Nature Notes: Coast Live Oak

 Coast Live Oak

Coast Live Oak: photo by Cliff Hutson

The coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) derives its name for the reason that, as an evergreen, it does not shed its leaves for a dormant season. It is is native to California, occurring in our Mediterranean habitats which are characterized by mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. and is the most abundant species of oak along the coast, ranging from Sonoma County into Baja California. 

It is notable that the coast live oak, especially in its Spanish forms encino or encina, encinitas "little oaks", and encinal "oak grove", gave its name to seven land grants across California and to many communities and geographic features. These include Rancho Los Encinos, the Los Angeles community of Encino, Encinitas near San Diego, and Encinal del Temescal, now the city of Oakland.

Go For a Ride

 Another Perfect Day

Classic Ride: photo by Cliff Hutson

Another entry from the realm of National Days - "Go For a Ride Day" is celebrated on November 22. We are urged to hop in the car, jump on the bike, or (some say) even go for a walk. Although, take a hike day can was actually last week.

LA Skyline: photo by Cliff Hutson

And, in LA it looks to be another perfect day for cruising,

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Caribou Throw: photo by Cliff Hutson

Sometimes a person just needs to take a break. 

“Insight comes, more often than not, from looking at what’s been on the table all along, in front of everybody, rather than from discovering something new.”—David McCullough

Because, sometimes you get nothing.

Just a Cat Photograph

Animal Companion

Mini: photo by Cliff Hutson

Perhaps One More

The Shadow: photo by Cliff Hutson

National STEM/STEAM Day

November 8 is a day meant to inspire kids to explore and pursue their interests in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. 

#STEMSTEAMDay

Reading Log: October 2021

 The books that I finished reading in October 2021:

October 2021 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

"The Keeper of the Keys," Earl Derr Biggers

"Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation," Michael Pollan

"Diet for a Small Planet: 50th Anniversary Edition," Frances Moore Lappé 

"Every Tool's a Hammer," Adam Savage

"Weapons of Math Destruction," Cathy O'Neil

"It's a Wonderful Woof," Spencer Quinn

"On Juneteenth," Annette Gordon-Reed

National Author’s Day

November 1, 2021, is National Author's Day.

"The Author is a certain functional principle by which, in our culture, one limits, excludes and chooses: ... The author is therefore the ideological figure by which one marks the manner in which we fear the proliferation of meaning."

- Michel Foucault

Día de los Muertos

Día de los Muertos: photo by Cliff Hutson

Today is also Día de los Muertos or the Day of the Dead.