I thought of heading up to Mt. Soledad for the Memorial Day ceremony this afternoon, but the thought of crowds and a parking hassle was just too much. Instead, I went for a long walk!
My brilliant plan was to head up Park Boulevard to check out the Veterans War Memorial Building in Balboa Park, just north of the San Diego Zoo. The War Memorial Building was built in 1950 to honor Americans who’d served in the military overseas. Certainly something had to be going on there for Memorial Day!
Boy was I wrong.
The place was dead. Closed. No people. Nothing. Not even a flag on the flagpole. They couldn’t even raise a flag for Memorial Day?
No flag flies for Memorial Day.San Diego Veterans War Memorial Building plaque.
The plaque reads:
SAN DIEGO VETERANS WAR MEMORIAL BUILDING
DEDICATED BY THE CITIZENS OF SAN DIEGO AS A LIVING MEMORIAL TO OUR HONORED DEAD OF ALL WARS AND TO THOSE AMERICANS WHO HAVE FOUGHT FOR THE FOUR FREEDOMS
I
FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND EXPRESSION
II
FREEDOM OF EVERY PERSON TO WORSHIP GOD IN HIS OWN WAY
III
FREEDOM FROM WANT
IV
FREEDOM FROM FEAR
Veterans War Memorial is closed on Memorial Day.
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My leisurely walk through Balboa Park yesterday took me past a number of interesting sights. The House of Norway, in the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages, had their lawn program between 2 and 3 o’clock. I just happened to walk by as it started. Here are a few quick pics!
Norway’s quaint cottage in Balboa Park’s International Village.Crowd watches Norwegian singers on stage.
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Everywhere you go in San Diego’s Old Town there are touristy shops selling Mexican curios. As I walked along one typical street last Sunday, I was struck by the dazzling array of patio ornaments on display outside a place called Miranda’s Courtyard.
I took several photos from the sidewalk. According to reviews on Yelp, Miranda’s Courtyard sells Mexican religious art, terra cotta suns, Talavera clay pottery, and just a huge bunch of colorful knick knacks.
Photo of suns and moons taken from sidewalk.Lots of colorful trinkets and home decorations.Seems you could spend a whole day at this place!Lady checks out Mexican curios at Miranda’s Courtyard.
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Life on the water near San Diego Coast Guard Station.
Most people walking along San Diego’s Embarcadero never venture north of the Hornblower boats docked at the Grape Street pier. They’re missing a lively, less-touristy area of San Diego Bay known as the Crescent. Many residents live on small boats moored in this corner of the bay, just west of Little Italy and south of the Coast Guard Station.
Take a walk along the sidewalk and you’ll see folks sitting on benches looking out at the bay, or bicycling along, or out on the water rowing to their floating homes. You’ll see Coast Guard boats and helicopters, folks pumping out their boats, kayaks, fishermen, sea lions and lots of different birds. Turn around and you’ll see planes landing at Lindbergh Field.
Rowing to a boat moored in San Diego Bay’s Crescent area.Many people live in small boats on San Diego Bay.This old sign describes the Crescent Area just south of the Coast Guard Station.People love to bicycle along the edge of picturesque San Diego Bay.Photo taken behind Coast Guard Auxiliary station on North Embarcadero.Sprinkles of light dance on the small waves of San Diego Bay.One boat moored in the Crescent with downtown skyline in the background.Boater walks along the Embarcadero with some drums.Wildlife sign and boats on the North Embarcadero.Vessel Assist boat just brought in a disabled jet ski.Living on the water near downtown San Diego.This boat has a nice potted garden for a backyard.Biking and reading a newspaper along Harbor Drive.
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Botanical Building by reflecting pool in Balboa Park.
In Balboa Park you can retreat from life’s turbulence. Simply walk, read a book, or sit quietly and reflect. You can delight your senses with splashing fountains, green lawns, music, museums. Pleasing architecture is on every side. And there are many beautiful gardens.
My favorite garden of all grows in the Botanical Building. Stroll down El Prado and you’ll see an imposing wood lath building at the opposite end of the reflecting pool. That’s the Botanical Building.
Built for the 1915 to 1916 Panama-California Exposition, the beautiful old structure contains a collection of more than 2000 permanent plants. Take a slow walk through it and you’ll discover ferns, palms, orchids and other tropical plants. You’ll hear the soothing bubble of water tumbling into small rocky pools. You’ll smell sweet fragrances and be touched by many colors. You’ll want to linger.
The Botanical Building is open to the public every day except Thursday, from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM. Admission is free!
