Mellow Yellow Monday and Macro Monday

Photos taken at the San Francisco Botanical Garden.

Visit Macro Monday for more beautiful macro photography.

 

Click the above widget for more Mellow Yellow Monday fun.

Camera Critters #221

Source: Photo taken of Claude the Albino Alligator at the California Academy of Sciences

I want to introduce all of you to Claude, the albino alligator who currently lives at the California Academy of Sciences here in San Francisco.

Claude is a teenager with his 17th birthday coming up in September of this year. He weighs about 190 pounds and was born in Florida in 1995. He eats fish pellets and has his own residence swamp at the academy which he shares with turtles. He once had a girlfriend, Bonnie who was brought in to keep him company. Well, that did not last very long. After a few months Bonnie had, had enough of Claude's antics and bit him in the foot. Yes, this is a true story. So, they decided to leave Claude on his own which makes him much more happy than being with a mate.

Because he is albino, he has vision problems and will often bump into the glass and different things in his habitat. He does have a favorite rock which he occupies and is heated to his liking which is anywhere from 70 to 90 degrees. Because of their coloring, albino alligators cannot live in the wild, as their predators will eat them. So, Claude is a permanent resident at the Cal Academy.

Claude is very intelligent in that he knows his name when called out and responds to various whistle commands. He is a huge draw for tourists and locals like me who visit the academy just to see him.

Source: Photo taken of Claude the Albino Alligator at the California Academy of Sciences

Source: Photo taken of Claude the Albino Alligator at the California Academy of Sciences

Claude's habitat is located in the aquarium level of the academy building so you are able to get up close and personal with him. All of the photos I took here are from that location. He was very entertaining the day we were there and I was able to capture him swimming underwater.

Source: Photo taken of Claude the Albino Alligator at the California Academy of Sciences

This photo for me was a real treat. He was right up against the glass while swimming upward in his exhibit and I was able to get a closeup of his "scaliness."

Just look at those teeth, all 76 of them. I just love this guy even though I am deathly afraid of alligators. He has simply captured my heart.

Claude the albino alligator at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco

 

 Click the above widget for more Camera Critters fun.

Outdoor Wednesday

Photos taken at Sloat Garden Center

Visit Outdoor Wednesday for more beautiful photography

Macro Monday - Poppies

Papaver

Photos taken at the San Francisco Botanical Garden.

Romneya Coulteri (Matilija Poppy - Fried Egg Flower)

Visit Macro Monday for more great macro photography.

Macro Monday

All photos taken at the San Francisco Botanical Gardens.

Clarkia

Red Passiflora (Passion Flower) bulb

Protea Cynaroides (King Protea) Bulb.

Visit Macro Monday for more great macro photography.

Camera Critters #220

Photos taken at Stow Lake and the San Francisco Botanical Garden. 

Click the above widget for more camera critters fun.

World Bird Wednesday

These photos were taken at the San Francisco Botanical Garden

Visit World Bird Wednesday for more great bird photography.

Macro Monday The Iris

Photos taken at the San Francisco Botanical Gardens

Visit Macro Monday For More Great Macro Photography

An Interview With Nature Center Magazine

The San Francisco Botanical Garden

Nature Center Magazine is a wonderful online zine filled with the wonderment of the natural word.  It was an honor to be interviewed by them and I thank Emma Springfield for this great opportunity.  You can read the interview by clicking here.

Thank you.

Wordless Wednesday

Doryanthes excelsa - Australia

Taken at the San Francisco Botanical Garden

Visit Wordless Wednesday 

Macro Monday - The Heart Of The Clematis

Clematis taken at the San Francisco Botanical Garden

 Visit Macro Monday for more great macro photography.