HA! Arboretum!

Be forewarned, this map is NOT to scale.

As promised, here is Part Two of our fabulous trip to the L.A. County Arboretum. Sunday, if you remember back that far, and if you were in the San Gabriel Valley of L.A. County, and if you were awake at 8:35am, you know that it was a beautiful time to be in a natural area, as long as it has paved roads and is irrigated, devoid of marsh, or free-growing bamboo forests, or tiger pits. And the Arboretum was just that. A beautiful, landscaped natural setting free of ice floes, leeches, rampaging rhinoceri, or rowdy flocks of leather-legged red-naped sapsuckers. Who needs those?

Where was I ? Oh, yeah. We've established that we were at the Arboretum. Why, though? Why were we there?

Well, among other reasons, to see THIS:





It's enough to put Yosemite Falls to shame, I mean, if Yosemite Falls wasn't so damn awesome first.

I take a brief moment to tell you something which will probably strain my credibility (if the preceeding paragraph hasn't already), but nonetheless is true. At a dinner party recently, it was posited to me that the reason the ambient temperature of Las Vegas had dipped of late is because of the increase in massive water features at the hotels along the strip. Yes. I was told this. That because of the Mirage volcano feature and the water ballet in front of the Bellagio, among other features, Las Vegas is cooler than it used to be.

As Mark Thompson would say, take that with you.

Okay, here are some more photos, and prettier flora you will never see, except in the Amazon, which probably no longer actually exists. (Make sure to tell the kids about it, though.)

This iris was in the rose garden. Interloper.


Some trees were blooming. Love this.

Some Peacock is looking all over for this.


Bilingual West Nile Virus warning. We didn't see any mosquitos. But then, they're sneaky little suckers. hahaha! okay.


Another amazing blooming plant!

This tree couldn't muster the energy to flower, but it's beautiful just the same.

According to the sign, this Iris is bearded.


There were even fish growing there!

We were so excited to see prey, we got out our teeny fishing poles and lures and sat there for a long long time, being very quiet, but apparently, these fish don't eat anything bigger than their heads. Which are too teeny for actual thoughts.

All in all, our visits to this amazing place are always really peaceful, thought-provoking, humbling.

Well, not humbling for this mockingbird, who perched looking over everything and squawking away at the top of his lungs. But humbling for certain people who just found out their shoes aren't licensed for real walking around.


Next up: Chris experiences the rustic nature of two-part epoxy when her hair joins forces with a table.