silver wattle

[OT from cottage renovations]

Australian wattle trees are an import that does well out here.  they are normally finishing up with their blooms at this time of year; specimens can be found throughout the area at various various stages in the cycle. 

(click through this thumbnail for higher resolution image)

---

Acacia dealbata

this one is down the street from my brother's place.  the blooms though about spent are still attractive. 

the other end of the planter

[OT from cottage renovations]

here's a look at the other end of the stone wall's succulent pot from yesterday's post. 

(click through this thumbnail for higher resolution image)

---

twin towers

[OT from cottage renovations]

when the light is running out one has to play at turista in some haste.  the usual view is of the building's façade as seen looking slightly up across the open ground on which it fronts and against the sky, but I've always enjoyed this lateral view. 

(click through this thumbnail for higher resolution image)

---

Mission Ridge Road

Mission Santa Barbara

among the ruins

[OT from cottage renovations]

the Spanish who set up the chain of missions found plenty of sandstone and abundant labor with which to work it in the persons of the indigenous Chumash peoples.  the grounds of the former Mission complex are now a city park on which stone foundations and walls can be seen of the former aqueducts, reservoirs, gristmill, tannery and pottery.  it also hosts a varied collection of native and exotic plant species. 

(click through these thumbnails for higher resolution images)

---

Mission ruins

jade plants scatter the area; some are blooming in this lovely combination of green and gold. 

---

there are also some patches of large Nopales

not to be outdone by some trendy adolescent, this one is sporting its own peircing. 

---

here's one with a small fragment of jade plant dangling from some of its spines.  one presumes it blew there; it doesn't look particularly unhappy or out of place. 

---

these vines are finding that defensive spikes can provide excellent handles for vegetative climbing.  somehow I don't think that was part of the original design specification. 

  

one that somebody else looked up

[OT from cottage renovations]

wandering through the ruins I came across these little gems.  I haven't had the time to look them up but will come back and revise this post once I acquire some clue as to what they are. 
[ed: many thanks to florentinescot for the identification]

(click through these thumbnails for higher resolution images)

---

Solanum carolinense a/k/a Horse Nettle