Oak Woodland

 Oak Woodland

Oak Trees: photo by Cliff Hutson

When I picture an oak woodland in my mind it is one with coast live oaks that stand closely together so that their canopies overlap. Low bushes cover the ground along with a layer of debris.

Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) is the most abundant species of oak along the California coast, ranging from Sonoma County into Baja California. Of course, in other parts of the state different oaks will predominate; but coast live oak is the one I grew up  and continue to see almost daily.

It is well adapted to to our Mediterranean climate of hot, dry summers and cool, hopefully rainy winters. Coast live oaks are evergreen, with a tough little leaf. 

Leaf and Acorn (Quercus agrifolia): photo by Cliff Huston

The oak woodland is one of my favorite habitats. More than coincidently, I guess, in it are found some of my favorite animals as well: Acorn Woodpecker, Western Scrub Jay, and Western Gray Squirrel to recite just three. Plants in this habit could include California Bay and Toyon.

California Bay: photo by Cliff Hutson

I have read that many early settlers wrote about the mystical beauty of oak trees. I certainly get an inspirational feeling when ever I get the opportunity to spend some quiet moments of reflection in a such a grove.

Coast Live Oak: photo by Cliff Hutson

California Native Plant Week - 2022

 California Native Plant Week

California Poppy: photo by Cliff Hutson

California Native Plant Week began last Saturday, April 16, and will run through April 23rd. 

California is the most biologically and geographically diverse state in the United States. This makes for a large and diverse native flora. Southern California, the region that I am most familiar with, encompasses about 2,200 species of native vascular plants. (I have written about a few.) That is about half the flora occurring anywhere in the state, just to you some idea of what nature has in store.

No matter where you are,  check out what the California Native Plant Society is offering in celebration of this week. 

Five Spot: photo by Cliff Hutson

Earth Day

Earth Day is this coming Friday, April 22.  I would recommend observing it by going out and looking for native plants. But, here are some other suggested activities.

Reading Log: March 2022

 The books that I read in March 2022

March 2022 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

"Robert B. Parker's Someone to Watch Over Me," Ace Atkins

"Who Built That? Modern House," Didier Cornille

"Cliff Hutson: The Story of Your DNA," 23andMe

"Candida Höfer: Architecture of Absence," Constance Glenn  (Author), Virginia Heckert (Author), Mary Kay Lombino (Author), Candida Höfer (Photographer)

Cliff's Notes

"Someone"

This is another great Spenser story by Atkins. Ripped from the headlines, as they say, our intrepid detective goes after some people who have a very bad predilection. 

The funny thing is that he does not seem to age while others about  him do, save Susan and Hawk.  The protagonist of this tale is Mattie. We first met her, at the age of fourteen, in "Lullaby" which was published nine years ago and she is about 22-years old in this telling. 

The book also introduces a German short-haired pointer puppy named Pearl. There have been two previous Pearls, as this story opens the second one has recently died. Based on the average life expectancy of the breed, that would indicate that 24 to 28 years have elapsed over the course of Spenser's adventures. 

Yet, he, nor his two his faithful companions seem to have grown older. Not, so that the reader can tell anyway. Even though he and Hawk must be well past sixty, neither has a lost a step. They certainly rival Jack LaLanne in their ability to hold it together.

"Modern House"

Some might call this a children's book, but I feel that readers of all ages can avail themselves of this introduction to to ten of modern architecture's most important homes and their creators. 

"Cliff Hutson"

Genealogical DNA testing has become very popular.  As a multiracial/multiethnic person I have long been curious about my makeup and decided to join the fray. I used three different companies: 23andMe, Ancestry.com, and National Geographic Geno 2.0.  The results varied, but are more or less in line with each other. 

I find the results from 23andMe most interesting as they indicate that I have a great-grand parent who was 100% "French & German", and that person was likely born between 1860 and 1920.  Assuming that the earlier years of this time frame are true would bear out family lore that my mother's grandfather was French. 

In any event, having a book in which I am the subject is kind of fun.

"Architecture of Absence"

This a photography book. Höfer photographs empty spaces, i.e., libraries, concert halls, and museums without people visible in them. Three authors strive mightily to put this in context. 

Cuban Food

Cuban cooking is a blend of African, Spanish, Taino, and other Caribbean cuisines. I do not have to travel to Havana, Miami, nor Tampa to get good Cuban food as there are places right here in Southern California where it is available, even my home.

Pastels de Carne

Meat pie: Puff pastry filled with picadillo (Cuban-style ground beef with onion, bell pepper, olive, and Spanish seasonings)

Empanadas de Pollo

Savory hand pie filled with Cuban-style chicken fricassee

Rollos de Queso

Cheese rolls: Puff pastry made with European style butter with cream cheese filling, topped with sugar.

¡Me comí esto!

I ate this! Also, I could honestly say that I baked these dishes. But, in the interest of full disclosure; Porto's,  a favorite bakery/cafe of mine, has come up with an online “bake at home” strategy. With a minimum two days notice, it will ship, unbaked, a subset of their full menu to me to arrive on the day of my choice, packed in dry ice.  I transfer it to my freezer, then all I have have I have to do for a meal is to take out the desired quantity and pop it in the oven for 20 - 30 minutes, and voilà. I still do the sides on my own.

Sadly, they do not offer my favorite thing for bake at home, but the items that do have are a welcome change of pace from cooking for myself.