tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728987043673829071Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:23:55 +0000Welcome to my little corner of the world where I like to share some of my favorites in nature photography, places I like to visit, my pets, what I like to read, and occasionally my favorite local sports team.http://medlibber.blogspot.com/marycarlson10@gmail.com (Mary C)Blogger180125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728987043673829071.post-6832815491303779898Mon, 31 Aug 2009 02:59:00 +00002009-08-30T20:20:18.066-07:00calla liliesJune flowersEaster liliesdayliliesThe month of June continued giving us a variety of colors and plants in our yard. Here are my favorite photos of our lilies, all located in the front yard. Below, you can see among the daylilies that I also have a few calla lilies. I love calla lilies although the flowers are too short-lived. But they do stand out among the other more colorful daylilies.Here is a view of the daylilies as theyhttp://medlibber.blogspot.com/2009/08/month-of-june-continued-giving-us.htmlmarycarlson10@gmail.com (Mary C)10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728987043673829071.post-625753894648850295Thu, 20 Aug 2009 02:48:00 +00002009-08-19T20:00:26.147-07:00MojaveDesert PeaceGolden ShowersCancunhybrid tea rosesThe month of June continued to give us some really nice rose blossoms. Below is one of our hybrid teas named Cancun.This is Golden Showers. It doesn't realize it's supposed to be a climber, but it does just fine as part of the bushes in our front yard.Here is another shot of Cancun a few days later.As mentioned in a previous post, this is one of our favorites, Desert Peace -- another of our http://medlibber.blogspot.com/2009/08/our-best-blooming-roses-in-june.htmlmarycarlson10@gmail.com (Mary C)9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728987043673829071.post-7763037064957950424Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +00002009-08-13T17:10:56.911-07:00cliff swallowsavocetstiltmallardsducklingsnestlingsPalo Alto BaylandsfledglingJune 1st was a banner day for birding. Heidi and I not only visited Shoreline in Mountain View, but we also visited Palo Alto Baylands. And the best part about visiting on the first of June was the number of "baby" birds that were roaming around. Here are a few of the photos I took of the "youngsters" at the Baylands.Above is a fairly young American Avocet walking around on its own. Mama or http://medlibber.blogspot.com/2009/08/time-for-some-fledgling-and-nestling.htmlmarycarlson10@gmail.com (Mary C)12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728987043673829071.post-7423992231496771810Mon, 27 Jul 2009 04:46:00 +00002009-07-26T22:03:59.222-07:00Candy Stripeminiature rosesPrincess of WalesMojaveDesert PeacerosesGolden ShowersCancunDuring the month of May, our roses put on a beautiful show. And I thought it was about time I shared some of my best photos of them. We have quite a variety, yet most of their proper names are a mystery to me. The majority of our roses are in our front yard which has a southern exposure. We have four others on the east side of our house, and only a couple of them are located between our http://medlibber.blogspot.com/2009/07/our-roses-during-month-of-may.htmlmarycarlson10@gmail.com (Mary C)10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728987043673829071.post-242243944866941487Sun, 19 Jul 2009 22:48:00 +00002009-07-19T16:42:07.391-07:00california gullswhite pelicansswallowsgadwallternsShorelinebarn swallowspelicanssong sparrowHeidi and I re-visited Shoreline, Mountain View on the first of June. We had not been there since last fall. We had no idea of what birds we would see this time of year. So we were pleasantly surprised by what we ended up seeing. One of the birds we had fun watching as well as being challenged to photograph them in flight were the Forster's terns. They are loud and gregarious birds, and http://medlibber.blogspot.com/2009/07/terns-and-swallows-at-shoreline.htmlmarycarlson10@gmail.com (Mary C)10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728987043673829071.post-1783047637398271679Sat, 11 Jul 2009 04:05:00 +00002009-07-11T09:07:45.093-07:00dayliliesThe month of May we experienced a multitude of color from most of our plants. Here