer some relief from the itching and pain.

A Closer Look at the Poison Oak Leaves

The photo above shows how the poison oak looked under the tree without using the flash. It was late afternoon. You will notice that some leaves are changing color, but others are still quite green. Poison oak leaves are arranged in groups of three connected leaflets. They are shiny with urushiol, the oil that causes the rash when it comes in contact with skin. The leaves don't have to touch the skin to cause the rash. Anything touching the skin that has picked up some oil can also do the same damage -- clothing, pet fur, etc.

Below is a photo I took exactly two years earlier than the photo above under that same tree. Here it is easier to see the patterns and colors of the leaves.

It is very important for anyone who hikes in California to be able to recognize poison oak. When I was growing up, we all learned the rhyme you may have heard: "Leaves of three, let it be." That's a good precaution. It's better safe than sorry. And if you touch poison oak and are as sensitive to it as most people are, you will be sorry. Books can tell you how to identify poison oak, but the sketches are often much neater than what you will see in the wild.

 It's true that berries that grow in some of the same places as poison oak does and can resemble it. I've seen them grow right next to each other. Most of the berries have thorns. Poison oak doesn't. They both change color in the fall. If in doubt, don't touch.

Poison Oak Loves to Climb

It climbs fences and shrubs. It especially likes to climb oak trees. Chances are if you are in an unmaintained area and you see a group of oak trees, you will also find poison oak climbing some of them.

Many public parks in Paso Robles that have open spaces don't maintain those open spaces. That's why Larry Moore Park is such a likely place to encounter poison oak right next to trail. I've even seen poison oak in maintained areas. I once encountered it encroaching on a public sidewalk on a busy street next to a hospital in San Luis Obispo.  I sure didn't expect to see it on a busy city sidewalk.

Go enjoy your open spaces, but be careful. Keep your eyes open and stay away from anything than looks like poison oak. If you are walking your dog in such a place, remember if he gets the oil on his fur, and you pet him, you can be just as miserable as if you'd touched the plant itself.

Have you had any experiences with poison oak or poison ivy? Feel free to share them in the comments.

***

Wordless Wednesday: The Next Generation of Milk Thistle

New Life Rises from the Death of the Old Milk Thistles

Milk Thistle Seedheads with Green Jimson Weed in Background, © B. Radisavljevic

Dying Milk Thistle with Flowers Turned to Thistles, © B. Radisavljevic

What's Wrong with This Picture?

 Would you rather remove the can or the poison oak?  © B. Radisavljevic

Like It? Please Pin It.

For more information on these plants, also see these articles:

Milk Thistle and Hemlock: The Prickly and the Poisonous

Oak and Poison Oak in Photos: Can You Tell the Difference?

Beware the Jimson Weed Blooming in the Summer and Fall

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Pomegranates: A Beautiful Autumn Gift

Pomegranates Are Stunning Stars of the Autumn Garden

When many flowers are beginning to disappear, the bright red fruit of the pomegranate tree adds a burst of color to a flower bed. I found this tree in my neighbor's flower garden.

Pomegranates on the Tree, © B. Radisavljevic

I only wish I'd been around with my camera when this pomegranate tree was in bloom. I've never seen it blooming. I must have been too busy to walk in that direction during spring. I'll make a point of going next spring, God willing. I'm sure it will be a show worth seeing.

I did find this photo of a pomegranate blossom on Pixabay. It shows me what I missed. Imagine a tree filled with these flowers! You can see one of the forming fruits peeking out beneath a leaf a bit higher than the flower.

Pomegranate Flower Image Courtesy of Pixabay

Here's how the tree looks in the garden among the flowers. I believe those are roses below it.

Pomegranate Tree in a Garden, © B. Radisavljevic

Pomegranates Make Lovely Tree Ornaments

As I gazed at the tree, the pomegranate fruits looked like Christmas tree ornaments.  I decided to put some on Zazzle ornaments. They come in many styles and shapes. You can get large ceramic ones as hearts, squares, circles, or ovals -- the only ceramic shapes I recommend. You can also get smaller premium ornaments with metal edges, like this one. (Also available as square.)

