Palm Springs visitor center & natural gardens .... and a CRAZY bird!!

This is the CRAZY bird that we saw... at first we thought that he was doing a mating dance, but later (thanks to google! :) I learned that this is actually a 'bit' that he does to lure preditors away from the nest... very effective! I know I was distracted!! The bird will leave the nest and do a "broken-wing" dance, fluttering his wings, going in circles, pretending he can't get off the ground...we fell for it at first but I've got your number now baby!!

Crazy yard in Long Beach!

I was out one day and stumbled across this! The guy has his *whole* yard covered in succulents that are blooming with these beautiful purple flowers.... the whole thing!

I actually got a chance to talk to the guy and it was amazing!! I love hearing stories about what made him decide to do something different and the process (there's *always* a process!).... very cool!

Giant VW Spider - outside Palm Springs

How cool is that!?? I got an upclose picture under the belly of the Giant VW Spider!!

I also got a chance to walk around the place a bit and take a few pics...

cacti garden and sculptures galore!

secret hide out for kids.... would have gone up there but, well, I felt like I was intruding lol

(people really do live there!)

Art and Cacti - Morongo Valley

While on my adventure, I stumbled across this shop with a giant lizard on the roof so I had to stop and take a pic....

turns out it's a cactus shop with lots of really cool things. The place was really colorful, well organized and had awesome energy....

but wait, it gets better..... as I'm starting to leave I notice there's an art gallery too! Omgosh, how cool is that??!!

They had this **awesome** b&w (desert) photography ....AND I got a chance to talk with the photographer!

really cool sample b&w's for the art exhibit opening this Sat

Dinosaur diner - Cabazons

Had to do it! It seemed so classic and how many times have you driven by a place and not stopped there? I'm so glad I did! The waitresses were so friendly and right on top of things... whatever I wanted I got! It was classic... country music playin softly in the background, the truck stop atmosphere, a sign in the window that says "No hitching".... a place where you could come and take a load off, resting from the open road.... it was *awesome*!!

(cute bird o/s the diner)

Nature Preserve - Morongo Valley

This was a wonderful surprise and such a change from the typical dry desert trail.... an unexpected oasis :)

Beautiful trees and swamp land on part of the preserve

(okay, this wasn't real.... but it sure scared the $#it out of me, not expecting to see it there! It was on top of the nature center on one of the trails to teach people about mountain lions.... very effective! I was spooked the rest of my walk!! )

Wicked trees trying to regrow after a fire a few years back

LA Garden Show - Arcadia

Gorgeous day for the LA Garden show...

The back trails of the gardens

My new friend ;)