Mexican sage, mallow and lemons behind them in the backyard.  The pool is just to the right, and I can see the tips of the flowers while I swim.

Sunrise over the back fence.  The colors are wonderful and delicate, and black crows glide overhead, slipping from yard to yard in the cool air.

Ripening nectarines peek from between the leaves of our volunteer tree.  It has thrived in spite of rooting itself in the shade six inches from the garage wall.  Now it's loaded with fragrant fruit.

Bell-shaped blossoms of angel's trumpet, from the family datura, hang in the shade garden.  Blossoms are about eight inches long, similar to jimson weed, its wild cousin.  All parts of the plant are poisonous.

Close-up of the perennial morning glory that covers our front and side fences and gives us wonderful privacy.  Most blooms occur on new growth.  One source said a single plant can have as many as 300 blossoms open at once, though each bloom lasts only a day.

Last week's trek to the beach for the full moon's  low tide included fog and lots of sea gulls that had gathered to munch, groom, nap and/or do a little bickering near the bridge end of the beach.

When I got to Alex's rock, this is the scene I found.  I liked this particular shot because of the smooth, graceful curve of the waves around the rock.  The knob of the rock at this point (tide minus one foot) is about 6 feet high.

The week before was a different story: late afternoon with bright sun and waves that poured into the cove quickly and relentlessly, turning the water to frothy foam.  

Somehow this young seal ended up caught in the cove, unable for a long time to get back out into open water.  He finally did, though I imagine he got a little bumped and bruised in the process.

Tomatoes and nasturtiums and zucchini and onions, oh my!  I've defaulted to doing my veggie gardening in barrels to control the soil mixture-nutrients-water since we're on a thirsty, sandy slope here.  LJ's lilly is just to the left of this picture, beside the barrel.