Ripe Pomegranate Ornament
by barbsbooks

These ornaments from Amazon feature open pomegranates that display their delicious seeds. Even the seed color is red to contrast with the green of the trees.

Sur La Table Pomegranate Glass OrnamentOrnaments to Remember: POMEGRANATE Christmas OrnamentOld World Christmas Pomegranate Glass Blown Ornament

Pomegranates Are Tasty and Healthy Fruits

Pomegranate seeds (also known as arils) are packed with nutrients. Just one cup contains 7 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein. They are also good sources of Vitamin C, Vitamin K, folate, and potassium. They contain powerful antioxidants, as well.

 If that's not enough, they also fight inflammation in the body and may help defend the body against breast and prostate cancer. That's just the beginning of the pomegranate's virtues as a nutrient.  Read more about the healthful effects of eating pomegranates at Twelve Health Benefits of Pomegranate in the Healthlines Newsletter.

Of course, to get the health benefits, one has to actually consume the pomegranate arils. They are tasty, tart and sweet together. The reason more people don't eat pomegranates is that they can be expensive if you don't have a tree, and they aren't the easiest fruit to eat. All the tasty nutritious arils are buried in a tough bitter membrane and it is hard to remove them by hand. I just discovered there is a better way to get at them instead of digging them out while staining your fingers with that lovely red color. There is a handy tool for getting them loose.





Some people still think that's too much work, so they just buy pomegranate juice. It's also packed with nutrients and phytochemicals your body needs, but you can't get the fiber from the juice. This book will tell you more about why pomegranates are considered by some to be so useful in wellness.

Do You Eat Pomegranates?

If you do eat pomegranates, do you dig the seeds out by hand, use a tool, or have a different method of getting them loose? If you don't eat them, what is the main reason why you don't? Have you tried them and not enjoyed their taste? Or does it just seem like too much work to eat them? Do you eat or drink them in products such as juice or jelly? I drink a white tea in which pomegranate extract is one of the ingredients used to add flavor.

Of course there's more one can do with pomegranates than eating the seeds or drinking juice or tea. This book celebrates the pomegranate and contains seventy different recipes that include it. I'd like to try the syrup and some of the main dish recipes.



In addition to explaining how to use the seeds or juice them, the book also illuminates the cultural history of the pomegranate, which has been prized since Biblical times. Some scholars believe this is the forbidden fruit Eve ate, but some others believe she ate a fig or apricot. Apples didn't grow in the Middle East that far back in time.

Do you have a favorite pomegranate recipe? How do you most enjoy getting your pomegranate flavor? Have you ever had a pomegranate tree in your yard?

***

What I Observed from my Bench at Larry Moore Park

You Can See a Lot of Nature Just Sitting on a Park Bench

Many times we don't really notice what's right in front of us. When I was escaping my roofers' noises this week I found myself on this bench. I'm so blessed I can walk over here, though I didn't on this particular day. This is the bench upon which I sat.

This bench faces west toward the Salinas River, but the riverbed is dry now. On the other side of the river runs some railroad tracks and on the other side of those the 101 Freeway as it goes through Paso Robles. To the left of the bench is the end of the cul-de-sac and a fence dividing public land from the small farm across from it. That land is where I saw the goats after I left this bench to go home.

This Bench Offers a Dose of Wilderness Close to Civilization

One of the first things I saw was an Amtrak train heading south from the Paso Robles Station. It always passes the park, and you can almost set your clock by it if you pay attention. Normally I see it going toward the station, but I was earlier than usual on this day.

You can see beyond the train to the cars on the freeway. It's a divided freeway on this stretch. I was using a zoom lens, so that train and the freeway look much closer than they really are. You'd have to walk about two blocks through the park and across the riverbed and then a bit further to get to those train tracks. When you listen to the video you will hear the traffic, but I believe the train was gone by the time I made the video.

