Sweet Gum Sky

In front of Peninsula Community Church.

Sweet Gum

A plaque by the tree read this: Liquidambar styraciflua - 'Festival' "storax tree" "gum"
"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Take fragrant spices - gum' " Exodus 30:34

 

"R" is for Rock (abc Wednesday)

The busiest approach to Palos Verdes is Hawthorne Blvd, coming from Torrance, and what I call "PV Rock" - the hill in the photo - towers over the street as it starts the climb up the hill. I took the photo in 2008 from the back seat of a Cessna 172 upon leaving Torrance Airport with my son and his flight instructor.

Join ABC Wednesday.

I Can See for Miles - PV from The Getty Center

I had an hour to spare today between appointments in Westwood and spent it rushing around the marvellous Getty Center. Makes me wonder why I don't visit it more often. LA is having another heat wave with some smog being pushed out toward the ocean by the warm Santa Ana winds. In the distance, the Palos Verdes peninsula is the darker hill on the right left, and farther left right is Catalina Island. (Thank you Petrea & Bratcat for knowing the peninsula vs. island. :)

The Getty was built using Italian travetine with the facades alternating between the rough natural look and smooth polished surfaces.

Fit on the Hill

A fit cyclist is watching the waves of Bluff Cove.

(I am away on travel until next Saturday and this is an autopost.)

Nature and Art

California Poppy and plain ole Cornflower (thank you, Rashka) in a dry climate garden.
Walkway mural of the peninsula mall logo by Cafe Ceramic.

Theme Day: Changes

View of toward and of Palos Verdes from Seal Beach pier (31 Dec 09).

As to changes, what struck me was the woman surfer (standing with paddle)...and I am again grateful for all the opportunities that are available to women today due to changes in attitude and norms - here is to "going a longer way, baby" in 2010.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants of City Daily Photo January 2010 Theme Day.

Passing by Angel's Gate Lighthouse

Like most people, I think lighthouses are very special and especially photogenic. This is the same lighthouse I've previously posted here , but this time with Palos Verdes Peninsula and San Pedro in the background. The photo was taken from Catalina Express catamaran that goes from San Pedro to Avalon on Catalina Island, where we went for a last summer excursion (a day trip) yesterday.

While I've been preparing this post, a brush fire started in Rancho Palos Verdes heading up the hill side from the Trump Golf Course burning mostly in the Forrestal Nature Preserve. It is far away from where we live but it is still concerning and very sad as two homes have already burned in the area.