People walk through the huge, lush botanical collection.Information and guest book near entrance of historic Botanical Building.Alfred D. Robinson used building to display plants at 1915 Panama-California Exposition.Hundreds of different plants and endless beauty.Visitors walk quietly through the tranquil, cathedral-like space.Some people just sit on benches and absorb the tranquil atmosphere.A section of wall bright with colorful blooms.A sample of the natural beauty found in this special place.Platycerium, commonly known as the Stag Horn Fern.Beautiful orchids and other plants on display in Balboa Park’s Botanical Building.Botanical Building visitors near seasonal display of Easter lilies.Lots of cheerful, colorful Hippeastrum hybrids.The carnivorous plant bog!Delicate beauty on display for anyone to see.
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I hope you enjoyed my last blog post, where I described a hike around the Guy Fleming Trail in Torrey Pines State Reserve. Now I’d like to take you up to see the Lodge.
We’re going to start at the entrance of Torrey Pines State Reserve, just off the Pacific Coast Highway. We’ll be climbing the steep Torrey Pines Park Road all the way to the historic Lodge.
Looking south along Torrey Pines State Beach.
As we begin our climb we bend away from the beach, but pause for a moment to observe the high sandstone cliffs to our south. This wonderful beach, which extends for many miles, will be the subject of a future blog post!
Heading up steep Torrey Pines Park Road.Entering a zone full of endangered Torrey pines.Torrey pines stand atop eroded sandstone cliffs.
The Torrey pine is an endangered tree found only here and on Santa Rosa island. We’ll learn more about it shortly…
View of lagoon and ocean from High Point Overlook.
Near the top of the road we come to High Point Overlook, a short trail that heads up some steps for a 360 degree view. Here we’re looking north and seeing a bit of the Los Peñasquitos Lagoon.
Sign about philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps.
This sign stands among some Torrey pines at the top of the overlook. It reads:
The philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps (1836-1932) holds a special and endearing place in the annals of Torrey Pines. Without Miss Scripps, this mesa might resemble what you see to the east: a tangle of roads, houses and businesses.
Although the City of San Diego had set aside some land to preserve the Torrey pines, the best and densest groves remained in the hands of developers who planned to subdivide and commercialize the area. Miss Scripps bought these lots in 1908, 1911, and 1912.
She hired naturalist Guy Fleming to care for and protect this wonderful place in 1921 and funded the construction of his house on the property.
The Torrey Pines Lodge, now used as a visitor center and ranger station, was built with her funds and donated to the people of San Diego. It was designed by noted architects Richard Requa and Herbert Lewis Jackson. It opened as a restaurant in 1923.
Finally, she bequeathed the City of San Diego the groves of Torrey pines, asking that they “be held in perpetuity as a public park,” and requesting, “that care be taken to preserve the natural beauty of the area” in 1932.
Today’s visitors may thank Ellen Browning Scripps for having the foresight to protect this unique place in the California landscape.
Nearing Torrey Pines State Reserve’s historic Lodge.
A little more walking takes us to our main destination, the Lodge. An old adobe built in 1922, it originally served as a restaurant! According to the official website, it had stumpy tables, chintz curtains, lampshades made of Torrey Pine needles, and a jukebox! Back in those days, Model T cars had difficulty going up the steep hill, because they didn’t have a fuel pump, and instead relied on a gravity system. When the steeply climbing cars conked out, drivers were told to continue up the hill in reverse!
Banner commemorates 150 years of California State Parks.Gap in Lodge’s stucco shows original adobe bricks.
This is near the front door. The sign below reads:
When the Lodge was built in 1922-23, thousands of bricks were made on site using local sand and clay. The gap in the stucco coating above deliberately reveals the original adobe bricks.
Portion of large sign outside describing coastal flowers.Interior of Lodge is a museum and visitor center.
I love the interior of the Lodge. There’s so much interesting stuff to see, and so much history and natural charm jammed into one place. The Lodge is open daily 9 AM to 6 PM during summer daylight saving time and 10 AM to 4 PM during winter standard time. Ranger guided hikes are available on weekends.
One of many educational exhibits.Mountain lion patiently watches visitors to the Lodge.Plaque in Lodge credits Ellen Browning Scripps.Old fireplace shows decades of use.
The plaque above the old fireplace reads:
Torrey Pines Lodge dedicated to Dr. John Torrey, for whom, in 1850, these unique trees were named Pinus torreyana by Dr. C. C. Parry.
Sign behind Lodge describes Torrey Pine Woodlands.
Now we’ve headed back outside, around the back of the Lodge. Numerous Torrey pines are all around us, and benches are sprinkled here and there with sweeping views eastward toward developed Carmel Valley and Interstate 5.
This sign reads:
The Torrey Pine tree is one of the most rare pine trees in all of North America. The young trees that you see today may be the remnants of what was once an ancient coastal forest. This natural plant community is found only in nutrient-poor sandy soils, along the sandstone bluffs, canyons, and ravines, of Torrey Pines State Reserve and on Santa Rosa Island. In this harsh arid landscape, coastal fog is vital to the tree’s survival, acting as an air conditioner, shielding the needles from the hot sun and providing most of the moisture for the trees. The twisted and gnarled trees along the bluffs often lean inland, growing close to the ground, as a result of the ocean winds and pruning by salt crystals in the air.
