It’s in Gene Pairs

01/11/2019•Family, friends, music

Mother and Daughter Reunion

Mother and Daughter sitting in a tree, Carbon Canyon Regional Park, Brea, California. Two of my favorite people.

Off the Beaten Path: Carbon Canyon Regional Park, County of Orange, California

11/20/2018•california, Flora/Fauna, outdoors

The Life Cycle of a Coastal Redwood in Arid Southern California.

The Carbon Canyon Redwood Grove was planted in 1975 with seedlings donated by a bank. Today, 241 redwoods have survived the arid climate, though they will never reach the size of the redwoods living in the northern coastal climate. Earlier in the 20th century, the Carbon Canyon area was part of a booming oil production industry.

The Redwood Grove, planted 1975.

A giant tree that produces a very small seed cone. The soil here will not support growth from seeds.

Root burl from which seedlings grow.

Redwood seedlings

Walking path through grove.

Redwood bark on 48 year old tree.

The topography adjacent to the grove.

CFFC: Columns or Vertical Lines

06/12/2018•Gardens, Portugal, Travel

Columns All In A Row

In the park, Aveiro, Portugal

Pergola in late 19th century Parque Dom Pedro Infante (City Park), Aveiro, Portugal.

Join Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Columns or Vertical Lines

Quinta da Aveleda-A Garden Fantasy

05/27/2018•Gardens, Portugal, wine

Records from as early as 1671 document wine production on what is now Quinta da Aveleda. For over 300 years the Guedes family has tended the land, developing beautiful gardens as well as vinho verde and other wines. Aveleda first bottled wine in 1870.

While the family no longer lives in the 17th-century house full-time, it is used for family events.

The gardens wind through a lush forest with follies, water features, and even a goat tower, with goats. A 200- year-old eucalyptus towers over the garden.

Roses, azaleas, rhododendrans, camelias, and other flowering trees paint streaks of color against the lush greens.

Aveleda uses only grapes native to Portugal in its wine production. It is one of the three major Portuguese labels, making a variety of wines including aguardent, a type of brandy.

The Quinta is located near Penafiel, about 40 km from Porto. Guided tours of the gardens and wine tastings are available. The beautiful peacock will greet you at the tasting room.