magnolia tree in Memory Garden
Magnoliaceae

I love this tree and visit it every spring! It's located in the Memory Garden behind the Pacific House.

ps 09/09/09 - I've heard rumors (and read paper publishings) that the Pacific House was to be closed September 1, 2009 due to the state budget cuts. However, it remained open over the holiday weekend, as witnessed September 6th. I hope it does stay running, as this courtyard garden is my favorite!

pss 04/11/10 - As far as we know this garden is still opened daily and is still being used for weddings, but the little museum in the Pacific House is closed. Sad.

queen's tears
Billbergia nutans
Bromeliaceae

The navy striping on the bracts is spectacular! This was at the Larkin House Garden in Monterey. The flower was also at the Carmel Valley Garden show on May 17, 2009, but my pic didn't read the details of the ID card. Phooey!

And, yes, I have a genetically short pinky finger. If I remember correctly, it's on X-some 16 or something like that.

ps 10/03/10 - I originally posted this as "Have no clue!" Thanks to gardentropics post, I finally obtained an ID for this plant. I would have never guessed it is a bromeliad.

wisteria ~ 03/29/09 ~ Cooper Molera Garden

Wisteria sp.
Fabaceae

I absolutely love wisteria! This was at the Cooper Molera Garden. I hope to someday have wisteria in a garden of my own.

oil beetle ~ 03/28/09 ~ Fort Ord

oil beetle
Meloe sp.
Meloidae

This is the largest beetle I have ever seen alive outside of a museum or zoo! I assumed it's a staphylinid due to its short elytra, but Jerry Powell claims devil's coach horses are the largest rove beetle in CA at 32 mm... and this bugger was easily 50 mm. I'm starting to wonder if it might not be a Carabidae; there are several varieties of ground beetles at Fort Ord.

ps 04/21/10 - I originally posted this as an unknown "NOT devil's coach horse beetle." With inordinate gratitude to knowledgeable nature bloggers (Backyard and Beyond, MObugs, and especially Fall to Climb - check them out!!!), I finally discovered the true identity of this male oil beetle over a year after seeing it. Most blister beetles have a very different look, but I should have paid attention to the narrow pronotum as an identifying characteristic of the family. As much as I wish I had taken a picture that indicated its impressive size, I am very glad I didn't handle it!

pss 05/09/10 - I take back the ground beetle comment at Fort Ord. They're darkling beetles in the family Tenebrionidae.

pss 04/16/11 - For an even greater TGIQ oil beetle post check out Fall to Climb.