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.

23 comments:

Kalei's Best Friend said...

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

Birdman said...

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

Susan Campisi said...

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.

BaysideLife said...

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

Virginia said...

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

Petrea Burchard said...

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.

LOLfromPasa said...

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

Speedway said...

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!

Desiree said...

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

Kalei's Best Friend said...

@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

Petrea Burchard said...

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.

Petrea Burchard said...

Des, did you enjoy?

BettyS said...

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.

dive said...

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

BettyS said...

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!"

Bellis said...

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.

Ms M said...

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.

Petrea Burchard said...

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.

TheChieftess said...

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

Pasadena Adjacent said...

I might borrow this for inspiration.

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks, Chieftess.

I'd be honored if you did, PA.

Adele said...

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!)

Petrea Burchard said...

I have the same trouble with animal breeds, Adele.