Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago
Being a tourist walking the streets of Chicago on a rainy day doesn’t have much appeal for me, so my daughter and I explored other options and discovered a magical
The Badlands at Anza-Borrego State Park
A few weeks ago I visited Anza-Borrego State Park for an off-road tour of the wildflowers. Included in that excursion was a bonus trip to the Badlands, the Malpais. As you probably have discerned, I
Spring at Descanso Gardens 2019
I recently posted a story about the Camellia Show at Descanso Gardens. The show was a side trip; my real reason for visiting the gardens was
Anza Borrego Wildflowers
California has had record rain this year resulting in snow in the Sierra Nevada and the local mountains, as well as a
A Frosty Morning in Southern California
As I start this little story, it’s raining outside my window. It’s been raining for several days here in Southern California. I’m not complaining because the rain brings snow to the Sierra Nevada Mountains. That’s a good thing. It also briefly brings
Visiting the San Andreas Fault
For the last several years, I’ve lived with the threat of the Big One. The San Andreas Fault, California’s most famous source of earthquakes, runs roughly south to north the entire length of the state. It cuts through
2018 Spider Pavilion – Museum of Natural History of LA County
It’s time for the 2018 Spider Pavilion at the Natural History Museum. This is an outdoor, up-close lab where one can walk through spider habitat. It’s perfect for autumn! Of course, I made a visit this year. Who
The Aquarium of the Pacific – Long Beach, CA
This year, 2018, marks the twentieth anniversary of the Aquarium of the Pacific. Since it seems to be a permanent fixture having survived
Tule Elk Reserve – Buttonwillow, CA
Roughly 150 years ago, about half a million Tule Elk roamed California’s Central Valley. As with so many animals in America, the elks were game and men hunted the herds to near extinction. I recently visited the Tule Elk Reserve in Buttonwillow, near Bakersfield because