Damn, tarantula hawks are hard to get. So fidgety and flighty. They're unspeakably cool, though, so maybe I should go out with a net and an ice pack. I think this might be Pepsis mildei, given the large size and orange antennae. Are there other options?

Trichostema lanceolatum. How cool is this? Ok, it's common, but I still hadn't run into it until this afternoon. This might not be the most beautiful light, but it does show off this flower's unbelievable morphology. Reminds me of a French horn. Also, the smell was AMAZINGLY vinegary.

I walked out my door headed for warmer, drier, snakier climes, but soon realized I had left my keys locked inside. As well as my wallet, and my phone. Equipped for a hike and with nothing else to do, I decided to walk up Claremont and explore the Berkeley hills. Not too much to see other than the evening fog rolling in, commuter cars rushing by, and lots of roadside trash, but I did find a few interesting tidbits, including this fine little Piperia.