This was our traditional out
and back. Altho there was lots of color, the majority of the
grapevines had not turned to fall red. We saw lots of rose hips,
immense quantities of buckeye fruit and even some ripe native
grapes. For fauna there were masses of lady bugs and two
tarantulas. Nine of us enjoyed the four miles in perfect fall
weather.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/6cC06EJpD0
Lee McCaffree arranged a special opening of the American Society
of Botanical Artists exhibit at the Marin Art and Garden Center in
Ross. This year she was one of the jurors on the panel to select
which works would be shown from the internationally submitted
entries. There was also a side exhibit of a sketchbook project
from the local (west coast) chapter of the ASBA. Lee did a great
job of explaining the techniques and materials used to create
these amazing images.
We wandered a bit in the gardens and some ate an early lunch at
the picnic tables by the gallery.
On the way home Lee suggested a short detour to see an over the
top Halloween display on the road into Phoenix Lake
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/kAN72F5L34
We last did this hike in November 2020. It is a good one with plenty of up and down and wide views, tho not very long. We started from the parking area at Borges Ranch and made a clockwise loop. 7 of us enjoyed a beautiful fall day after a minor storm front passed the Bay Area last night. Lots of woodpeckers calling, also flickers. And we saw a tarantula! We ended up talking and snacking at the shaded picnic tables by the parking area. 2.7 miles
It was getting hot by the time we finished this walk from the Giant Hwy entrance out along the marsh to the end of the Cordgrass Jetty Tr, There had been a pleasant breeze while we were actually walking so the 6 of us enjoyed the nearly flat walk of just under 3 miles. Only a few pictures.
=Karen
https://www.flickr.com/gp/momcat_ksw/yP769tt4kN
