Stop...

 

Pink Powder Puff

 

This is, in fact, called a powder puff tree (genus Calliandra). Pretty!

Interior

 

The inside of a cactus flower...so many anthers (at least, I think that's what they are!).

Acrobat

 

Sweet little Orange-crowned Warbler doing some gymnastics in the flame tree...

Visiting

Remember these lovely caterpillars? This is the beautiful butterfly they turn into. This one was visiting the parsley laying more eggs...more caterpillars, more butterflies!

MOT TRA WIN

This looks like a cool old sign for the Trade Winds Motel...but they need to trim those palms! (I wonder when the neon was removed...)

Tiny Feet

I mean...look at those teeny feet! 

El Indio

 

Love these small neon signs that I have never noticed before--even though I have driven by hundreds of times--on El Indio, a classic Mexican restaurant that has been in this spot since 1940.

Tiny Eclipse

 

Last night's harvest moon with tiny sliver of a lunar eclipse (bonus telephone wire bisecting it). 

Dahlia/Beetle

 

I'm not sure what exactly this green fig beetle was doing on my dahlia, but I moved it along after I took this photo. (I love them--so beautiful and so weirdly clumsy...their grubs, however, are another [gross] matter altogether.)

Barn Time

 

Another fun little excursion to Brick and Barn in Valley Center: birds, dogs, pumpkins, antiques--what more can you ask for?

Hello, Mister

 Always a good day when a Muffler Man is seen...this is the only one in San Diego County, in Escondido. And yes, I have photographed him numerous times. Looking good, Mr. Muffler Man!

More Moon

 On its way to being the harvest moon supermoon...

Variety Pack

 I can understand how folks become obsessed with orchids...they are such amazing flowers with seemingly endless varieties. 

They will never take the place of dahlias in my affections, however. Dahlias forever!

Cactus Wow

So beautiful, so ephemeral. These cactus blooms usually only last a day or two (this one is already beginning to fade). But wow, so gorgeous!

Pretty and Yummy

 

Tiger figs! Absolutely delicious.

Cool in the Pool

 

As this dove is demonstrating, on a very hot day, it's nice to sit in the pool and air out your bits.

Sun Going Down

 

Those pretty clouds mean moisture/humidity on the way, very unwelcome as the temperature was 90 degrees today ... lovely sunset, though!

Random Heart: Sidewalk Edition

 

Hungry Hungry

 This is a truly beautiful caterpillar, shown here decimating some parsley. It will become a swallowtail butterfly soon...

Twister

Pelican yoga?