Gazebo at Balboa Park rose garden vanishes!

What happened to the big gazebo in Balboa Park’s rose garden?

During a walk today, I was surprised to discover that most of the circular structure has vanished!

As you can see in my photos, members of the Balboa Park Rose Garden Corps were busy working in the award-winning Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden. I asked a smiling volunteer what had happened to the gazebo.

I learned the wooden part of the beautiful shady structure was in bad shape due to years of rot and termite damage. It had begun to pose a safety hazard.

So the old, damaged wood was recently removed. The roses climbing up it were saved. A new structure will be built at some point in the future that will hopefully be more resilient. The flowering plants that remain at the center of the disassembled gazebo will be transplanted to Balboa Park’s Alcazar Garden.

Any comments with more specific info would be interesting!

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Gray Whale at Cabrillo by Carl Glowienke.

A beautiful sculpture of a female gray whale and her calf stands near the whale-watching overlook at Cabrillo National Monument. The graceful work of art was created by local sculptor Carl Glowienke in 1992.

Over the years I’ve shared different photos of Gray Whale. But I never gave credit to the artist. I figured it’s time to rectify this oversight.

Here are some of those images again, but now I’ve added a photo of the plaque.

Carl Glowienke, who works in Lakeside, has created numerous amazing sculptures. Many depict whales, dolphins and other sea life. Check out his website here.

This morning, as I surfed Carl Glowienke’s website, I was excited to learn he created Grand Canyons of La Jolla–a 3,000 pound bronze topographic map of underwater La Jolla Canyon, installed in Kellogg Park at La Jolla Shores.

I happened to blog about that project’s progress during a walk in early 2022. To see what I discovered, click here. I need to go back and experience the finished work!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

La Mesa history at Por Favor Restaurant building.

Should you walk through La Mesa Village, look for informative plaques with old photographs near the front entrances of buildings along La Mesa Boulevard. The plaques are a community project of the La Mesa Historical Society and the Rotary Club of La Mesa.

I found it interesting to learn about the history of the yellow building with stained glass windows that now houses the Por Favor Mexican Restaurant and Cantina.

Bank of Southern California Building, 1927

The local Bank of Southern California constructed this sturdy Mediterranean Revival style building on the site of the La Mesa Opera House (1908-1926). This now landmark building housed Mt. Helix developer Fred J. Hansen’s offices. The La Mesa Garage reminds us of this route’s former days as part of U.S. Highway 80.

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

National City students create community murals!

Students in San Diego’s South Bay, participating in the Community ARTS program of A Reason To Survive, continue to beautify National City neighborhoods. I stumbled upon an example of this during my latest National City walk!

Colorful wildlife murals decorate a fence that encloses a San Diego Gas and Electric natural gas riser facility at the corner of Palm Avenue and 4th Street.

The stylish artwork is bold and really good. The young hands that painted the panels are not only learning about art, but are assuming roles of leadership as they work to create positive change in the community.

The project is a collaboration between SDG&E and A Reason to Survive (ARTS). I found one article concerning the partnership here.

Enjoy my photos…

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

Sing-along Saturdays in Balboa Park!

Would you like to sing happy songs with new friends in San Diego’s beautiful Balboa Park? There’s a Saturday sing-along Meet-Up that you should check out!

I stumbled upon the group today as I walked past the Starlight Bowl. Bill Protzmann was leading the group in song and even dancing a little. Bill had a huge smile and came to speak to me when he saw me listening. I informed him that if I sang, some nearby windows would need repair.

I see that Bill also works to lift people in difficult life situations with song. With song and inspiration he encourages personal empowerment. Check out his Music Care website here.

So, does singing make you happy? This fun Saturday in the Park Sing-Along Meetup Group can be freely joined by clicking here!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

Nature’s beauty observed above Lake Hodges.

I took this series of photographs while walking on the David Kreitzer Lake Hodges Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge. They show the beauty of nature in Spring after a winter that brought much needed rain to San Diego.

