Wandering Wednesday - West Cliff Drive

 

Last weekend was DS's 29th birthday so we took him out to an awesome sushi dinner in Santa Cruz. He suggested a walk along West Cliff Drive. Even though it was close to sunset, we snagged a parking spot near one of the lovely curbside plantings. This is a Hooker's Evening Primrose, which I keep meaning to plant in our garden.

The late sunset was so soft and lovely, I really love the pastels in this picture.

A seagull had her nest way out on the point with the best view.

There were still a bunch of surfers out there catching the last waves of the day.

A little more sunset with one of the shoreline coves.

We made it as far as the lighthouse, which doubles as a surfing museum.

The birthday boy! 

Magnolia Sunday

We're having a super bloom on the small magnolia tree I planted years and years ago.

The entire tree is absolutely covered in blooms. Normally there aren't so many so it's very striking.

I love how the blooms come first and then the leaves follow afterwards.

They really are extraordinary trees.

This tree hasn't been struggling exactly, but it has been a bit more shaded than it probably should have been as we allowed an enormous butterfly bush to take over the nearby airspace. A lot of that plant has been taken out now, so maybe the magnolia will expand.

I'm really glad that I planted this magnolia, it looks so pretty against the darkness of the redwood grove behind, and the neon green of the new growth on the buckeye to the right.

And a bonus Alex + Meg shot from yesterday at parent's house. We were helping cut up and move a big sycamore branch that had fallen down in the storms. Their fence was being repaired as well, because part of it was blown down in the storm, along with three other homes in the neighborhood. They just hired the dudes that were working on the other fences.