The Fabled Green Flash, Liquidambar Trees, and Jupiter-Mercury-Venus and the Moon in the Southwestern Sky
Liquidambar Trees, or sweet gums, the colorfully deciduous trees gracing front yards, parks, and campuses throughout the San Diego area, have been putting on a good show for the past month. The maplelike leaves of most varieties have turned from …
Winter Solstice, Hiking to High Places, Ripening Palm Fruit
Winter Solstice, the moment when the sun reaches its southernmost point on the celestial sphere, occurs this year at 4:04 a.m., Sunday, December 21. This event signals the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of summer …
Poinsettias, Exceptional Tides, the Moon of Longs Nights, and the Geminid Meteor Shower
Poinsettias, a favorite of backyard gardeners, are now exhibiting their scarlet, petal-like bracts, just in time for the holidays. The onset of 14-hour-long nights triggers their behavior: In San Diego this condition is met just before the date of winter …
Shorebird Watching, Earliest Sunset, Cross-Country Skiers, and Toyon
Shorebird-Watching enters its most agreeable season this month, with migrant and resident birds sharing common winter grounds. Egrets, herons, terns, and a variety of other species provide endless entertainment as they go about the business of fishing and feeding in …