Xoconostles, a type of prickly pear

Cacti grow in buttons, angles, columns, cushions, cylinders, flat pads, pendants, globes, ovals, sprawls, tubers, pyramids, and treelike, shrublike, and rocklike forms.

The World Is a Cactus

The dramatic evolution of evolution.

“A cactus will take a bullet just like a person, because of the thickness of their skins and all the water in them.”

By Geoff Bouvier, June 15, 2006 | Read the full article

Cover art courtesy of <a href="http://localbirds.com/wp/">Local Birds, Inc.</a>

Birds Squared

Locals survey birds across the county.

"Tom's wife, Ann, said that things had changed completely since the last time she and Tom were here in V17. "In the spring, this was neck-high grasses! We got lost, separated from each other a couple of times. We were tripped by the logs that were hidden and fell on our faces.”

By Jeanne Schinto, July 11, 2002 | Read the full article

Paraphalaenopsis denevei, from Borneo

Photo by Dave Allen

Savage Beauty

Addicted to orchids.

“There’s just something about the orchid. The mystique of the flower. It’s hard to say why. Until you get that feeling when you bloom it. I have people calling me and screaming on the telephone, ‘I just bloomed this plant!’’

By Don McCullough, April 17, 2003 | Read the full article

The Glenns stop breeding queens in October and take a three- to four-month break while the bees winter.

Photo by Frank Glaser

Hive Mentality

Beekeeping runs in families.

“The book said to call the fire department and tell them you’ll take swarms. That’s what I did. I got the swarms.”

By Shari McCullough, Sept. 16, 2004 | Read the full article

Hawes says over coffee on the Mission Beach boardwalk: "He slept with me every night. I'm a 34-year-old man. I don't view myself as one of these strange pet people."

Photo by Joe Klein

Grrrrrrrrrrrr

Pit bulls mix it up.

By Thomas Larson, July 29, 2004 | Read the full article

First-Winter Western Gull

Photo by Joe Klein

To Fuse Wind and Motion

Gulls resist captivity.

"I approach. Am met with indifference, then wariness. Mothball heads. Bright yellow beaks. Slate-gray mantles. Field vision whole, each sees my coming and a space to move toward. I approach closer. Stick legs and rubbery feet pick-up, put-down, pick-up, put-down. Walk-away, hurry-away, walk-back. Uncertain, curious, gregarious. Lowing at me — me, the problem."

By Thomas Larson, Dec. 4, 2003 | Read the full article