King Palm/Queen Palm

The king palm is much cleaner and smoother on the truck. It's also usually smaller maybe growing to 30 feet. Meanwhile the queen palm needs frond maintenance and cleaning at the base (small dates). It grows taller to 50 feet. It's truck is lined with ridges. Both can make a pleasant addition to a landscape set up.

Podocarpus examples

These are great for taller hedges (for privacy around the domicile). Some even grow to medium sized trees to 60 feet high. They tend to be lower maintenance. Many in the city.

More accidents

Some multi car pile ups. Reminder of why it's good to avoid "bottlenecks." A motorcycle has just collided with a small car. Amtrak derailment in the South.

Verdugo Mountains 8/31/08

Here's what the mountain range looks like from the top. Also is the Crescenta valley to the north/northeast. The north facing slopes often with much thicker vegetation than the south facing ones. Here, mostly chamise, buckwheat, sumac, elderberry, scrubby oak, bay tree, live oak, sycamore, occasional willows, yucca, and smaller shrubs. At this time the buckwheat a red brown and chamise a rich dark red brown...distinctive on the slopes if one looks for it. In these small mountains, one can walk a good 50 miles of (mostly) fire road. These, too, were on fire in parts in 2002 and 2005. The chaparral does come back quickly however...a lot of these plants have evolved to live in dry climates with naturally occurring lightning fires. For 9 months in the year, one may encounter rattlesnakes, bobcats, mountain lions, coyotes, hawks, coons, skunks, and mule deer.

Remembering the worker again

These workers work hard for the ducats.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Automobile accidents 2

One can never be 100% safe, in all moments, driving a motor vehicle. These pix are good reminders.