Gorgeous Plants From All Over the World Live Good Life at UC Arboretum

Good morning and greetings, crosstown traffic fans. The voodoo child himself, Jimi Hendrix, once said, “Rainy day, dream away.” At this stage of my life, which is far off Broadway, I’m more of a “rainy day, shoot away” fan, which means the sun can take a holiday.

So back on a gray, dreary morning in April, as a light rain fell, I grabbed my camera and a picnic basket full of freshly baked antioxidants and headed up to place full of color and enchantment, the Aboretum at UC Santa Cruz.

I managed to stay awake during the five-minute drive, and by the time I arrived at the front gate, the rain and my arches had stopped falling. I love shooting closeups of flowers after the rain, as the moisture just adds to the beauty of the moment. Which leads me into my favorite line about precipitation from the master Woody Allen. “I love the rain—it washes the memories off the sidewalk of life.”

The UCSC Aboretum is on the campus of my alma mater, where back in the late '70s, I received a degree as a double major in sociology and pick-up basketball. It was originally part of the massive land holdings of pioneer settler Henry Cowell, who, when he told people of his vast real estate empire, would often hear the response, “Holy Cowell.” Rest assured, this is information you won’t find on Wikipedia.

The Arboretum and my journey into manhood began in 1964, with a gift of about 80 species of eucalyptus, a lemon pound cake and a handful of magic beans. This piece of Santa Cruz unreal estate occupies one of the most highly favorable horticultural sites on the planet. The unique weather and topographic diversity are like few places in the world, and the soil is as fertile as the Ocotmom.

The Arboretum started importing plants from all over the Southern Hemisphere, and if you are a fan of exotic-looking flowers, like the space-age South African protea, then there is no better place to come and feast your eyes. This is the main course for today’s photo six-pack. Hundreds of species from down under were sent to this garden spot and grown for the first time in America, creating the largest collection of Australian plants outside of Crocodile Dundee’s back yard.

So what we’re talking about is acres and acres of gorgeous plants from all around the world living the good life overlooking Monterey Bay. I highly recommend checking it out, as I always have a certain glow when I leave this place. Or maybe that’s just the radiation.

Unfortunately, April showers bring more than April flowers. The grand ol’ Mississippi River set a record high-water level last week at Natchez, Mississippi. This was not a mark that farmers, casino owners or river boat captains were looking for Mother Nature to break. Because of a huge snow melt and a very wet spring, the river is swamping towns and millions of acres of farmland, while doing wonders for the sandbag business. This newest disaster is causing billions of dollars in damage, and the full extent won’t be known till the river crests, as four of five dentists recommend Crest for their patients whose houses are now submerged by water.

So you may be wondering, how fast is the water really traveling? Well, according to Michelle Bryner of Life’s Little Mysteries on MSNBC.com, the Mississippi River is flowing at 2 million cubic feet per second in Memphis, which is comparable to a football field of water at a height of 44 feet per second. Another way to look at it: If you were to stand at one point in the river, it would be as though 2 million basketballs of water were moving past you every second. The NBA and Mississippi River, where amazing happens.

My favorite river to spell is about 2,350 miles long. It starts up in Minnesota and passes through Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and Louisiana and Mississippi before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. Because of the flood conditions, animals have been forced to vacate their homes and condos, including a lovely little snake known as the water moccasin, which has headed for the trees and people’s homes.

Much like the East German Olympic team, they are strong swimmers, and their deadly fangs will put a crimp in your day, unless you’re not bothered by tissue damage. And it gets even better for wildlife fans, as the flood waters also contain alligators, spiders, rats, bats, gnats, cats, fire ants and uncles. So you might want to check with a lifeguard or exterminator before entering the water.

So to check out some more beauty from the Aboretum, click on SunriseSantaCruz.com/blog.  You'll be glad you did.