School kids learn about local flora and fauna.
A ranger was giving a bunch of school kids a talk about Torrey Pines State Reserve. They’ll remember this special place for the rest of their lives.
The Lodge at Torrey Pines State Reserve is a must see!
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My very, very, very favorite place in all of San Diego County is Torrey Pines State Reserve. It’s located along the Pacific Ocean in northern La Jolla, between the famous Torrey Pines Golf Course and Del Mar. I took a trip there this morning! I got so many pics, I’ll break my visit up into several blog posts!
Let me start by taking you around the Guy Fleming Trail loop.
There are many hiking trails to explore in Torrey Pines State Reserve. Reaching this particular trailhead requires a short hike or drive from the entrance gate up steep Torrey Pines Park Road. As you head on up, you see numerous pine trees growing atop and clinging to eroded sandstone cliffs. These are the endangered Torrey pines (Pinus torreyana). They can only be found here and on the small island of Santa Rosa, off the coast of Santa Barbara. A good concentration of them can be seen on the Guy Fleming Trail.
Diversity amid adversity on the Guy Fleming Trail.
Here we’ve stepped onto the looping 2/3 mile easy level trail. We’re going to proceed counterclockwise. Look at the sign. It reads: The Guy Fleming Trail features a variety of habitats and rare plants. Where else in the world can you find cacti and ferns growing side-by-side under the canopy of a Torrey Pine tree? As you walk along this trail, consider the variety of biomes that you see and factors that create them. Not only must plants adapt to southern California’s climate of hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters, but also variables of solar exposure, salt-laden winds, and erosion.
Trail passes under many endangered Torrey pines.Wind-twisted branches of Torrey pines in the State Reserve.Walkers pause to enjoy a breathtaking ocean view.
Here we are emerging above the wide Pacific Ocean. These ladies are gazing off into the blue distance. As I came up to them today, they asked excitedly: “Did you see the whale?” A gray whale migrating back northward to the Bering Sea was lingering just beyond the breakers, touching the surface and spouting every few minutes! This whale seemed to be heading north from Mexico a bit late. It’s almost May!
Looking north near a scenic overlook on the Guy Fleming Trail.
This is one reason why Torrey Pines State Reserve is one of my all-time favorite places. Incredible views! You can see a portion of Los Peñasquitos Marsh Natural Preserve and Lagoon.
Torrey Pines State Reserve entrance gate far below.Mojave yucca grow beside amazing trail at edge of steep cliff.
Now we’re heading south along the edge of the cliff. Torrey Pines State Beach is far below. When it’s possible to spy beach-goers, they’re very tiny!
Yellow sea dahlias high above foaming breakers.
You can’t hear the crashing waves, but the mighty expanse of
ocean seen from above makes a lasting impression!
Pink sand verbenas add bright color to a beautiful walk.
It’s springtime and many native flowers are in bloom. These dry, brittle hillsides are covered with coastal sagebrush and chaparral and during the dry summer can appear quite brown and desolate.
Trail heading down toward another scenic overlook.Looking south over a sculpted sandstone canyon.
Another fantastic view. Many beautifully eroded sandstone canyons run through the State Reserve. You’ll see more in upcoming blog posts.
A glance back toward the ocean and a lone walker.
We’ve nearly come full circle. The sunshine and warm ocean breeze, the views, majestic Torrey pines, cacti and flowers…you really need to walk the Guy Fleming Trail to fully experience its magnificence!
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Lone rower on San Diego Bay in golden morning light.
I went for a walk bright and early yesterday morning. I got a few photographs of downtown San Diego along the waterfront.
The bay was quiet and very smooth. A lone rower was out slowing gliding across the water. The sun had just begun to rise in the cloudless sky behind shining skyscrapers…
Anthony Fish Grotto’s boat dock on a tranquil San Diego Bay.Sunrise touches downtown San Diego skyscrapers with light.An early morning look down Broadway in San Diego.
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I enjoyed a stroll through East Village this morning. It was my opportunity to take a few pics of the Padres Opening Day Block Party just north of Petco Park.
Dozens of tents and booths were lined up on either side of J Street. Kettle corn, barbeque on the grill, baseball souvenirs, assorted nonprofits and salespeople and radio shows…all the usual suspects were there. And, of course, baseball fans!
Baseball’s Opening Day celebrated in East Village by Petco Park.San Diego Padres fan tests his pitching arm.Dodgers fans might require a security blanket.People relax and enjoy live music on Padres Opening Day.
Whenever I walk past the Sixth Avenue playground, located among pine trees in the northwest corner of Balboa Park, I wish I were a child again. To romp, climb and swing through this crazy colorful jumble would be a ton of fun!
The fun, whimsical Sixth Avenue playground.Morning view of what is probably just an ordinary playground, but I still like it!
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