Place: Fruits in Fullerton arboretum......

When I lived in Orange county, Fullerton arboretum was one of my most favorite places...it would be for any plant enthusiast with its impressive botanical collection..

While I miss it a lot, it makes me happy that I got to visit it four times, in four different seasons..that means, witnessed seasonal changes of the plants.....

Everytime, I took loads of pictures, to blog here...but somehow had forgotten...here check out some exotic fruits from the orchard......

American persimmon.....

Buddha's hand...

Canistel......

Century pear.......

White sapote........

Zebra lemon.........

Cherimoya........

Garcinia.......

Macadamia nut..

Oranges....

Persimmon....

Peruvian apple.........

Prickly pear.......

Carambola.........

Surinam cherry........

Now, how many of them have you tasted?

Many more to post later......

Plant: Sausage tree flowers and fruits........

Yeah, they are beautiful....dark maroon color, thick and waxy texture, bigger than average flowers.......blooming in hanging clusters..

The dripping clusters look almost magical to me..

It's the bud, getting ready to unfurl.......

The fruits look like oblong potatoes or hung sausages...

Camouflaged as a rock......

Place: Eastern Sierra and Bishop beacons....

When its comes to fall colors, everybody knows California takes a backseat..however, it's Eastern Sierra region can turn a blazing yellow with the aspens and cottonwoods...

Long yearning to see a proper, colorful autumn splendor, I have convinced my spouse to plan a trip to Bishop coming fall...though I have traversed this area, including Lee Vining  and route 395 a couple of times before, never explored its scenic sights and never saw it in fall times...

In the last week of September and  first week of October, the colors reach their peak and we have booked our trip during that time...

I have already decided on Owens valley and river, Alabama Hills, Bishop creek, lakes like Sabrina, June, Convict, South, North, Klondike.... Sierras, Big pine, Bristle cone forest etc...many new spots will be added I research more on the area..

Food: Rambutan and its other popular Sapindaceae cousins...

Getting to savor a new fruit holds much interest to me..
I had heard about rambutan, but had not got to taste it...couple of weeks back, bought some from local Chinese market..

...not only that, along with its cousins, litchi and longan...

What a treat it was to have them in one platter, to sample each of their subtle tropical appeal!

Everyone's rating and view of these succulent Sapinadaceae fruits is bound to vary...

While the more famous litchi is a mix of sweet and sour, with tropical flavor..

longan is pure sweet with wine-like aroma..

rambutan has thick, chewy pulp with a white pit..will love to relish it again and again..

Creativity: Playing with colorful trinkets.....

Creativity with my trinkets...mosaic of beads, chains, flowers, stones..

Hope, you loved..

Season: Rain, rain, do come again...

When it rains, I get confused, over how to make the mos of the rare blessing in this semi-arid region...
A part of me says to stay home, grab a book, listen to soothing songs, write a paper, edit some photographs....over some steaming cup of tea.......
Other part says to brave the rain, grab the umbrella and go explore in the rain...capture the washed landscapes, flora, fauna....
To reluctant to miss any of the option, I end up indulging in both...
Rain has subsided, but a heavy monsoon climate, with thick clouds in the sky and humidity  in the air lingers...trees  look rejuvenated...mushrooms are popping on lawns...

The weather feels what it used to be felt in the months-long rainy season in India...Like many San Diegans, I am loving it..given the  elusiveness of rain here, who knows it will arrive again, least of all in generous doses..so, I have taken lots of pictures to dwell on it...hope, you will love it...

Rain and tea with book, in bedroom..make great combos..

Rain-washed apartment premise...

See the waltz of rain droplets..

White sky, soggy palms and soaked crow....typical rainy day picture...

The old Callery pear in front of the house never looked more refreshing..

My jasmine flowers coated in drops..

and the mandevilla too..

Sycamore twigs swaying merrily...

..as it picks momentum..

Visibility was reduced to less than quarter of a mile..

Zillion bubbles are forming and collapsing...

December is the wettest month in South California.....its pouring down since last night...its predicted to continue well into tomorrow...went for a walk in the drizzles and clicked some shots....

Healing, cheering, invigorating power of rain is unparalleled indeed..