San Diego is alive with stuff that makes it worth my while to carry a camera wherever I go. Today the big surprise was a Great Blue Heron that seemed not to mind my intrusion into his space. I got close enough with my iPhone to take his picture. Not far from the heron was a California golden poppy.  This is the peak of the golden poppy season from the top to the bottom of the state. The river estuary at the far end of Mission Valley is wearing its greenest coat of grass this week. People who visit San Diego from other places go away unaware that we are in a period of serious drought.