This is University of Riverside...known around here as UCR...it is a state university about 20 minutes south of our house. We decided to go over here this day for a walk through their botanical gardens. Botanical gardens always sound so exotic, but here in our area...they are just pieces of land set aside and preserved. In UCR's botanical gardens, there are some landscaped grounds, but those are mostly used by people who are taking wedding and engagement photos or perhaps a family picture. Don and I like to hike around all areas and as you will see it is all very different. The area is about 45 acres and we try to see as much as we can...
It is a very hilly area and rocky too. Riverside is known for having huge boulders everywhere...I like this area a lot.
This is what my neck of the woods would look like if it hadn't been developed. Of course there are lots of areas still like this. Everything I will show you is a California native. In our area, it is mostly small bushes and shrubs that grow naturally, but there are small trees too.
Succulents are everywhere here. This is a flower that is growing on one. Since we don't get much rain, Southern California is very dry...we have tons of pretty succulents.
Here's a nice uphill path Don led us on. Lots of small trees up here.
This flower was taller than me!
This is a flower coming out of a small fern in one of the shady areas by a little creek. Around here we have flowers all year long...it just depends on the season, which ones you will find.
Here's a dried flower pod...I thought it was pretty.
Leaves are starting to change at the higher elevations...it is Fall you know!
Very typical view of our area.
These big boulders are all over Riverside and they are fun to climb!
Don climbed up and showed me a pretty view...it was a bit hazy...we had a few clouds that didn't quite burn off.
Some of the shady area of the gardens...lots of small trees close together.
Here's a nice covered walkway to the exit. It takes you down many stairs...we had a great time...we worked up an appetite, so we're off to lunch!
I hope you enjoyed the tour...it gives you a better idea of the area I live in...it has cooled down a lot over the last few days...I'm hoping the heat wave is over....it's only supposed to be 90 today!
15 comments:
May I then be the first. to comment. Looks like you had a wonderful day. Loved the taller than you flower. Have a blessed day. Debbie
That tall flower is really something! Great pictures.
Linda,I love hikes like this,the scenery is amazing.Thanks for sharing,and thank you so much for visiting LazyonLoblolly and the sweet comment,welcome anytime!
-Jo
-LazyonLoblolly
What a lovely area. Some parts look almost like a rain forest and others like the desert. Enjoyed visiting with you.
looks like a beautiful place to visit I love serenity. We live here in southern Illinois near garden of the Gods it is very pretty as well
This is my first Outdoor Wednesday, thankyou for calling by 'News From Italy' and commenting. I have now responded and I hope to see you there again.
This looks like a beautiful place to take a walk, thanks for sharing.
Very awesome post, with so many different things to see..
What a neat post! I really enjoyed seeing what it's like there.
It is really beautiful and so different my home in Illinois, where the dirt is black and the ground is flat. I've never been to California, I've only made it to Arizona so far.
Thanks for your visit!
Sue
Linda,
How nice to see so many photos. I have never been to that area of California, I don't think. So it's nice to get a feel for how it looks. What a great place to visit and hike in, love the flowers, especially the one that is taller than you! Never seen that one before and the one coming out of a fern? I have never heard of one like that either. Thanks so much for coming over and leaving me a sweet comment on my blog.
I took a peek at more of your blog and I adore the bags that you make! You are very talented!
Hugs, Cindy
I love California's varied terrain! It is so different from the east coast. I wonder if all those boulders were carried there by the ice age? That "taller than you" flower looked alien :)
treasures said...
Beautiful pics! Thanks for sharing your nature hike with us.
~ Julie
The area is very pretty there. I would enjoy roaming around that botanical garden.
Nice photos, Linda. Did you see the dried flower photo on my blog of your flower; another friend identified it as a teasel. I have some in a bouquet of dried flowers, only it's been dyed red! What I always loved about S. CA is that houseplants grow outside, no problem, and usually way bigger than indoors.
great photos! i love the seed pod and flowers. what a great fall day!!
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