The Salinas River Trail

My bench sits near an entrance to the Salinas River Trail that goes through the park and past it for a couple of miles. If you look to the right of the bench, as I did to take this photo, you will see the trail. Quite often people are walking or biking there. Many people use the trail or the dry riverbed to walk their dogs.

The Video

As I sat on my bench, I made a video by pointing the camera from the right to the left to take in my view. I aimed it up, down, and sideways to take in the height of the tree near me. I narrate to tell you what I'm seeing and doing. I hope you enjoy it.

Still Views from My Bench

Below you see the path that leads to the riverbed, now dry. On the far right is the tree branch you saw in the video that bends all the way to the ground and looks like a little tree by itself. Between that and the path to the river you see a bed of poison oak with a red tinge. The oak is on the left and its branch extends all the way to the ground on the right. The path is steeper than it looks and one has to be careful not to slip -- especially when it's wet after one of our rare rains.

Here's a closer look at that poison oak beside the path to the river.

Here's the other side of the oak on the left side of the path.

Below is the rest of the oak and the rocks near the trail entrance near the road. On the far left you are seeing outside the park onto the private property where I saw the goats yesterday.

This is another perspective of the oak with a zoom and some dried poison hemlock stalks. Have you noticed how much poison lurks near the trails?

Here's a book that will help you identify and deal with poison oak if you happen to touch it. This book has the highest reviews of any I saw, and a great section on identifying these plants.

Below I put the poison oak right next to the oak branch so you can see the leaves clearly. There's part of a willow tree on the far left near the top.

Now You've Shared my Views from the Park Bench

Which did you like best? Did you learn anything from these photos? I feel very fortunate to be able to walk to this park when I need a dose of nature. 

*****

Life in a Patch of Lavender in October

This Lavender Patch is Buzzing with Life In October

I found this bit of lavender growing in the almost deserted community garden in Templeton in mid-October. You cannot discover how full of life it is in this still photo. That's because the lively creatures active in it are so well camouflaged you can't see them very well unless they are moving

A Lavender Patch in October, © B. Radisavljevic

That's why I want you to see them moving in this video. I'm only sorry the hummingbird that was flitting around disappeared when I started shooting the video. It must have been camera-shy.

A Deserted Community Garden

As you can see from the following photos, it seems most gardeners in the Templeton Community Garden have quit for the season. You can see the patch of lavender from a different perspective as I enter the garden from the path. The lavender is on the right. The raised bed behind it seems to have been left to fend for itself, as have most of the others in the garden.

Deserted Templeton Community Garden in October, © B. Radisavljevic

Below you can see the torch lily, also known as red hot poker, complementing the color of the lavender and adding height.

Lavender Patch and Torch Lily in October, © B. Radisavljevic

In the photo below, I'm standing behind the lavender looking back toward Main Street in Templeton. This gives you an overall view of the lavender patch and its environment.

A Lavender Patch in October, © B. Radisavljevic

The One Active Raised Bed in the Garden

The one raised bed that appeared to still be cared for is this one, full of ripening tomatoes. I can see why it has not been deserted. Look at those luscious tomatoes, many ready to be eaten. I'm sure the gardener who planted these will return to harvest his or her crop. Wouldn't you?

 October Tomatoes in the Templeton Community Garden, © B. Radisavljevic

A Lavender Patch in October, © B. Radisavljevic

Watching the Goats Who Live Near Larry Moore Park

A Parade of Goats to Photograph

Yesterday as I was about ready to load up my camera and go home from my walk, I found a reason to stay longer.  A farmer with property adjoining the park opened a gate to let his goats run into a pen right in front of me. In they hurried, one by one, and each immediately started looking for something to eat. It was hard to get the photos I wanted because of the fence between me and the goats and the speed at which they moved.

The Goat Photos

Nevertheless, I did get a few photos, and I discovered some of these goats did not seem in great shape. At first I thought this one just didn't want to turn his head toward the camera.

