Urban Wildlife Color Palette

A few months ago I started walking in the morning. I needed to get outside, needed to clear my mind, needed to get moving again. I headed out the first day, charted my course, and after a 30-day challenge of walking every day (I walked 26 days out of 30- not bad!), I've settled into a routine of trompin' through my neighborhood about 3-4 days a week and taking in a weekend hike whenever possible.

[caption id="attachment_2110" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Here I am just about to start my 30-day walking extravaganza"][/caption]

I dreaded walking at first- I still mourn the sites and sounds of San Francisco and the walks I used to chart in my favorite city. The Palace of Fine Arts and Golden Gate Bridge were in my neighborhood!

[caption id="attachment_2111" align="aligncenter" width="422" caption="Crissy fields, Marina Green, Palace of Fine Arts, the Bay itself was just four blocks from my home! boo hoo"][/caption]

I'd open my front door to a view of Alcatraz on my left and the hills of Pacific Heights to my right. I didn't want to move, but work called me away from the only town that every really felt like home. Perhaps I've been a little resentful of the flat suburban neighborhoods I've lived in since then. And  as my business morphed from the active work of Decorative Painting to  sitting around a lot more for Interior Design and Color Consulting felt even more disconnected from my life outside of work.

So I threw on my walking shoes and immediately noticed how much better I felt every time I walked. One day I came back from a walk and began watering when I saw this little green guy resting just below my watering can.

I've never seen much more than squirrels and occasional cats around here, so it caught me by surprise!

[caption id="attachment_2114" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Yum, breakfast!"][/caption]

Then I started noticing butterflies

dahlias...

and Angel's Trumpets growing untamed...

Is nature making a comeback or am I finally- 9 years after leaving San Francisco- beginning to embrace my life, exactly where I am right now? Maybe all the recycling, composting, and turning off the water while I wash my hands and brush my teeth have something to do with it. Maybe as we all become more conscious about how much we need to preserve our sweet Earth, we immediately see that nature wants to survive, even thrive no matter what gets in the way. Or maybe I just needed to open my eyes. I'm not planning on staying in San Mateo, but until I get back to my City by the Bay, I'm going to take in the sites of San Mateo- even the tiny green ones!

What have you found around your home? More wildlife? rogue flowers? Do share! I'd love to start an urban wildlife guest blog so contact me if you'd like to contribute. Have a great weekend everyone!

[caption id="attachment_2118" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Benjamin Moore Apricot Ice"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2120" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Benjamin Moore Fresh Butter"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2121" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Benjamin Moore Jeweled Peach"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2122" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Benjamin Moore Vienna Green"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2119" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Benjamin Moore Cheating Heart"][/caption]