We were in the backyard today when the Goodyear Blimp passed overhead. That happens quite often here since the West Coast Blimp Operation is based in Carson, California, about three miles from our home.

The unusual thing about this particular overhead pass, was the position of the sun behind the airship as it flew directly overhead. As the Blimp passed in front of the sun, we were engulfed in shadow for several seconds, enough to perceive a drop in temperature which would also occur during an actual solar eclipse.

I took several shots during the ‘eclipse’ that included totality and the ‘diamond ring’ effect. Luckily, I heard the Blimp, which has a distinctive sound, and grabbed the camera for this most unusual photo opportunity.

Click on each image to see the full-sized photos on the large image viewer.

One of the nicest things about San Diego’s Balboa Park is the gardens. This courtyard had meticulously maintained flowerbeds and hedges. You can see Verna across the yard taking pictures behind the fountain under the archway. Click the image below to see the full-sized panorama.

On our recent vacation, we were in San Diego’s Balboa Park. At one point, we passed the reflection pond where koi and water lilies abound. I got this shot of a water lily as we strolled past the pond.

I spotted this prism effect in the cirrus clouds during my after-lunch walk yesterday. It’s probably a fragment of a ‘Circumhorizon Arc,’ which is a chance alignment of ice crystals in the upper-atmosphere. The sun was out of the frame and high in the sky towards the upper-left, more or less at a right angle from the arc.

I’m not sure this is an improvement. This used to be a multi-purpose field with ball diamonds and soccer goals, all on a grassy surface. Lately, big trucks, dozers and cats have been grading the surface for who knows what. I’ll post a panorama of the final product later.

While cereus cactii varieties bear their flowers in the night, most varieties of barrel cactii produce flowers that open to the sun’s rays and close before sundown. They often open for several days in a row before withering.

The Devil’s Tongue Barrel or Crow’s Claw Cactus has pinkish purple or yellow flowers. This cactus is fairly popular in cultivation because it blooms very early, many young plants will bloom when they reach 4 inches in diameter or so. Our Devil’s Tongue cactus is about the size of a basketball.

Click on the image for a larger view.

It’s been a weekend for butterflies in our back yard. Unlike yesterday’s yellow butterfly on purple petals, this golden butterfly among golden petals was a bit more difficult to spot. This is a good example of natural camouflage if I’ve ever seen it.