We are going to Switzerland this summer, so it is really important to get into shape. Luckily we have mountains here to practice on.
It was time for a hike up to the Griffith Park Observatory. Last time I was there it was covered by a cloud. On this gorgeous spring day, many others were hiking up the mountain with us. We started in Fern Dell park, a park that was created back in the 1930’s. In those days it was very popular to make concrete look like wood. So all the railing look like this.
Since you can’t touch, here is photographic proof. Re-bar in the middle of what is now a broken log.
We started climbing, not only are wildflowers out, the rain has done other damage as well. Look at this rut!
The views along the way are spectacular- even through the haze downtown is impressive.
The Hollywood sign is always fun to see.
The closer we got, we could see a lot of people walking around the building.
I feel sorry for people with allergies, this year is especially hard. I have no idea what kind of tree this is, but it sure is pretty.
We weren’t the only ones making our way up here. I’m impressed that the dog runs along side the horses. At this point, they are trying to figure out where to park them so they could go inside. 
Here is the front view, somewhere there is a plaque in honor of James Dean from Rebel Without a Cause, that was filmed right here, shortly after this building was built.
Art Deco details that sparkle in the light.
Then it was down through Fern Dell park. A tropical slice of heaven in the middle of the city. Joel, the LA native had never been here before. I love introducing him to his city.
Can you see the steam coming off the bubbles? My guess is – it’s like the La Brea Tar pits, primordial ooze.
A tree fell, was it this winter? Or much earlier and it just hasn’t been cleared out?
Once Iencounteredd one Staghorn fern, it appears that they show up everywhere.
As is our tradition, finish off a hike with tacos. These are fish tacos from Ensenada Fish Tacos on Hillhurst. Not as fancy as ‘Home’ that had a line down the sidewalk waiting for brunch. We’re sticking with our tradtion of some kind of local taco place.
Leah
Spring is very short but colorful here in So Cal. Our dull iceplant becomes a carpet of bright magenta.
Trees burst into glorious blooms.
Our state flower, the California poppy makes an appearance. This year, in certain locations, hillsides are carpeted with orange. It is time to go out and enjoy nature.
We drove 30 miles from home up into the Angeles National forest. A lot more green this year. 
The haze is hanging over the basin. You have to strain to see the tall buildings of downtown Los Angeles with the Palo Verdes peninsula beyond. 
Wildflowers are beginning to bloom. The yellow out in the mountains is very different from the city trees. The redno California poppies here. I may yet have to drive up to Lancaster to see the reserve. My friend went to Lake Elsinore and took incredible pictures.
The red is visible, yet small.
Remnants of the Station Fire from a few years ago. It started right near here.
And yet, some trees appear to be completely burnt and they have found a way to produce green leaves again. Fire is fickle. Many trees didn’t fair this well, and they are gone.
Enter 
Here is one such fellow. It is supposed to rain later this week and they may come back with a water truck once or twice this summer in order to give these saplings a fighting chance to survive until next winter.
As well as plenty of planes leaving contrails in the sky.
Man and nature, side by side. It is wonderful to get out and enjoy both.
Our tradition after a hike is to find a local Taco joint and eat without any guilt. This is at 
Which means our landscapes change drastically with clouds.
Taking a walk in Griffith Park yields wonderful vistas.
I guess the water tanks get named by the closest landmark. We parked our car at Travel Town. Because we didn’t have grandkids with us, it was a hike up the hill rather than visit the trains.
Looking down into the valley towards Forrest Lawn cemetery. Cemeteries end up being such beautiful, pastoral places. That Church could be in New England. What is interesting here is that the mosaic wall in the foreground is part of Mt. Sinai Memorial Park, the Jewish cemetery.
In Griffith Park, the walkers share the paths with horses and the roads with bicycles.
She posed! Her rider said that she saw my camera and posed. What a beautiful horse!
I love the fact that someone came out and decorated the tree.
An elf instead of an angel.
Sadly many of the bows were already knocked down to the ground.
Joel was wondering why I was taking pictures of the trunk of a tree. Look at this! Even the smallest, mondane parts of nature are beautiful!
Water brings water birds, like your standard teal duck. There are also geese, domesticated and a few Canada geese who are probably never going home.
The ducks enjoy floating on the water and eating fish and grubs. The lake is stocked with fish and many a fisherman enjoy a lazy afternoon along side the lake.
The cormorant isn’t as buoyant as the ducks, most of its’ body is underwater.
Which is why it needs to spread it’s wings to both dry off and cool down.
Speaking of ducks, here is an unusual fellow, nice tuft on his head. There were a number of these ducks, so it must be some sort of breed.
Not sure what this fellow is.
This egret sure can twist his neck!
In any city park you will find squirrels, especially if someone is feeding them.
You looking at me?
Yes I am, do you have a problem with that?
Me! Me! Look at me! Ok, the common pidgeon is a bird too, I guess he deserves a spot in this post as well.
Elin wrote a book on Geocaching, so she knows how it’s done. So we met up with another cacher and went hunting.
This was part of a pair of boxes, finding them wasn’t hard, finding the clues to open and then synchronize the little electronic displays inside – that took some talent.
And here we are! The prize!
This was a short one. Not enough exercise for a lovely Saturday. So on we went on a hike.
I captured one moment of quiet on the trail, there were hikers, bikers, and walkers. In SoCal, people are out and about all the time. 
With things to see, and time to spend talking with a friend.
There is a place called the museum of the San Fernando Valley, I finally went there. Meh, I can see how the Valley is beginning to come into its own and I wish them success, but nothing about this organization made me want to get involved.
There are things that are worth stopping for, like this wonderful sign. I think I’m just souring on the concept of many museums. Sure there is great art that is worthy of being shared. But these days, everyone has a museum, and by calling it that – they feel they have elevated what’s inside when in many cases they have simply diminished what a museum is all about. 
Maybe this sign says more about the Valley than anything else. Of course, I’d like to see all these groups joining together for one service in one common language, English. But maybe they do for social events and people are comfortable with religion in their own language.
Studying the map
After the rains there is so much green, we love it! Even if there isn’t water in the creek.
I have been warned about poison oak many times. It was good to see the real thing so I know what to avoid. Never saw any more on the trail, this is a very well maintained hike, so they are probably removing it from the trail areas.
This very green meadow will soon be brown. Plants react to the rain and burst forward when they have a chance.
Another thing I don’t touch is mushrooms, some are edible and some deadly poisonous, no idea which is which.
Some of the flowers along the way.
None of these are very big, my photos are deceiving. 
These two examples are tiny, I’d say the flowers are smaller than a dime, but oh so pretty!
I’m guessing that in a month or two this will burst open and spread more seeds.
My telephoto was at maximum. Looking back down at this bench.
Of course on our way back we had to stop here and rest. As we reached the bottom the whole Sierra Madre search and rescue team were out, someone got stuck somewhere near the waterfall, so we didn’t go explore there. They said it wasn’t a bad situation, but every rescue is a learning one, so they were way over manned.
Meanwhile back at home, this little lady built a nest over our patio. Notice how tiny it is, it is hanging on the fairy lights. Also notice how dark her beak is.
A few days ago I noticed this, two beaks and they are orange tipped with black! The babies were born!
Here they are, peaking out, waiting for mama to feed them. Of course now I am watching them daily!
