The Winter Club had its annual ice show and seasonal grand finale. This is Chelsea’s skating class ending their performance as “The Newsies” in the production “Extra , Extra”.
We hiked in Huddart Park on the Toyon and Dean trails, with our English visitor, Brian.
The day was damp and cool, perfect for hiking the gentle hills and wetlands in this regional park in Fremont. The area was formerly home to Ohlone Indians who left shell mounds and artifacts behind. Shorebirds, small mammals and mountain lions still live in the park, along with freshwater amphibians and fish. Hiking and biking trails, a museum and a butterfly garden enhance the park experience.
This weekend, Oneonta, New York, joined hundreds of other communities across America in hosting Step it Up events. The goals were to publicize the need for life-style changes and alternative energy use that will improve the health of our planet.
The agenda was pretty impressive for this small town. There was a decorated bike parade, a global warming forum, vendor displays of locally grown foods, music and a rally with speakers and poetry, lots of banners and downtown window displays and showings of “Who Killed the Electric Car” and “Just Around the Corner”.
Daniel and Benji ready for the bike parade.
Step It Up celebrants and bikers with their banner.
Biking into the future.
Parade participants with the banner they created.
Our hike this week took us through the beautiful terrain of Sierra Azul, on the Woods Trail, near Bald Mountain and Mt. Umunhum. We had occasional views of lower Silicon Valley, as we walked through open spaces and oak forests. Many varieties of wild flowers, some of which we had not seen before, caught our interest along the way. Featured here are a number of the species that appeared along our 4.7 mile route.
Zigadenus fremontii or Death Camus
Tree Anenome
Ground Iris
Sticky Monkey Flower
Mission Bells or Checker lily
Canada Violet
Nuttall’s Larkspur
Irene examines the tiny sedum growing along with fern, on a rockery
A closer view of the sedum.
Blue Dicks or Dichelostemma pulchellum.
The following are harder for me to identify:
This vine resembles German Ivy, but has white flowers instead of yellow ones.
This foliage reminds me a little of Sticky Monkey but the flowers are different.
Guadalupe Creek.
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