What yesterday's post lacked in photos, today's more than makes up for...it's going to be a long one folks, buckle up...
More than anywhere we visited in Southern California last December the (under development) Ventura Botanical Gardens really illustrated just what havoc the lack of rain is causing.
This site greeted me after parking. Crispy palm fronds and toasted agave arms...
I walked up the path opposite the main trail, just to get a little perspective. Off in the foggy distance are the Channel Islands.
That's where I'm headed.
Chilean Wine Palm, Jubaea chilensis, donated by Arthur Cook and Brian Nolan. As I think was the second one we'll see in a bit. I wonder if they also hauled water until it was established?
It was only because I was scanning the dry ground for things of interest that I noticed these desiccated Aloes.
There were many. Pups from a long dead mother?
Perhaps.
Here's the second palm.
And what looks to be a fairly comfortable seat, although I didn't stop to try it out.
I did wish I had water to share though.
I'm not sure how I got this photo of an empty trail, it was about 11:30 am on Christmas Eve. There were lots of people out enjoying the day.
Islands in the distance, and Opuntia blocking the view of Ventura below.
The professional educational signage gives a glimpse of what's to come.
Although what's here now is clearly suffering.
Signs like this ("DO NOT TOUCH THE PLANTS") always make me wonder what happened that required the signage?
On a clear day I bet you can see for miles.
Not that there's anything wrong with the cloudy/foggy view.
My back to the ocean here's the trail ahead.
Volunteer Schinus molle?
I found myself trying to figure out what this was.
Then I discovered a pair of still alive specimens, still don't know.
This is my final look at this part of the trail...
Before jumping ahead up to "The Cross" in Grant Park proper. As I parked and got out of the car the lady on the right was cajoling the pair on the left (jogging by) to stop and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus, after all as I mentioned it was December 24th. The same scene played out over and over again as I wandered I heard new voices...
Dry dry dry...
Although this guy looked to be doing okay.
And these too...
Not so here. Somebody's been hungry (or thirsty?)...
Stupid stupid.
And what the??? Mulch gone crazy? Or someone stepped on this poor guy?
There were others.
And this. A teenage drinking game?
I'd like to throw those responsible down there, naked! No wait, that might hurt the innocent plants.
Time to circle around back toward the car...and pass near the point of religous coercion. Luckily I met up with a couple doing the same thing We helped each other travel down below the cross and up on the other side.
Which is where I spotted another group of sad Agaves.
No surface left uncarved!
A look off in the distance at the sun and the ocean helped to calm me before I got behind the wheel.
All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
More than anywhere we visited in Southern California last December the (under development) Ventura Botanical Gardens really illustrated just what havoc the lack of rain is causing.
This site greeted me after parking. Crispy palm fronds and toasted agave arms...
I walked up the path opposite the main trail, just to get a little perspective. Off in the foggy distance are the Channel Islands.
That's where I'm headed.
Chilean Wine Palm, Jubaea chilensis, donated by Arthur Cook and Brian Nolan. As I think was the second one we'll see in a bit. I wonder if they also hauled water until it was established?
It was only because I was scanning the dry ground for things of interest that I noticed these desiccated Aloes.
There were many. Pups from a long dead mother?
Perhaps.
Here's the second palm.
And what looks to be a fairly comfortable seat, although I didn't stop to try it out.
I did wish I had water to share though.
I'm not sure how I got this photo of an empty trail, it was about 11:30 am on Christmas Eve. There were lots of people out enjoying the day.
Islands in the distance, and Opuntia blocking the view of Ventura below.
The professional educational signage gives a glimpse of what's to come.
Although what's here now is clearly suffering.
Signs like this ("DO NOT TOUCH THE PLANTS") always make me wonder what happened that required the signage?
On a clear day I bet you can see for miles.
Not that there's anything wrong with the cloudy/foggy view.
My back to the ocean here's the trail ahead.
Volunteer Schinus molle?
I found myself trying to figure out what this was.
Then I discovered a pair of still alive specimens, still don't know.
This is my final look at this part of the trail...
Before jumping ahead up to "The Cross" in Grant Park proper. As I parked and got out of the car the lady on the right was cajoling the pair on the left (jogging by) to stop and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus, after all as I mentioned it was December 24th. The same scene played out over and over again as I wandered I heard new voices...
Dry dry dry...
Although this guy looked to be doing okay.
And these too...
Not so here. Somebody's been hungry (or thirsty?)...
Stupid stupid.
And what the??? Mulch gone crazy? Or someone stepped on this poor guy?
There were others.
And this. A teenage drinking game?
I'd like to throw those responsible down there, naked! No wait, that might hurt the innocent plants.
Time to circle around back toward the car...and pass near the point of religous coercion. Luckily I met up with a couple doing the same thing We helped each other travel down below the cross and up on the other side.
Which is where I spotted another group of sad Agaves.
No surface left uncarved!
A look off in the distance at the sun and the ocean helped to calm me before I got behind the wheel.
All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.