The leaves of my front yard tree (can not remember the name of it!) are just starting to change colors--this is the first time since the tree was planted a few years ago that it has had berries!  In the background you can see the neighbor's small palm tree; palm trees are ubiquitous in Southern California.

This praying mantis appeared on the bricks on my front porch a few days ago; I was so excited! I'd never seen an adult mantis in the yard before! Mantis's are beneficial carnivores; they eat other insects that are harmful to plants and crops. A family member startled it by accident and it jumped off of the wall onto the concrete porch and went into full mantis defensive posturing: Arms up, mouth open, wings spread! It was quite a wonderful sight! (Didn't have my camera ready to get that, though). Family member put out his hand and the mantis climbed into it; as we were expecting rain that night, he gently placed the mantis under the cover of some plant leaves. I wonder if the mantis showing up on my front porch is a sign of good luck, like crickets? Oh, and we have plenty of crickets, too! I love to hear them "chirrup" at night. Once in a while one gets into the house; they really like hanging out in the bricks of my fireplace--when they chirrup, it's like an echo chamber and you can hear one cricket all over the house!

Related Nature Blogs:

Bolsa Chica Wetlands http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=2100297  This past month I went birding at the Bolsa Chica Wetlands. I plan on going again and again! The wetlands were newly restored due to the diligence of local environmentalists who successfully worked with the California Department of Fish and Game, the California Coastal Commission, and the developer who owned some of the land in order to conserve this vital Southern California coastal wetlands.

Photos: Purple Sunset http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=2070676  

Photos: Spring in Winter http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=2027639

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