February 15

Wednesday, Remi, my wife and I returned to the Palos Verdes Peninsula to hike in the 123-acre, Deane Dana Friendship Park and Nature Center, near the town of San Pedro. The late morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 61 degrees and no wind. Leaving the parking lot, we began a steep climb north on an asphalt trail where I noticed a few blossoms and seed heads of the ubiquitous Dandelion. Nearby, I also saw blossoms of Sow Thistle. These familiar yellow flowers are often misidentified as Dandelions. We continued on the trail as it changed from asphalt to dirt while circling through fields of lush vegetation, including Cape Ivy which is California’s most invasive plant species. Looking more closely at some Ivy leaves, I spotted dozens of tiny Milk Snails feeding on them. Other leaves revealed 7-spotted Lady Bugs as well as some of their eggs. Continuing to the summit, we paused to enjoy the western vista of blue skies and Santa Catalina Island, nestled in the Pacific Ocean, 30 miles to the west. Starting our descent, I noticed what I thought was a familiar Milkweed Bug. However, after a closer look at its dorsal pattern, it turned out to be a Red Bug, a recent invasive insect spreading rapidly through southern California. Further down the hill, I spotted a newly planted clump of Milk Vetch, one of several native plants being reintroduced to the area. Just ahead, I glanced up into a conifer tree where a male, Lesser Goldfinch was perched. Near the trail end, I gazed afar at the 10,000 ft., snow capped, Mount Baldy, located 70 miles to the east in the San Gabriel Mountain Range. Finally, we found the car and headed back to Redondo Beach.

Let me

Dive as a dolphin

In the ocean deep

Swim as a seal

O’er waves I leap

Soar as a tern

In a cloudless sky

Ride the breeze

Where pelicans fly

Float as a wave

On the rolling sea

If only an hour

Wish I could be

D. DeGraaf