The Odd Sock: Weekend walk report: The Great Exhale

I find a certain relief in the end of the season of "happy holidays." I am profoundly grateful for the end of this forced pageant, a season of manufactured joy that feels increasingly hollow against the weight of the world’s actual suffering. There is a dignity in the year’s end, as the heavy weight of false obligation evaporates to reveal a more honest quietude.

And on that delightful note, here are some photos taken on this weekend's walks, Saturday, December 20th and today, Sunday, December 21st.

Saturday, December 20th

Not much on the picture front. In fact had I noticed through the camera that both birds were a little sloppy from a recent bath, perhaps in the nearby fountain, I might not have even taken those two shots. They're still cute little birds, I suspect both are young.

White-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys). Docken calls these, bicycle helmet sparrows.

And specking of Docken, My thanks to her for joining me for both walks over the phone.

Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos). There's always a mockingbird.

Ceiba speciosa, the floss silk tree (formerly Chorisia speciosa), is a species of deciduous tree that is native to the tropical and subtropical forests of South America. There were only six flowers left on the tree.

And that was it for Saturday.

Sunday, December 21st (today)

This was just moments out of the car and into the walk. Docken called while I was taking these pictures. So, Doc... these are the flowers I knew you'd remember. Duranta erecta, commonly known as golden dewdrop, pigeon berry, or skyflower.

Lycianthes rantonnetti ‘Royal Robe.’

Oenothera speciosa is a species in the evening primrose family known by several common names, including pinkladies, pink evening primrose and showy evening primrose. This was the only one. Docken and I have been in this spot when there are 100s of them.

Tiny and full of dewdrops. Tradescantia pallida plant, commonly known as purple heart or purple queen.

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Well, not so much anymore. Commercial rose breeding has prioritized vase life, appearance, and durability over scent, resulting in many modern varieties having little to no fragrance. Consequently, many people, particularly younger generations accustomed to unscented commercial cut flowers, have missed out on the natural, powerful smell of traditional, historical roses. Humans. Shame.

Incarvillea delavayi, the so‑called hardy gloxinia or flowering fern.

Pelargonium peltatum.

Senna bicapsularis 'Buttercream.'

Grevillea halmaturina subsp. laevis.

Banksia ericifolia. I believe this is correct. I don't think I knew this before and I've taken pictures of this plant many times. Another namesake plant.

Senna bicapsularis. Just to show the diff.

Eucalyptus tereticornis, commonly known as forest red gum, blue gum or red irongum, is a species of tree that is native to eastern Australia and southern New Guinea.

Arbutus unedo, commonly known as strawberry tree, also called madrone, is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the family Ericaceae, native to the Mediterranean Basin and Western Europe.

This dude was the only ancient car worshiper in the parking lot today. I think he was on his phone calling people to say, WTF?! Google AI search argued with me about the make and model of this car. Goggle wanted to insist the it was a 1952 Mercury Monterey convertible. Even after I told Google it says Lincoln on the front of the hood, Google argued with me. I knew the make and model because they were both in chrome on the freakin car. Finally, when I told Google it was a Lincoln, Capri, Google agreed. I only wanted to know the year, it's a 1953. So, next time you go look for medical advice from Google AI, just think about it.

I had to remove my close up lens when this coyote popped out of the bushes, it was only about 25-30 feet in front of me. It was 11:40 in the morning. So I asked Google AI about this too and Google said, Yes, coyotes absolutely come out during the day, though they are most active at dawn, dusk, and night; daytime sightings are very normal, especially in spring/summer when feeding pups, or in urban areas where they adapt to human schedules, and a daytime appearance doesn't mean they're sick, just opportunistic.