Then I discovered after watching for a few minutes it probably couldn't turn its head. I had to wonder what had happened to this poor creature.

This goat seems to not have problems - at least to my untrained eye from a distance. In case you're wondering, that white spot near the top edge is a cat.

This goat also has both horns and holds its head normally.

This goat knows exactly what its job is and is going about it diligently. You are seeing the riverbed in the background. I'm using a zoom because the goats are far from where I'm standing, so the river looks closer than it really is.

There were other goats, but they weren't as easy to photograph. I would have liked a better picture of this last one, but every time it jumped up to see over the fence and greet me, it jumped back down before I could get in focus. I finally got this much of it. I think it wants to be a unicorn. Though I guess it didn't choose to lose its other horn.

Have you ever had a goat? Have you ever wanted one? Feel free to share your goat experiences in the comments. I'd also love to hear any comments you have about these goats -- especially if you know their stories.

Escape to Beauty: Look Up to the Sky and Trees

I Fled The Roofing Noise into the Beauty Not Far from Home

Yes, this is Day 3 of the roofing repairs. They were supposed to have finished, but obviously they haven't. But no more roofing photos today. There are more beautiful subjects. In the morning I mostly mostly did errands -- shopping, and getting gas. I stopped at home to see if maybe it would be quiet enough to eat lunch at home, but it wasn't, so off I went to Touch of Paso. The food was good, but it was much nosier than usual because of an unhappy toddler, so I didn't get the peace I was seeking. Off I went to the Paso Robles Library!

Paso Robles Library,  © B. Radisavljevic

The Library and Home Again

While at the library I checked the new book shelf and decided to check out one of the Express Books (due in seven days). It looked more interesting than the eBook I was reading. I was quite sleepy after that large lunch I ate and needed an author I know could keep me awake until I could go home, but not one that would keep me up late to finish the book. I chose Debbie Macomber's A Girl's Guide to Moving On. It's about a woman and her mother-in-law trying to help each other through divorces from their unfaithful husbands who had broken their hearts. I got the first seven chapters read before 4 pm, the time the roofers usually leave. I went home to see if the coast was clear. It wasn't. This is what I saw. (Sorry. I said no more photos of this.)

Roofing Repairs, © B. Radisavljevic

On the way home I took the long way to stop and get the mail. Before I got to the mailbox, I stopped to get a photo of one of my favorite oaks that lives near the corner of South River Road and Bridgegate.

An Oak Tree in Paso Robles, © B. Radisavljevic

The Park, the Sky, and the Trees

Before I got to the mailbox I'd also stopped to snap some other trees that I don't normally see before sundown. When I finally saw the roofers wouldn't be leaving any time soon, I drove over to the park, planning to sit and read some more. However, I was still really sleepy and decided I needed to walk off some of that lunch.

The Sky and Trees from Larry Moore Park, © B. Radisavljevic

The sky above the park was full of a mixture of fluffy and gray clouds. It was hard to stop snapping them, especially since they were framed with the park's magnificent trees. It's really hard to choose which photos to show you. I'll stick to sky and trees for now and show you the goats and the turkey vultures on another day. They were a surprise and an added bonus.

The Sky and Trees from Larry Moore Park, © B. Radisavljevic

I wish I could show you this sky as I saw it -- one continuous panorama, changing by the minute as the earth moved.

The Sky and Trees from Larry Moore Park, © B. Radisavljevic

The Sky and Trees from Larry Moore Park, © B. Radisavljevic

The Sky and Trees from Larry Moore Park, © B. Radisavljevic

OK. One Vulture in this last photo.

The Sky and Trees from Larry Moore Park and One Turkey Vulture, © B. Radisavljevic

Even the walk did not cure my drowsiness. Only a complete night's sleep will take care of that. Since I saw that won't be happening tonight, I took a nap when I got home. With all those clouds I'm sure I missed a magnificent sunset, but a girl's got to sleep some time. That will happen after I get this blog posted.

How was your day?