Welcome to June and Dellinger's Pond

I've visited Dellinger's Pond 5 times since I began this project - observing, writing, sketching, taking photos, etc., and I've decided I don't like the looks of the entrance gate.  It's chain-link fence material framed by tubular metal.  At least it's always open.  Instead, what I like to think of as the entry point is a healthy-looking California Black Oak for which this blog is named. On a recent day the oak was being paid a visit by a Convergent Lady-beetle and a couple of ants.  There were probably a thousand ants that escaped my notice on the tree, but at least two seemed to be in close communication with the beetle.