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Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Hahamongna Detail Week, 1

Hahamongna Watershed Park is not beautiful in a conventional sense. It's not crashing waves, alpine meadows, or even amber waves of grain, though on some days the skies are glorious. Much of the growth here is native California scrub.

There are what you might call sweeping vistas, of NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab.

Conventional beauty has never been Boz's thing. Give him the wild smells and plenty of things to pee on, and he's happy.


This week, Boz is giving you a tour of Hahamongna Watershed Park to show you some of his favorite details. I'll check in and respond to comments as much as possible. It shouldn't be too hard. I hope you're having a week full of wonders.

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23 comments:

  1. Kalei's Best FriendMarch 19, 2013 at 4:52 AM

    So, that's what that is.. I was thinking Oleander!. Anxious to see what Boz is attracted to...

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  2. BirdmanMarch 19, 2013 at 6:18 AM

    Jet Propulsion and this delicate flower together in the same shot. Interesting.

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  3. Susan CampisiMarch 19, 2013 at 6:30 AM

    Great shot! It's even more impressive when you enlarge it a couple of times. The flower is so vivid, I want to reach into my computer screen and touch it. Hahamongna is a study in contrasts. With JPL in the background, you've captured that perfectly.

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  4. BaysideLifeMarch 19, 2013 at 7:00 AM

    California scrub is pretty darn beautiful. Great photo capturing both subjects.

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  5. VirginiaMarch 19, 2013 at 7:07 AM

    I"m happy to take this hike with Boz. Love the detail and the DOF you captured P.
    V

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  6. Petrea BurchardMarch 19, 2013 at 8:31 AM

    California scrub is beautiful. Gloriously so. I don't know what this plant is, but I hope someone who does will stop by and tell us.

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  7. LOLfromPasaMarch 19, 2013 at 8:49 AM

    Lovely, Petrea! This is one area I have not explored. Looking forward to more.

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  8. SpeedwayMarch 19, 2013 at 9:08 AM

    I love the colors in the plant and its lines. I also love what goes on at JPL, even if I can't see it other than special occasions. You go, Boz! Good job! Good dog!

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  9. DesireeMarch 19, 2013 at 9:13 AM

    FINALLY took a walk around here for the first time ever a month or so back. This shot reminds me of Anza Borrego

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  10. Kalei's Best FriendMarch 19, 2013 at 9:31 AM

    @Petrea: I think my comment was right.
    http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.empowernetwork.com/zacodumes/files/2012/01/New-Years-plants-NERIUM-OLEANDER.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.empowernetwork.com/zacodumes/blog/nerium-international/&h=194&w=259&sz=1&tbnid=awjLnIo856bMDM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=200&zoom=1&usg=__eUGu5MmncUTbmrrw4JmIhcBOXBw=&docid=GrSTsFhzs4Vj8M&itg=1&hl=en&sa=X&ei=a5JIUcWQFIzBiwKysoD4CQ&sqi=2&ved=0CLgBEPwdMAo

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  11. Petrea BurchardMarch 19, 2013 at 10:41 AM

    I like the juxtaposition, too. JPL is a jumbled-looking campus, with scrub for a front yard.

    KBF, when you said "so that's what it is" I didn't know what you meant. The leaves in your linked picture sure look right. I've never seen flowers like that out at Hahamongna, but it could be a different strain or a related plant.

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  12. Petrea BurchardMarch 19, 2013 at 10:44 AM

    Des, did you enjoy?

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  13. BettySMarch 19, 2013 at 10:51 AM

    I have two more weeks to park down in Hahamongna and walk to JPL's south entrance before I retire after 28 years! I was thinking as I walked in through what was once called Oak Grove, abt how soon I could just come out later in the morning with my dogs.

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  14. diveMarch 19, 2013 at 12:05 PM

    How refreshing to have a Boz perspective on things.
    Ah … something low and sniffable!
    He makes a fine photographer, Petrea.

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  15. BettySMarch 19, 2013 at 1:27 PM

    A plant specialist kind of friend of mine says the plant is mulefat, Baccharis glutinosa, or salicifolia:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baccharis_salicifolia
    He adds: "It's a very common plant in areas that aren't far from water. Looks a lot like willow, and grows in the same locations (though often a slight bit farther away from the water), but very different family – it's related to sunflowers, believe it or not!"

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  16. BellisMarch 19, 2013 at 1:34 PM

    BettyS, thanks. The photo was taken by a large mulefat area that occasionally gets flooded. Quite a few coyotes den there. The mature plants behind the sapling in the photo are also mulefat. JPL looks like it's floating in space. Appropriate, considering that many of the people that work there are on another planet - Mars - or voyaging around Saturn's moons.

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  17. Ms MMarch 19, 2013 at 8:27 PM

    I appreciate Boz's love of detail, focusing on what may get lost in the bigger picture. And it IS interesting seeing the wildness of Hahamonga against the background of the Jet Propulsion Lab.

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  18. Petrea BurchardMarch 19, 2013 at 8:39 PM

    I appreciate those of you who know the plants. Thanks for the information. This stuff doesn't stay in my head.

    Thank you, Ms. M. Now that it's on the large screen, I know why I kept this photo.

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  19. TheChieftessMarch 20, 2013 at 3:22 PM

    Nice pic Petrea!!! I like the DOF too!!! Boz is a good photographer!!!

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  20. Pasadena AdjacentMarch 20, 2013 at 4:45 PM

    I might borrow this for inspiration.

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  21. Petrea BurchardMarch 21, 2013 at 12:13 AM

    Thanks, Chieftess.

    I'd be honored if you did, PA.

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  22. AdeleMarch 21, 2013 at 6:33 AM

    I still haven't been there. Enjoying seeing it through Boz's eyes. You made me laugh when you said "these things don't stay in my mind." Me too! (Or me neither!)

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  23. Petrea BurchardMarch 21, 2013 at 9:51 AM

    I have the same trouble with animal breeds, Adele.

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I appreciate your comment. You are a nice person—smart and good looking, too.