Thunderstorms

Various pix of these. They most often form in tropical regions of the planet. In the U.S. the most seem to hit Florida and up north in the South. In the desert southwest, they often occur in August and cause the "monsoon" which is quick flash flooding. They can also rotate and cause tornadoes. Sometimes they drop large hail stones. A supercell may emerge 60000 feet above the Earth's surface.

Waterspouts

These often occur off the coast and form like tornadoes. Spurs start hanging down; some grow and touch down thousands of feet below. The wind swirls around in circular motion. They can occur with coming rainstorms or thunderstorms with unstable air.

Pholcus Phalangioides

This is the spider that leaves cobwebs in the house after months. It also eats a variety of bugs that enter the house. They like to make a web near the shower but can also be found behind furniture at lower levels. It's small to .3 inch but very long legs. With a cobweb. It's a weak silk but very sticky. Another word for this spider is "daddy long legs spider." They are also found in temperature climates under fences, near logs, in house eaves and love enclosed sheds and dark areas.

Filistatid

This spider one finds usually under logs or in rock crevices. About .5 inch long yours truly has seen them in black, black blue or tan color. Have one in captivity and it likes to start moving at dusk and adding on to its tangly and sticky web. It flings its back leg in a quick flicking motion to add to the draglines of the web. Supposedly they may live to 5 years. Mine has lasted 5 months thus far. Here are a couple of pix.

Horse Fly and eye close up

These bugs have maybe a 1000 eyes clustered into one. The horsefly has a blood love and will go after people and livestock searching for the next meal.

Sugar Pine

This magnificent tree may grow above 200 feet tall in ideal conditions. Found from 5000 to about 8000 feet in mountainous areas. Cones to 25 inches long. The sugar supposedly was used by indians as a sealant. Resin has a nice sugary smell. Young trees have a top. The older ones flat topped. May live well above 300 years. Branches dangle out to 50 feet from the trunk. Trunk may be 18 feel in circumference. Often you will find this tree intermixed near Ponderosa Pine, incense cedar, fir, spruce, and sequouia.

Plants that show by November in SoCal

Examples shown are the euryops...this smaller shrub produces hundreds of yellow sunflower type flowers about 1-2 inches across. Butterflies like this plant. Needs ample water and more than half sun. Good drainage and soil food. The bird of paradise has a flower the shape of a bird's head. This needs water but less than the euryops. Full sunlight. Both need maintenance. One can do a low cut of the bird of paradise and it will grow back pretty quick. The pyrocanthus comes out with red to orange berries throughout. May have needles. Also included is the toyon a California native. These berries come out in early November and may last to February. Low water for this but full sunlight.