Today I managed to get out of the house for some solo Naturing time around 5pm. Yeah, 5 in the P.M. I’ve wanted to visit the Chain of Lakes Garden for a while. And even though I figured I’d likely not see one single Butterfly and very few Pollinators so late in the day, I headed out West anyway.

Thankfully (and shockingly!), the sun was still out all the way to the ocean. And soon after I passed through the Chain of Lakes Portal, I took a resting Red Admiral butterfly on the trail by surprise. It jumped up and quickly landed in its signature En Garde stance. Facing me. Waiting for me to make my move.

But, of course, I was overjoyed by its presence! And slowly moved my digital camera up to take some photos. Then allofasudden one (or maybe even TWO?) OTHER Red Admirals swirled into view from out of nowhere, and they all went flying after each other! I noticed that it took my breath away to see this. Literally. And this happens every single dang time this happens. When competing Butterflies instantly start chasing each other. Which seems like ALL THE FLIPPIN’ TIME lately! How on earth can they even see where the heck they’re going at that speed? While swirling in a schizophrenic tornado pattern like that??

I was approaching the outskirts of the COL Garden when I noticed many, MANY changes. First thing I saw was a small cluster of different kinds of Clarkia flowers. Neato! These kinds are new to the garden, as far as I know. How I love that they keep trying new things here, so often incorporating native plants.

The newish plants behind the garden are REALLY filling in! So much so, that it’s very wild-feeling back there now. It couldn’t be a more perfect spot to get lost in. I can imagine small children just loving it over there.

Speaking of small children, there were bits of evidence that that back area is visibly becoming a beloved wonderland. A little offering of engagement is now in a nook of one of the Monterey Cypress’ trunk bases there. A small frog statue was placed along the trail. And a little toy offering appeared to be the start of a small shrine among the curves of one of the many Tea Tree twisty trunks, too.

It all made me think of the many offerings and shrines up on Mount Sutro. Ahh, Mt. Sutro. Been too long. Gotta go there soon.

Have I mentioned how often I heard Red-shouldered Hawks crycrycrying while I was in the area? ALL THE FLIPPIN’ WHILE that I was there. And I mean, from the moment I opened my car door to the moment I got back into my car to leave. NUTSO. Might there be more juvenile RSHs in the area than usual??

I took a minute to sit in the garden to just be in it. And I started to wonder about the longer daylight hours these days. Do animals notice the longer days? Do they need to eat more with longer daylight time? Have I had this thought before?

After strolling slowly down each and every trail in the garden, it was time to head to North Lake. After crossing JFK, I spotted one of the MANY juvenile RSHs high up in a tree. Crycrycrying, of course. So happy to have snapped a photo of it mid-crycrycrying. They’re hilarious.

Over on that side is a sea of Cultivated Tobacco. And I got to just stand there and watch Hummingbirds dive into so many of those flowers. First, an Anna’s. Then, an Allen’s. How much do I love the image of them with their heads in those flowers? SO SO MUCH!

Now, I’ve reported this before. That North Lake is becoming OVERRUN with reeds and reeds and more reeds. And I’m reporting now that it is absolutely worse. I’m wondering if SF Rec and Park has just entirely given up on controlling it?

Lucky for me, many of my favorite birds were out enjoying the last of the sunshine’s rays. Allen’s Hummingbirds were jockeying for the best spots on the water streaming in at the South end. Black-crowned Night-Herons and a Great Blue Heron and an adorable juvenile Pied-billed Grebe were all lazily around and on the lake.

The real mascot of the day was the Hummingbirds, though. After rounding the lake and getting back to the South end (as usual), I got closer to the water coming in and got to just stand and watch Hummingbird Theatre there! One after another Hummingbird would come zooming in, hover over the small waterfalls, then zoom out to a nearby perch. Just to do it all over again within seconds.

I’m DUMBFOUNDED how I got any photos of them in focus given how infrequently they paused to take a break. But I couldn’t have been more giddy at it all, seeing as how I feel like I’ve seen so few Allen’s Hummingbirds in recent years. That contrast and complementary duo of bright orange and emerald green on them is so dang charming. If it wasn’t nearing dinner time, I could’ve easily stood there for an hour more. Just watching and adoring them all.

But, it had to end. It was time. I’m SO GLAD I made it out today to the far end of my backyard. And I’m so delighted to have had such quality time with so many Hummingbirds today. Fab Monday.