Sky Blue Penstemon

Penstemon azureus

Click on image to enlarge - ©2009 jim otterstrom

Pentemon azureus, a native of California, is found in Yellow Pine forests and foothill woodlands from the Southern Sierra Nevada to the Oregon border at elevations between about 1,000 and 8,000 feet.

It is one of the few plants in our native garden that is not actually native to Big Bear but we couldn't resist those beautiful blue flowers. Ours came from Bert and Penny, at Las Pilitas native plant nursery, the good people who supply our local Hunter's Nursery with native plants.

As you can see, I'm still having fun with my pictures in Photoshop.

Southern Alligator Lizard

Click on image to enlarge - © 2009 jim otterstrom

An Alligator Lizard explores the new native-plant rock garden at Earth Home Garden yesterday afternoon. More pictures of the garden coming soon.

Year 'Round Resident?

9:30 This Morning

Click on image to enlarge - © 2009 jim otterstrom

This mature Bald Eagle posed patiently for Dallas and I this morning on the dead tree perch at the east end of the Stanfield Marsh and I saw a juvenile perched in the same place just over a week ago.

Bald Eagles are usually just winter visitors here and I'm wondering if we might possibly be getting some year 'round residents.

An un-Photoshopped version of this photo was given to a local US Forest Service biologist for inclusion in the Bald Eagle slide presentation she shares with visiting youth groups.