are some of my daylilies I was quite pleased with. For years I had all of my lilies in pots, but finally, last year we put them in the ground. We planted all the daylilies around our crepe myrtle tree, and they apparently love their location. Here are a few photos I took during the last half of May.If you look http://medlibber.blogspot.com/2009/07/lilies-in-may.htmlmarycarlson10@gmail.com (Mary C)10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728987043673829071.post-4144377674884791144Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:15:00 +00002009-07-05T19:30:24.545-07:00autumn sagestella d'oro daylilieshoneysucklerosesflowering pomegranateMarguerite daisiessea pinksI posted this photo (here) on a previous post. This was our side yard earlier in the spring, mostly in May. During the last week of June my son and husband started revamping that part of our yard. So the yellow flowers are now all gone. I don't remember the name of these flowers, but I've always called them (and that's what they look like to me) marguerite daisies. At the moment, the rose http://medlibber.blogspot.com/2009/07/more-may-flowers-from-our-yard.htmlmarycarlson10@gmail.com (Mary C)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728987043673829071.post-6276442482578282347Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:28:00 +00002009-07-02T07:27:38.828-07:00western bluebirdscliff swallowsgreat blue heronVasona County Parkkilldeersong sparrowWell, I've been missing in action again! Another whole month has gone by; I can't believe I didn't post anything during the month of June. Granted, we've been busy, but it seemed like the desire wasn't there as well. At least I've been trying to keep up with everyone else's blogs, and commenting now and then. I spent a few minutes going over my photos trying to find the last ones I posted. http://medlibber.blogspot.com/2009/07/well-ive-been-missing-in-action-again.htmlmarycarlson10@gmail.com (Mary C)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728987043673829071.post-1490729914770709384Sat, 30 May 2009 04:49:00 +00002009-05-29T21:56:16.276-07:00Canada geeseVasona County ParkHeidi (aka Red) and I visited our local county park a few weeks ago. We had not been there since November, so we were fairly certain that we would see a variety of birds we may not have seen last fall. We didn't know what to expect, except we thought there should be some birds nesting in Vasona County Park in Los Gatos. We both have Mondays off which helps when one wants to visit a popular http://medlibber.blogspot.com/2009/05/population-explosion.htmlmarycarlson10@gmail.com (Mary C)11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728987043673829071.post-1147136988453209219Sun, 24 May 2009 04:20:00 +00002009-05-23T21:24:47.910-07:00jackrabbitrock rosegoslingsRed-tailed hawkmanky mallardsCalifornia ground squirrelsCanada geesemuscovy ducksred-winged blackbirdblack-crowned night heronHeidi and I went back to Palo Alto Baylands at the beginning of the month because I thought we would see the snowy egrets nesting there. But there were none to be found. Nonetheless, there was plenty to see there that day. We saw several red-winged blackbirds, but I had a difficult time finding one that would sit still long enough for me to get a photo.Over by the ranger's station there were http://medlibber.blogspot.com/2009/05/revisiting-palo-alto-baylands.htmlmarycarlson10@gmail.com (Mary C)11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728987043673829071.post-7131464540345639890Wed, 20 May 2009 18:29:00 +00002009-05-20T11:29:00.704-07:00Palo Alto Baylandschinese gooseChinese goose at Palo Alto BaylandsMay 4, 2009http://medlibber.blogspot.com/2009/05/wordless-wednesday_20.htmlmarycarlson10@gmail.com (Mary C)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728987043673829071.post-1895528576639839666Tue, 19 May 2009 19:00:00 +00002009-05-19T17:35:45.108-07:00California quailBird Photography WeeklyI'm submitting a California Quail for this week's Bird Photography Weekly # 38Check out others' submissions for this week. Click on the link above. http://medlibber.blogspot.com/2009/05/bird-photography-weekly-38.htmlmarycarlson10@gmail.com (Mary C)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728987043673829071.post-3010194294675162932Tue, 19 May 2009 