coyote mint
Monardella villosa
Lamiaceae

This flower reminded me of wild bergamot, aka bee balm (Monarda fistulosa), but apparently it's found almost everywhere in North America, except places like CA, FL, and AK. I certainly could have used some bergamot tea for my ails the past few weeks. Again, this is an Andy photo as I wasn't out with him this day. Additionally, I myself have never hiked at Toro Park, so this is a new local location for this blog.

caught in a moment of time

Garland Ranch Regional Park
August 9, 2010

There's something philosophical about this spider web, like a splash caught in a moment of time...

common madia ~ 08/09/10 ~ Garland Ranch

common madia
Madia elegans
Asteraceae

posted 08/21/10 - I don't have much to say about this flower. Andy took the pictures during one of his many recent trail runs. Per my usual, I'm backdating this post to the date of the picture. For a couple weeks I've been feeling under the weather and haven't been out much, hence my lack of recent posts. I'm still debating whether I want to include his pics in my blog when I wasn't there. At the very least, I seem to have ignited a spark in Andy with an interest in nature. Now he's looking up IDs and posting flowers on his own running blog. Cool.

Michael's piperia ~ 08/09/10 ~ Garland Ranch

Michael's rein orchid
Piperia michaelii
CNPS 8th Edition Inventory
Orchidaceae

Are you sick of my posts of orchids, yet? We've been keeping an eye out for them and are finding more than we ever thought possible. Please note the different locations of my photos in the labels, marked with an 'x.' Funny, but I always thought of orchids as being a spring bloomer. WRONG. Our local native orchids seem to be most showy in mid to late summer. It's been fun spotting these, but I doubt I'll post anymore orchid photos for a while.