Jan 07 2009
Desert Garden at Balboa Park Blooms
Desert Garden Bloom, Balboa Park
While I was crossing the footbridge yesterday on my way to San Diego Natural History Museum and The San Diego Science Center, I was side tracked by the buzzing bees busily sucking the sweet nectar of a succulent bloom. I delayed crossing the footbridge, instead, accepted the invitation of the bees to enjoy the same sight and scenery that kept them busy.
Bees Happily Sucking the Sweet Nectar of the Succulent Flower
A Happy Bee and Succulent Bloom
I was taken by surprised with a lot of blooms already, and then, I remember it is actually already January 
.
Succulent Bloom
January to March is the peak blooming period of the succulents, but then, the cacti and other succulents are still interesting even without the flowers for the always come in different forms and shapes.
This Cacti
Is Part of this Spooky Giant Cacti
So, instead of proceeding right away to the Science Museum, I at first took the short trail at the Desert Garden, what a wonderful walk that was amongst the intereresting desert plants. I always am fascinated by the forms of cacti, for me they are part of the lure of the wonders of the desert.
And their flowers, are one of the exotic blooms I have seen.
This is a Very Tall Succulent
How Tall? Just a lot taller than me 
Not all the cacti and succulents were on bloom yet yesterday, I believe others will start blooming February and continue until March or April. Especially the barrel and the beavertail cacti. Nevertheless, I saw a lot of passersby stopping their car on the road and taking a picture of this photo which faces the Park Blvd.
Desert Garden Blooms
But my greatest surprise yesterday while walking at Desert Garden was this
Can you find the Caterpillar?
The presence of butterfly and caterpillar surely brought priceless joy to my walk. Okay, did I say a caterpillar? Yes, there is a caterpillar in the picture above, but unlike Ratty of Everyday Adventurer whose Who Found the Squirrel Game was really fun and I thoroughly enjoyed, the caterpillar I have in the picture is kind of very obvious 
, sorry, as I could not get any other angle in taking the picture of butterfly afraid it will fly soon. And I want the butterfly to be in the photograph with the caterpillar too. King of which comes first, caterpillar or butterfly game? But anyway, just for fun, I hope you join me in describing where the caterpillar is in the above picture. And since it is already obvious, you do not have to click on the picture to enlarge it, hahahaha! But if you want more challenge, visit Ratty’s Who Found the Squirrel Game .
I think that’s it just under the leaf on the right, where the stem branches off diagonally. It looks a little bit like a bee. Maybe I gave a bad description. Like I said before, I’m good at giving games, but I’m not the best player.:) It was still fun though.
I’m supposed to see a squirrel here? Obviously, I’ve missed it.
It’s halfway up, underneath the leaf towards the right. Also, it’s a fantastic photo
Do you have any idea what kind of butterfly it is? My book only covers the U.K.
I’m guessing it is under the leaf on the right of the plant. You sell yourself short. Your game is fun.
Mother Goose
I forgot to ask if you made it to the Science Museum. I would have been so distracted by all that beauty that the museum would have left my mind.
Mother Goose
Thanks for describing Ratty.
@ Mother Goose, yes, I was able to go to the Science Museum but did not stay long, the warmth and beauty of the outside beckoned me.
@ Cube, no, you are not supposed to find a squirrel here but a caterpillar in the last picture. The finding the squirrel is in the link I mentioned.
These desert blooms are amazingly beautiful! The cati look like baby aubergines..used alot in Thai cooking….:)
Wow, those are lovely!
*starts trying to set aside time in schedule to swing by Balboa Park* Is there a time of day you’d particularly recommend swinging by?
You’ve got a really good zoom there - what lens do you use?
Thank you so much for sharing these photos.
They are amazing.
Sorry. I do not see any caterpillar. I see only butterfly and its baby.
Your Cacti look familiar to me. They should be the relatives of those appear in my blog:
http://rainfield61.blogspot.com/2008/11/glimpse-at-flowery-and-colourful.html
Yes I see the caterpillar. I think it would have been more difficult if maybe it was a different color. I love the pictures with the bees drinking the nectar.
Oh wow, you did such a great job of capturing those bees and the butterfly! Hey, it’s practically Spring in San Diego, isn’t it? I can’t tell, I keep some potted gardenias on my balcony, but they bloom year round here! :-0
Wow, beautiful shots, nicely done!! January to March is peak snowing time here,lol.
ah you got those bees! My lens is never fast enough for them.
How adorable is that bee sitting on that lovely red flower. I loved it.
You really take gorgeous pics….I love the vividness of the bee and the succulent bloom. Here walang ka-bloom-bloom …puro patay..LOLZ!
thanks a lot everyone.
@ ravyn, at anytime of day is good i think, if you want to photograph outside, then, early morning and late afternoon, it is also the time where there are less crowds. however, if you want to go to museums too ( i usually avail of the free tuesdays when i am on vacation ) then i usually try to beat the crowd by getting there early, like 9:00 or 9:30 am.
@ Stephen, I use a standard 18-250 mm lens. It is not macro, right now, I do not have budget for a macro yet
@ John, it looks like a California patch butterfly to me, but actually am confused whether it is or a monarch, sorry.
Thanks!
Miss Beth,
I loved your pictures of the succulent bloom. I was surprised to find that you used an 18mm - 250mm lens. Are they really that large, as well as those bees? I have a 300mm lens but I still find the zoom wanting most of the time….
And I was thinking about “bangkiling” in those cactus fruits…. or are they really fruits?
Wow! I also love that caterpillar metamorphosis. Thanks for sharing that. That’s something that we don’t see everyday.
This brings me to one thing I should do once in a while - stop working and enjoy nature, trek to a different route, just like what you did.
We don’t know what surprises that we encounter along the way.
I am still trying to find the caterpillar lol.