Here is a descriptive version of encounters on my amblings yesterday. Given that many parks’ parking is closed due to #ShelterInPlace, I wanted to discover how far away a certain trailhead was by foot in the hills. It was quite far, but totally worth it. #berkeleyadventures 1/12

Found this lovely little #spider friend while still close to home. Looks to be a red-backed jumping spider, Phidippus johnsoni. My second Salticid spotting in the neighborhood. #berkeleyadventures 2/12

Discovered parts of Berkeley I’d never experienced before. Secret staircases and pathways that felt like I was in some version of the Secret Garden! And the views along the way were spectacular, although the walk up the hill was very steep! <pant pant> #berkeleyadventures 3/12

The miner’s lettuce, (Claytonia perfoliata), was in bloom and absolutely lining these little footpaths! #berkeleyadventures 4/12

Continuing along these paths, I came across what looks like some sort of Allium (white), Geranium (pinky-lavender), and pennywort or ivy-leaved toadflax (Cymbalaria muralis). #berkeleyadventures 5/12

Hopping along with apparent disregard for my presence was a little Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) in the beautiful brown-backed phenotype. #berkeleyadventures 6/12

There was also a deer. Forgive me, I specialize in all things small, so this is a large hooved creature I know to be a deer, but that’s as much as I’ve got. This deer also seemed to have little concern about my presence. #berkeleyadventures 7/12

Upon reaching the trail i was greeted by the beautiful bright colors of California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) and California buttercup (Rananculus californicus) - inadvertently captured a little hover fly visiting in last pic! #berkeleyadventures 8/12

Played peekaboo with a handsome Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) only to find its neighbor to be much bolder... #berkeleyadventures 9/12

And I know you can’t actually see them, but there’s a gob tun of Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) in this incredibly backlit silhouetted tree. I swear. Their high pitched Tzee-tzee calls were ringing in the air. #berkeleyadventures 10/12

Last flowers along the trail were Forget-Me-Nots (Myosotis). They may not be native, but they were a perfect ending to my walk. They were one of my grandmother’s favorite flowers. #berkeleyadventures 11/12

I ended the day at the Berkeley Rose Garden. Roses will always be one of my favorites, as I have been a rose gardener for many years, and I was delighted to find my favorite rose in glorious bloom: the Peace Rose. #berkeleyadventures 12/12 Fin.