Aldrich Park in Winter

 

A couple months ago I posted about Aldrich Park in the heart of the UCI campus. Walking through the park recently, I've noticed it looks beautiful in winter as well and there is a surprising amount of color alongside the bare-branched trees.

 

Derek still sports the short sleeves even on a "cold" Southern California day.

 

  

Neat succulents all around the park...

 

Wildlife sighting (hint: look at photo on left...)!

 

  

Citrus, to boot!

 

This tree looks fake but it's not...just eerie! 

--Jessica

Aldrich Park in Autumn

Thanksgiving may be over, Halloween may be long gone, but the fact remains that there are still a couple of days in November and a couple of weeks left in fall. So before we bring in the Christmas carols and the wintery sparkles and snow (well, perhaps not so much of the latter), I thought I would post one last ode to yellow and orange leaves and sunny skies with crisp cool air.

   Aldrich Park lies at the heart of the UC Irvine campus, and I love taking morning strolls through it or sitting and reading a book beneath one of its shady trees. Sometimes when I'm feeling super ambitious I bring a little picnic lunch and meet the husband here on his break to eat on a blanket in the grass. Named after the school's first chancellor, the park spans 19 acres and is positioned as the "bulls-eye" of the campus, with the school's classrooms and dorms forming rings around it. 

I took a few shots of the park on one of these recent said walks; hopefully the photos convey the beauty and tranquility nestled in the middle of this bustling university. 

 

  

 

 

     

 

--Jessica