My very favorite songbird is the Northern Mockingbird. These slender-bodied gray birds apparently pour all their color into their personalities. They sing almost endlessly, even sometimes all night, and they flagrantly harass birds that intrude on their territories, flying slowly around them or prancing toward them, legs extended, flaunting their bright white wing patches.

This is female fledgling Hooded Oriole. The immature female resembles adult female.

One of Michael Graves' first non-domestic commissions, this regional library is located across the street from the Mission of San Juan Capistrano and near the center of the old town.  In this small one-story building (about 12000 square feet) Graves borrows from the local Spanish idiom, using stucco walls, mission clay roof tiles, wooden beams, mini-towers, small punched windows, light monitors, stencil ornament, and loggias around a central courtyard.

Male Rufous Hummingbird

Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano behind public library. Library is by architect Michael Graves.

The pomegranate is native to Persia and is grown here in California as well as in Arizona. The beautiful orange-red trumpet shaped flowers with ruffled petals are absolutely spectacular.

formal flower attire

Yellow dinner jacket with formal trousers for coastal summer climate. ... Coordinating colors to match the flowers is always acceptable. Ties and cummerbunds are optional.
Fortunately for me yellowjackets do not usually sting when away from the nest. Unlike honey bees, these insects have a smooth stinger and can sting repeatedly. It's not a wise move to crush a yellowjacket. A dying yellowjacket worker releases an alarm pheromone that alerts its nest mates. In just a few seconds, you could find yourself surrounded by angry wasps.
The number of workers in the nest will reach its highest population level in about another month (up to 5000 worker), then the numbers will begin to gradually decline until the onset of significant rainfall.