Shadows and Petals art debuts in Balboa Park.

Two local artists were setting up a new exhibition called Shadows and Petals today. I saw them at work hanging selected pieces in Gallery 21 of Balboa Park’s Spanish Village Art Center.

Both Katarina Keane (@collagebykat) and Kimberly Brunetto (@brunettokim) were very nice, answering a few questions and allowing me to take photographs. They work in collage and mixed media. All of their pieces on display are for sale.

Kimberly describes her mixed media work as abstract expressionism. To me, her pieces convey subtle emotion. Shifts in form and color on certain canvases are like movement through time, through life. Contrasts on canvases can tug at curious eyes and suggest deeper things–an inner life.

She has written: “For me, a shadow is an unrealized part of ourselves that calls to us with longing . . . The petals represent what happens when we finally listen…”

Katarina told me her colorful works have a narrative quality. I noticed many of her collages include written words, almost like poetry. The images and words seem to tell a visual story about a life or a life experience.

Many of her pieces show flowers and vessels. They suggest an inner beauty, or potential beauty, that we all possess.

That’s the way I saw it.

Why don’t you swing by Spanish Village in Balboa Park and experience all this beautiful, subtle art for yourself?

Shadows and Petals will be exhibited in Gallery 21 through October 5, 2026.

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A late summer walk in Sweetwater Park.

It was the perfect day for a nature walk in Sweetwater Park beside San Diego Bay.

The beautiful, spacious park on Chula Vista’s bayfront opened just last year. I noticed today that the native vegetation has filled out a bit more.

A weekday hike is perfect if you want to feel and observe nature. I saw many late summer blooms, and birds in the distance.

Some photos as I strolled along several trails…

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Sunshine and flowers in Solana Beach!

Here’s a bit of colorful art you might spy while walking down a sidewalk in Solana Beach. You can find it at 129 North Highway 101.

Solana Beach’s coastal sunshine brightens a landscape filled with many different flowers native to California. Flowers include Sea Dahlia, Leafy Daisy, Morning Glory, Fiesta Flower, Prickly Pear, Padre’s Shooting Star, Fiddleneck, Frankenia, Southern Pink, Fuchsia-Flowered Gooseberry, Matilija Poppy, California Rose and California Poppy.

The artist signature indicates this beautifully painted scene was created by Bailey Valdivieso.

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Fantasy grows at San Diego County Fair!

Once Upon a Fair is this year’s theme for the San Diego County Fair. Fairy tales, beloved picture books, popular fiction and timeless classics are celebrated in fantastic exhibits throughout the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

The ever-popular Garden Show, not surprisingly, has become a place where gardening clubs from around the San Diego region have “hybridized” beautiful flowers and plants with . . . fantasy!

Walk around the Garden Show and you’re likely to discover scenes from wonderfully imaginative works like Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, Snow White, The Three Little Pigs, The Tortoise and the Hare, The Little Mermaid, and more.

I always delight in the huge model train layout built by the San Diego Garden Railway Society. Their display this year contains fantasy elements from many well known tales.

Check out the following photographs! What stories can you identify?

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Bold, colorful mural at Hustle Tattoo.

Tattoo parlors often attract attention with bold, colorful murals. That’s certainly the case with Hustle Tattoo in City Heights, at 4503 University Avenue.

Skulls, flowers, a butterfly and a parrot have been painted on the exterior of the shop by @hannasmurals.

Remember my recent blog post about a football player scoring at a City Heights bus stop? I found that a few steps away down the sidewalk! A lot of “hustle” on this city block!

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Geranium show brings color to Balboa Park!

The 2026 Geranium Show and Sale was held this weekend in Balboa Park. Members of the San Diego Geranium Society filled Room 101 of the Casa del Prado with beautiful living color!

There’s something very homey about geraniums. They’re easy to propagate and grow, and their cheerful blooms endure most of the year. What home doesn’t have a pot of these flowering plants on a porch or window sill?

In addition to the different varieties of geranium in the show, visitors could view works of art and special displays that celebrate the geranium.

Some photographs…

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Clean and Safe program beautifies San Diego!

This morning I noticed somebody freshening one of the hanging planters in downtown San Diego’s Cortez Hill neighborhood. On a ladder above the sidewalk, he was adding geraniums and other flowering plants!

It was a friendly worker from Downtown San Diego Partnership’s Clean & Safe program!

Thank you!

Beautiful face replaces old City Heights mural.

Look at this beautiful, smiling face. It was painted on a wall beside University Avenue in City Heights. Back in 2019 I photographed another long mural along this wall, but little of that faded, vandalized mural remains visible.

You can find this colorful street art near 50th Street. I didn’t see a signature when I walked past it this afternoon.

When old street art passes away, inspired artists leap into action. New life springs up!

I enjoyed a big adventure today. My long walk along University Avenue included Hillcrest, North Park, City Heights . . . and continued all the way to College Avenue!

I took oodles of photographs, so lots of fun blog posts are coming up!

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A sunny Easter walk through Balboa Park!

Today is Easter. It’s spring. The sun is out in San Diego. A perfect day for a leisurely walk through Balboa Park!

What did I encounter?

Second day of the Makers Arcade on Balboa Park’s West Mesa.
People enjoying yoga near the lawn bowling green.
Flowers are in full bloom at the Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden.
Vendors at the San Diego Turtle and Tortoise Society’s Annual Show and Plant Sale.
A tortoise in Room 101 of the Casa del Prado.
The Spring Exhibition of Art inside the Village Arts Outreach Gallery.
Here comes the Balboa Park Miniature Railroad!
Many native flowers are showing color along the San Diego Natural History Museum’s Nature Trail.
Beautiful butterflies and a ladybug inside the San Diego Sculptors Guild courtyard.
A small bird enjoys the green grass growing near the Botanical Building.
It’s busy inside the Botanical Building on a sunny Easter day.
The new pergola west of the Botanical Building is looking good!
Uh, oh! Somebody forgot their bunny ears!
Free roses made of corn husks offered by a street performer.
Happy Easter in a window at the International Cottages.
Looks like Quinceañera photos are being taken at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.
Some cool cars and lowriders have arrived in the park.
Spring beauty at the Alcazar Garden in Balboa Park.

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Thank you to Balboa Park’s many volunteers!

Thank you to all the volunteers in Balboa Park!

What would Balboa Park be without its dedicated volunteers?

What is the park with its volunteers? Much more beautiful and amazing!

Today I noticed a crew of people beautifying the Alcazar Garden. I learned that in several weeks new spring plantings will be made. But the garden is always lovely.

Let’s all give thanks to the raking, weed-pulling, hard-working Garden Stewards you see in these photographs and the many other volunteers!

I encountered more volunteers busy roaming about Balboa Park picking up litter!

Check out the bags of garbage in the next couple photos. Those bags represent only one hour of work!

It is the generous work of many volunteer hands.

Would you like to volunteer, too?

There’s lots of different stuff you can do! No experience required!

Interested? Click here!

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