This brave red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) greeted me early this morning as I began my first local hike of the season. The really hot temps are gone, and I’m ready to spend a lot more time outdoors. #PalmSprings #RanchoMirage #birds #raptor #nature #wildlife #hiking #capture

Renowned conductor Andris Nelsons leading the great Boston Symphony was the grand finale to an exciting week of travel & music events. Violinist Leonidas Kavakos played Tchaikovsky’s “Violin Concerto in D” brilliantly in the 1st half of the program. #Tanglewood #classicalmusic

Good food & drinks, friendly staff, and the upbeat, swinging sounds of Grammy-winner Vince Giordano with the Nighthawks, made for a memorable evening at the legendary Birdland Jazz Club in Manhattan. #NewYorkCity #livemusic #entertainment #restaurant

A highlight of my trip to NYC was seeing the very accomplished JACK Quartet perform contemporary German composer Helmut Lachenmann’s “Quartets Nos. 2 & 3,” at the intimate DiMenna Center for Classical Music. @DiMennaCenter @jackquartet #experimental #chambermusic

We spent a week in NYC before heading up to Stockbridge for
the Tanglewood Music Festival. It was fun seeing the newer sights that weren’t there on my previous visits, like the High Line, Oculus, and Little Island, but also nice seeing the icons associated with this great city. #travel #tourism

These large, fragrant, white flowers popped up last night on the San Pedro cactus (Echinopsis pachanoi) in our backyard; unfortunately, they’ll only last a day or two. Hummingbirds & bees are enjoying them very much. #PalmSprings #California #cacti #nature #desert #bloomingcactus

Mission Creek Preserve near Desert Hot Springs is a scenic place to take an easy hike. But be prepared for a short drive down a rocky dirt road to get to the path's starting point. #California #PalmSprings #nature #hiking #travel #mountains #desert #spring #wildflowers #outdoors

Just got back from a 5-day road trip through Utah where we visited some amazing national parks: Canyonlands, Arches, Capitol Reef, and Bryce Canyon, also Dead Horse Point State Park where we stayed and watched the sunset. #Moab #hiking #nature #geology #hoodoos #mountains #travel

The abundant, colorful wildflowers blanketing the hills around Diamond Valley Lake near Hemet, were gorgeous this morning as we walked along the easy, 1.3-mile Lakeview Trail Loop. #SouthernCalifornia #superbloom #nature #travel #flowers #spring #beauty #landscape #wildflowerhour