San Ramon Memorial Park

This afternoon I tore myself away from all my paperwork and took a walk around Memorial Park. It's on the corner of Bollinger Canyon Road and Crow Canyon Road. Its site was selected because of the hillside location which offers nice views of San Ramon Valley and Mt. Diablo. It is dedicated to those who died on 9/11, hence the name. There is a plaque at the northeast corner of the park honoring all who died with special recognition to Tom Burnett, who perished on flight 93 and was a resident of San Ramon. There is also a grove of memorial trees. The skies were crystal clear and a gentle wind was blowing up from the valley floor; the autumn colors are still stunning, but many of the trees have already shed their leaves...

Flags fluttering in the breeze...

Mt. Diablo...

A majestic oak tree...

Shelter for the birds...

American Sycamore tree...

A lone sycamore leaf...

A wreath placed on one of the trees in the memorial grove...

Oh, I forgot to mention...the park also has a a play ground, picnic areas, boche and horse shoe courts, a bmx track, and two separate dog parks - one for the little ones and one for the big ones. Just another one of San Ramon's wonderful parks...

Danville

On my monthly outing to Trader Joe's in Danville, I decided to take a leisurely stroll through the downtown instead of steering my car straight toward the store's crowded parking lot at the north end of town. Danville is a few miles north of my hometown and a charming destination on its own. An eclectic assortment of boutiques, quaint bistros, cafes, and bars, and delightfully charming architecture can all be found in this rather posh suburban enclave. If you're looking for a place to stroll friendly streets, do some window shopping, sip some wine, and glimpse a bit of Californian history, come on over to Danville. Here is a little bit of what you're likely to see...

Light post banners that change with the seasons and holidays...

Colorful trees lining the main street...

An old entryway...one of many...

Hand painted garbage bins...

The old Danville Train Station...

The train station...

Autumn colors...

The town clock...

The old Danville Hotel...soon to be demolished...

The hotel...

A painted window...

There is even a "white house" in Danville...

Random plants...

My favorite building...

An original garage...

The local bike store...

Bikes for sale...

Ready for a little wine tasting?

Don't forget to shop for your pets...

Amber's place...

Amber Bistro...

Need a souvenir?

The holidays are just around the corner...

A lone rose bush basking in the afternoon sunshine...

Danville, it's worth a visit!

Summit View Trails

So what do you do when you wake up on an early Friday morning, the sun is shining brightly, and the temps are soaring into the high 80s? Well, I decided to take advantage of the unseasonably warm autumn weather and take a hike up to one of San Ramon's parks which offers pretty spectacular views of the surrounding area. I'm trying to soak in as much of the vibrant autumn colors as possible; it is after all my favorite season, and the drab colors of winter are just around the corner, so with Nikon in hand, I set forth...Here's what my eyes feasted upon at Summit View Trails...

Summit View Trails is a great place to enjoy sunrises and sunsets...

Here's the location...

The last of the lavender...

Views toward the west...

Our landmark, Mt. Diablo...

More lovely lavender...

Here's what's left of the lavender...

Colorful berries...

This is where those who don't teach live...

These young trees have already shed their leaves...

The western hills...

Star-shaped weeds...

Vibrant berries...

Commuters heading up and down the hill...

What gives with this tree?

My favorite, lavender...

So, are you enjoying the last colorful days of autumn?

Autumn Colors in San Ramon

Who says autumn is not alive and well in northern California? Our trees, shrubs, and ground covers may not generate quite the explosion of color that you can find in the eastern states, but the colors of fall are at their peak in one special corner of my hometown. No matter what time of year, I always enjoy walking through the lovely landscaped grounds of Bishop Ranch. Early this morning, I made a quick visit with my camera so that I could capture the vivid colors before they disappear for the year. Take a look at our display of autumn...

Crepe Myrtle trees lining a walkway...

Transforming Crepe Myrtle leaves...

Fallen leaves on the steps...

Liquidambar leaves nestled in ivy...

Liquidambar alley...

Colorful ivy on the side of the building...

Ducks resting by the pond...

Majestic Liquidambar...

Perhaps you've been here before...