Last week I led a wildflower hike along Wiley Canyon, part of the Towsley Canyon View Loop Trail.  The Wild California Lilac (Ceanothus) was in full bloom, so much so that at times it seemed as though we were walking through a bluish-purple haze.  And if you looked closely at the blossoms, you could see that the bees were ...

  Last week, we looked at what gives feathers their range of dull and vibrant colors, comparing reality to the LIVING COLOR of 20th century technology.  Fifty years after color TV’s became popular and affordable, our technology has greatly improved.  Now we have iPad’s with “Retina display” and “rich color saturation”.  So how does this newer digital version of “Living ...

 A peaceful Sunday afternoon – the perfect time to sit on the front porch.  From my rocking chair, I can see the hummingbirds as they refuel at our hummingbird feeder.  An agile bird, at times almost twitchy, I watch as one approachs the feeder.  The hummer gives it a brief look, followed by a dart forward, a quick drink, and ...

A red stop sign.  A flashing yellow light.  A sign along the trail displaying a coiled rattlesnake.  These are visual signals that tell us to slow down, back off or avoid the area.  In nature, these visual signs are known as aposematic coloration or markings.  They are used to warn potential predators to stay away.   That’s one reason why ...