Trains, Mexican border & the zoo...... That was my 4th of July....

[Mikey]

Since my son didn't have to work July 4th he wanted to go down Campos, CA to check out a train museum....and I decided to tag along with him.  Campos is about 50 miles east of San Diego, right on the Mexican border.

Irrigation wind mill just outside Campos


I was unimpressed with the train museum but I think my son liked it.  At 11am it was already 91....too hot for me....  There were several rusting old steam engines and other cars that were badly in need of restoration.  The train museum in Sacramento is much larger & nicer.


We then hit the road and drove west toward San Diego.  The border fence was nearby and we saw a dozen or more U.S. Border Patrol trucks along the highway.  In fact we were tailed by one for a few miles before being stopped.  They said they had a report of a vehicle similar to ours that was seen loading people into the trunk.  I popped the trunk and then we were on our way again.


Lots of  Matilla poppies were growing alongside the roadway.



Inspection station along state highway 94 just outside of San Diego.



A few boulders at the zoo...


And now a message from our sponsors.....


I think a nice bright red nail polish would be in order...


Hey!  Watch it there buddy....




One of several aviaries.  This is their largest and it has two levels at which you can walk through it.



And anyone who knows me knows that I don't visit the San Diego zoo to see the animals.  I actually go to visit their plant collections....  Weird, but true...  My favorite location is their fern canyon where the following photos were taken.

[livetogarden]

Mikey...my daughter and I go for the plants too. I love elephants and check them out while at the zoo but biggest share of our time is spent scoping out the gardens. You have some gorgeous pictures.
Cath

[LeeAnne151]

The San Diego Zoo has wonderful plants.    You aren't the only one to go there for them or take pictures of them.
 Last time I was there I didn't have a digital camera. Bob and I really enjoyed the hippos.

I love the lath house in Balboa Park too. I'm past due for a San Diego visit.....

[Joyce]

Mikey you posted those Poppy Pix just to torture me now didn't you!     

LOL...awesome pix! 

[Jerry]

Those poppy's are a wild natvie plant.

I too go to see the plants, the animals are a bonus.

[jw]

I'd love to live in the zoo with a variety of all those luscious tropical plants and animals............alas I am stuck in the cold wet zone forever it seems  Actually it hasn't been cold here lately it's been fricken Africa HOT

[miguynmkoi]

Cool pix of the border wall.  Can't say I would have liked the heat as in the temp or the patrol stop.  Can we grow matilla poppies?  I see them everywhere by roadsides, in the canyons, etc. and would have loved to have deep pockets

Haven't been to the SD zoo in forever.  Totally forgot they had a garden.  Funny shots of the zoo residents.

[Lynda]

Most people don't know that the San Diego Zoo is also one of the most extensive botanical gardens in the nation...I used to go there for both.  My late BIL used to say that he had the best job in the world - he taught for the San Diego School District, and his assignment was as an extension school teacher in Balboa Park and Zoo.  He'd get 4th grade kids for two weeks, and they'd study at the art museum, zoo, and botanical gardens.

[Mikey]

Can we grow matilla poppies?

Yes, and they will look much healthier than those in the photo because they will get water.  In your soil you will need about a 4-6' diameter area since they will grow 6' or so and lean out.  The only place I have seen then recently was at Roger's Gardens.  I used to have one and it put out lots of flowers.....however, because my soil is sandy it became very invasive and I dug it up.

Wild Animal Park, also owned by the San Diego Zoo, also has an extensive plant collection.  We only visit there in the winter and early spring because it often get miserably hot way out there...  They have a very natural desert garden area with many interesting cacti and succulents.  I try to make a trip there when the aloes are blooming. 

[Kittyzee]

Great pics Mikey!  Love the elephant toes especially   

[tinkster]

love the pics and sounds like you had a fun 4th!

tink

[Bullfrog]

Very nice Mike, I couldn't see the pictures at work yesterday. Some pictures show up there but most don't. Looks like a nice road trip.

[Julles]

Thanks, Mikey.  Loved all the pics.

[jclements]

Awesome! I am looking forward to San Diego at the end of the month.

LeeAnne, come to SoCal this month for the pond gathering! It would be fun to finally meet you!