I'm up for a beach walk anytime, especially since we live so close. My camera and I don't do it justice, but I thought I'd post a few pictures of our trek to Balboa Island last weekend, where we ushered in the New Year.
Here, where sun-soaked, extravagant "cottages" overlook the waterfront, wealthy homeowners provide upscale accommodations for all their guests.
Even so, it's the humble, hidden treasures that most often strike my fancy. What I wouldn't give to have that glider on my front porch, rusted metal and all! It takes me back to sun-splashed days with Nana, sipping lemonade and gulping books….
Anyone know what kind of tree this is? It looks like it might be a member of the hydrangea family, but I'm pretty sure it's a non-native plant. Whatever it's called, it's gorgeous!
With so many treasures here, no wonder a pirate ship rolled in!
When I came upon this porch sign, I whispered a silent amen. These beachside walks are such treasures, more so after my sister's death. They teach me to look for grace in every moment, to breathe expansively in the now.
Love! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for joining my beach-side walk today. It’s really nice to “see” you here. 🙂
Amen. 🙂
thanks for sharing your treasures!
Turnabout’s fair play. 😉
Hey, are the pictures sized equally on your screen, or…? I posted them that way, but whenever I come back to LJ, they’re either shrunken or embiggened. Not all at the same time. Very Alice-in-Wonderlandish, I must say. =:0
Your tree doesn’t look like it’s in the Malvaeceae family. The bark and look of the branches remind me of the tulip tree (Liriodendron) but that’s in the Magnolia family and the blossoms don’t match up! I found a little South African tree called a pom pom tree online but the leaves on that one are wrong. Alas that I have little experience in sub-tropical plants. The next time you’re at a nursery, have the pic up on your iPhone (if you have one) and show it to some of the nursery staff.
I am vexed because something about the tree looks familiar and I’ll be blessed if I know what it is.
Thanks for weighing in, anyway. Like you, I’m wracking my brain on this one! Excellent idea about asking at the nursery–as you might imagine, I’m a regular. 🙂
Rose,
Someone on Facebook suggested there’s an app to help identify trees from photographs. http://leafsnap.com/
This one’s specific to iPhones, which I don’t have…do you (or does anyone you know)?
What a good way to end my day! Thank you, Melodye.
I’m honored that you found time at the end of the day to join me at the beach. oxo
*hugs*
What a lovely place!
Have you been to Balboa? It’s a really fun (and relaxing) field trip…
I have been a few times – and yes indeed, always a fun and relaxing trip!
Wow– Beautiful! 😀
If you ever come this way, we’ll plan a visit to Balboa. Laguna, if you’d rather. Or both. 🙂
I love all of the pics., but the last one really gets me. Oh, how I wish I could go to a nice warm beach for a walk. Guess I’ll go for a nice long walk to the library instead, because you’re right about looking for grace in every moment and breathing expansively in the now.
I’ll walk on the beach with you any day, Barbara, in real life or online.
I love the pirate ship! Did see it? She’d love it 🙂
Are those little cottages bird houses? How wonderful! All the details! They’d make great doll’s houses.
I don’t know that she did–she might have cruised past it, but preferred not to comment.
Those birdhouses are mighty fancy. I like to think they provide shelter to humble and exotic birds, equally. 🙂
P.S. My friend Stace posted some better pictures here: http://www.dumoski.com/on-deck/
SO gorgeous. I will not be posting anything similar from my walks here in Illinois!
I hope you are well – you are in my thoughts often. XOX
LOL, I’m guessing you have equally beautiful (albeit very different) scenes/images that you could post. I’d love to take a walk with you…until that happens, I love seeing pictures of YOUR expeditions.
Thanks so much for your kind words and well wishes. It’s a struggle, I won’t lie, but I’m feeling stronger every day. xoxo
So you were right about it being a Malvacaea! I just looked at a close-up of the flowers and it’s obvious now. *grin*
Glad you ran that by the nursery folks.
I bet there is an app out there for leaf ID, though I have no idea — I mostly run on what I’ve learned in college and the field and supplement that with the Manual of Woody Landscape Plants and Shrubs by Michael Dirr (who is a freaking genius).
yay!