Park It!!

Running late in the morning, I decided to not walk much in the heat. It was already 85 degrees outside. I had to go to the grocery store for bottled water [yes, we DO drink bottled water...but we recycle the plastic bottles...always!] We've had so many times that there was/is a boil water alert issued here in the city, that instead of taking chances and drinking from the tap, we feel safer with bottled water.  Anyway... Coming back from the island drive on Sunday I stopped at the store on the way home for water, and that particular store did not have our brand. Instead, I just got back in the car and drove home. Since I was out again, I thought I'd check out the small neighborhood park lake and see what's happenin' in the 'hood!! I wasn't all that ambitious to begin with, so just once around the lake would have to suffice...

The lake: Thru the trees...

....this is a very small park in area. And, it's very family friendly. Old folk and young families frequent this park to feed the duck population and make use of the BBQ pits and picnic areas, along with a small play area with swings and a slide. Lots of water fowl...mostly domestic. Sometimes a wild bird will show up, [seagulls, sparrows, cormorants, egrets and the like] but for the most part, ducks and geese. A lot of turtles also.

This time of year the pollen-laden trees play havoc with those that have allergies. The catkins and tree blossoms are heavy this year. [catkins are the fuzzy blossoms that will seed] The yellow blossom is of the Palo Verde Tree which is technically a weed, but if left alone it will become tree-like. We had several on our property in Tucson, and when the blossoms fell, it looked like yellow snow. Oh and the bark is a lime green!! The name literally means green stick. The image of the flower is the Palo Verde, the catkins is of the willow...

Today, the 19th, is my youngest's birthday.  Erik is 48.  Whoa.  Time flies.