Pretty Leaves and Fuzzy Caterpillars

I’m visiting my family in the Bay Area this weekend, but here are some pictures of the arboretum and the cute caterpillars I met there a few weeks ago.

Red maple leaves and a nice clear sky

Pink flower of some sort

Cool sunshine over a structure at the arboretum

Variegated leaves on a pretty plant at the arboretum

Adorable fuzzy caterpillar!

I had to move a few of these guys off the path. Don’t touch these fuzzy guys with bare fingers unless you know they’re friendly. Some have stinging hairs.

Light purple aster (I think) flowers

California Nature Walk

I’ve mostly been hanging out with family and getting to know my cousin’s new baby, but my sister and I managed to get in some fun nature time. We found many excellent creatures and plants around a vernal pond we’ve been visiting since we were little.

Pacific treefrog

Newt egg sacks with daphnia clinging on the outside. When those newts hatch, daphnia will be their main food source.

Baby California newt

Baby California newts, and a dragonfly larvae. Dragonfly larvae are one of their main predators at this stage in life.

An adult male California newt (Taricha torosa) in breeding conditon. Males swell up and their skin gets smoother at breeding time.

The same male newt. California newts are extremely poisonous, and that bright orange belly is a warning. Do not handle them if you have any open cuts or scratches, and always wash hands thoroughly before eating after touching one.

California slender salamander (Batrachoseps attenuatus)

Another slender salamander

Turkey tail fungus (probably)

More turkey tails

They’re just really pretty mushrooms. I like them.

Some final turkey tails

Western fence lizard who was not at all intimidated by me or my phone. These lizards cleanse the local ticks of Lyme disease. They’re awesome.

Stink beetle

Fuzzy caterpillar. Not sure what species.

Another fuzzy caterpillar

Pretty orange wildflowers

Wild garlic. I think.

Pretty white wildflowers

Wild garlicky thing with a tiny beetle friend

An oak tree that broke since the last time I hiked here

Eucalyptus trees

Oak trees and the bay area hills