The trees in and around the lake were bright green with new spring leaves. This part of Lake Hodges had been dry for many years during a long drought, but as you can see water fed by the San Dieguito River now lingers below the bridge.

The 990 foot long bicycle and pedestrian bridge has some benches for sitting and is a great place for birdwatching. I observed egrets, crows and swallows during my short visit.

The bridge is also notable because it’s the longest stress ribbon bridge in the world! You can learn more about that here.

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

World record bridge spans Lake Hodges!

Did you know there’s a world record bridge in San Diego’s North County?

The David Kreitzer Lake Hodges Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge is the longest stress ribbon bridge in the world!

You’ve possibly seen the 990 foot long bridge when driving up Interstate 15 next to Lake Hodges. I walked across the remarkable bridge yesterday and noticed several information signs describing its history and unique characteristics.

The San Dieguito River travels 55 miles to the Pacific Ocean. In 1918 this section of the river was dammed creating the reservoir Lake Hodges, which has 27 miles of shoreline. The watershed of Lake Hodges covers 248 square miles.

Lake Hodges was designated a Globally Important Birding Area in 1999.

(When I was a young man, I fished with a friend for bass in Lake Hodges.)

Historic old U.S. Highway 395 became a wide hiking trail that passes by these signs.

Several bridges have spanned the water over the past century, including a wooden pile bridge near Mule Hill that was washed away after the creation of Lake Hodges.

Pictured in the above sign is the Bernardo-Lake Hodges Station Bridge in 1919. It was demolished when a nearby 1955 bridge was replaced by the dual bridges that serve Interstate 15 today.

The David Kreitzer Lake Hodges Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge opened in 2009.

The world record bridge’s design features a long thin ribbon of concrete that produces low visual impact. Enlarge my photo of the above sign to read details of the stress ribbon bridge’s construction.

The bridge provides an elegantly simple passage through the beauty of the lake and its trees.

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

Spring green next to Interstate 15!

If you’re ever a passenger in a vehicle heading north on Interstate 15, between West Bernardo Drive and Via Rancho Parkway, look to your right and down. You might see the heads of nearby walkers and bicyclists!

A stretch of the Coast to Crest Trail follows the busy freeway right next to and about ten feet below it. On the opposite side of the trail, not far away, stand beautiful trees that line the San Dieguito River and Lake Hodges.

During the Spring these river trees turn bright green!

Today I walked from the trailhead at the south end of Sunset Drive to the place where the Coast to Crest Trail passes under Interstate 15. (And I continued on, as you’ll see in upcoming blog posts.)

The roar of freeway traffic above me to the right . . . tranquil trees, green grasses and wildflowers of the San Dieguito River Park to my left . . . and an occasional bike or two passing by . . .

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

Improving the bowling greens in Balboa Park.

Members of the San Diego Lawn Bowling Club are working hard to improve the old bowling greens on Balboa Park’s West Mesa. As I walked past the greens today, my curiosity got the better of me and I had to ask a few questions.

The two 120 by 120 foot bowling greens were built in 1932. Old, badly warped wooden side boards are being replaced with concrete, sunk deep into the soil to help prevent tunneling by squirrels and gophers.

I learned club members are footing the bill. There’s more that ought to be done, however, including replacing the grass surface with artificial turf. Any financial help would be greatly appreciated. You can find a donation button at the bottom of their web page by clicking here.

Years ago I was offered a free lawn bowling lesson from a friendly club member. My novice rolls missed the jack by a mile. But the challenging sport does look like a lot of fun!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

Plant trees in Balboa Park on Arbor Day!

Are you in San Diego? Do you love Balboa Park?

Do you want to plant a living legacy that generations will enjoy far into the future?

You can volunteer to help plant new trees in Balboa Park on Arbor Day! The planting event is this coming April 28th!

No special skills required. Simply sign up here.

I helped to plant a pair of young trees in Balboa Park’s USS Bennington Memorial Oak Grove earlier this year. It was a wonderful, satisfying experience. I met cool people, too!

Planting new trees is an ongoing project of Forever Balboa Park.

Sign up here!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!