00:15:00 +00002009-05-18T17:24:40.548-07:00lavenderFlowering mapledianthusred poppyazaleanemesiaMarguerite daisiesThe month of May has given us some lush looking blossoms in our front and side yards. Even though our front yard is still lacking ground cover for the second year, the plants are still putting out some really nice colors and plenty of blossoms on each plant. For the past two years my husband has cleaned out the rock/gravel we used to have as ground cover in the front yard. It was so blah http://medlibber.blogspot.com/2009/05/few-may-flowers-from-our-yard.htmlmarycarlson10@gmail.com (Mary C)9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728987043673829071.post-7503044354971407440Thu, 07 May 2009 03:51:00 +00002009-05-06T21:19:19.184-07:00Bird Photography Weeklybelted kingfisherOne of my favorite birding spots is about a mile or so from where I live. One can find several different types of birds, especially water-type birds there. Besides a creek and a trail, there is also a set of percolation ponds there. This place is called Oka Ponds and is part of the Los Gatos Creek Trail. Back in January, on a nice day as I was about to leave the area, a belted kingfisher http://medlibber.blogspot.com/2009/05/bird-photography-weekly-36.htmlmarycarlson10@gmail.com (Mary C)15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728987043673829071.post-7776578216372458805Wed, 06 May 2009 15:17:00 +00002009-05-06T08:21:52.741-07:00sageleaf rockroseSanta CruzWordless WednesdaySageleaf Rockrose, Santa Cruz, CAApril 2009http://medlibber.blogspot.com/2009/05/wordless-wednesday.htmlmarycarlson10@gmail.com (Mary C)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728987043673829071.post-343235721744787950Mon, 04 May 2009 05:45:00 +00002009-05-03T22:45:00.561-07:00Lick Observatorywild hyacinthSan JoseShorelinemule earsFremont Older OSPMoffett Fieldwildflowerslupinescloverlizardblue-eyed grassalong one of the trails in Fremont Older Open Space Preserve. This place is one of 26 preserves owned and maintained by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, an organization that was created in 1972 by a voters' initiative here in the greater San Francisco Bay area. Out of the 26 preserves 24 of them are open to the public, consisting of 57,000+ acres of riparian or marshland, http://medlibber.blogspot.com/2009/05/come-take-hike-with-me.htmlmarycarlson10@gmail.com (Mary C)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728987043673829071.post-7520027104331112261Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:00:00 +00002009-04-28T09:00:01.237-07:00Belgatos ParkLick Observatoryacorn woodpeckerSan JoseMt HamiltonLos Gatos hillschickadeebushtitcedar waxwingsdeerEarly in March, Red and I took advantage of the beautiful spring weather we were experiencing. We went to visit a nearby park that neither of us have ever visited before, yet I knew that local birders frequently visit. The park is located in Los Gatos, about a couple miles southeast of where we live. The park itself is nestled in a residential neighborhood at the foot of Blossom Hill, and the http://medlibber.blogspot.com/2009/04/belgatos-park-and-trail.htmlmarycarlson10@gmail.com (Mary C)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728987043673829071.post-9204235354481154126Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:23:00 +00002009-04-27T11:38:57.044-07:00backyard birdshooded oriolesI had anticipated and mostly hoped to see a few orioles this spring. So to prepare for their arrival I put up the oriole feeder and added a new item that I had purchased a couple years ago, but never did put up. I think I purchased this fruit feeder from Duncraft. Anyway, I only put the nectar feeder up in late March, and finally around mid-April saw my first hooded oriole which thrilled me. http://medlibber.blogspot.com/2009/04/where-did-they-go.htmlmarycarlson10@gmail.com (Mary C)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728987043673829071.post-7446155117553642135Wed, 22 Apr 2009 07:03:00 +00002009-04-22T00:13:10.554-07:00TangokittensCashWordless WednesdayI'm still in the midst of editing photos and uploading them to my Webshots page. But here are a few of my favorite photos of our "babies" who became a year old last month.TangoCashTango and Cash - inseparablehttp://medlibber.blogspot.com/2009/04/wordless-wednesday.htmlmarycarlson10@gmail.com (Mary C)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728987043673829071.post-259280383251928154Tue, 07 Apr 2009 02:46:00 +00002009-04-06T20:03:38.647-07:00amaryllisRed LionSorry for the lack of posts. I've noticed it's been about 3 weeks since I last posted, but life's been busier than usual. This is the season of Lent, and that usually means an extra worship service on Wednesday evenings. But we also get to participate in a soup supper before the service begins. My problem is that I have been getting home from work after 5:30 and we usually need to leave home http://medlibber.blogspot.com/2009/04/mia-missing-in-action.htmlmarycarlson10@gmail.com (Mary C)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728987043673829071.post-5267433217450751070Wed, 18 Mar 2009 03:08:00 +00002009-03-17T20:45:32.566-07:00San FranciscoPier 39sharp-shinned hawkBen and Jerry'sBrewer's blackbirdsnowy egretsAlcatraz IslandtulipsFisherman's WharfA week ago, Saturday the 7th, my husband, daughter Red, and I went to San Francisco for the day. We met Ruthie J of Nature Knitter and her brothers for lunch at Castagnola's next to Fisherman's Wharf. While waiting for Ruthie to arrive, we were seated at the Captain's Table where you can get a 180 degree view of the boats docked at Fisherman's Wharf. While waiting, I could see a black-crowned http://medlibber.blogspot.com/2009/03/day-in-san-francisco-on-fishermans.htmlmarycarlson10@gmail.com (Mary C)10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728987043673829071.post-8201236513192427279Tue, 10 Mar 2009 06:08:00 +00002009-03-10T00:02:49.235-07:00San FranciscoRuthieNature KnitterCastagnola'sfriendsfamilyFisherman's WharfThis past Saturday, most of my family had the opportunity to meet Ruthie J of Nature Knitter and part of her family. My husband, daughter Red (aka Heidi) and I met Ruthie and her brothers in San Francisco. We met for lunch at Castagnola's. And it was such a bright sunshiny day in "the city" as we South Bay folks call San Francisco. Typical of this city, especially on weekends, it was http://medlibber.blogspot.com/2009/03/thank-you-ruthie-j.htmlmarycarlson10@gmail.com (Mary C)13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728987043673829071.post-283666814219751153Fri, 06 Mar 2009 02:19:00 +00002009-03-05T19:00:15.687-08:00Skywatch FridaysunsetElkhorn SloughBack in early January, my family and I visited Elkhorn Slough Reserve on a late Sunday afternoon. My daughter Red (aka Heidi) and I took a relatively short trail around the Reserve knowing it was close to closing time. This old "barn" looks like it had been used for storing grain. But it also shows that before this land became Elkhorn Slough Reserve it used to be private farmland.As we got http://medlibber.blogspot.com/2009/03/skywatch-friday-34.htmlmarycarlson10@gmail.com (Mary C)15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728987043673829071.post-6106813033389298344Wed, 25 Feb 2009 06:37:00 +00002009-02-24T22:53:56.175-08:00squirrelscrub jayI like to feed our scrub jays, but I try to be creative when it comes to putting the peanuts out for them. You see, we have squirrels, quite a few of them. And they have their own "feeder" where we continue to put peanuts in the shell in their container. But back in mid-January, on a Saturday morning, I actually saw a squirrel, a determined squirrel attempt to steal the peanuts I put out for http://medlibber.blogspot.com/2009/02/wiley-vs-jay.htmlmarycarlson10@gmail.com (Mary C)11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4728987043673829071.post-4943538514645934143Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:53:00 +00002009-02-09T23:27:22.787-08:00Pacific GroveDel MonteMonarch Butterfly SanctuaryAbout a month ago I visited Pacific Grove's Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary on a lovely Sunday afternoon. Other family members who also attended were my husband and my daughter Red. As a matter of fact, Red posted her photos on her blog several weeks ago. If you haven't visited her blog yet, here is the link to the Monarch Butterfly post.As we were walking around the grounds we came upon a http://medlibber.blogspot.com/2009/02/monarchs-at-pacific-grove-sanctuary.htmlmarycarlson10@gmail.com (Mary C)15