Tag Archives: Amy Ruegg

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Eric Zetterholm and Amy Ruegg were charmed by this baby Brush Rabbit near their home on The Sea Ranch. The little fellow or gal was hanging out with a pair of California Quail. In the first photo, the bunny is with the male quail.

Here is a couple more photos where the bunny is with his/her new friend, the male CA Quail.

Eric calls this Brush Rabbit his "morning Bun." It doesn't get much cuter than this!

Thanks to Eric for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

It's HOT here on the Mendonoma Coast today, way too hot! 94 degrees this afternoon here in Anchor Bay. It's cooler, of course, on the ocean bluffs and beaches. A friend told me it was 72 degrees at Bowling Ball Beach this afternoon.

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Betsy Anderson came across this unusual Douglas Iris a few weeks ago. I never seen an Iris with four petals.

Amy Ruegg took a look at Betsy's photo and wrote, “This Iris looks to me to be a deformed Douglas Iris with extra tepals. In horticulture, cultivating for more petals than normal in a flower is desirable. I have seen this happen in other species on occasion. I have also seen an unusual trillium with four leaves. Perhaps it’s the four leaf clover of the Iris blossom!”

Here's a look at a "normal" Douglas Iris, taken by Craig Tooley.

It's possible the warm weather we had this past winter might have prompted this anomaly. Here's a look at the Trillium Amy mentioned.

Sometimes Mother Nature is just having fun! Thanks to Betsy, Amy and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Clouds are pouring in as another storm is headed our way. Precursor showers arrived late this afternoon. My season to date rain total is 46.60 inches. A "normal" year is 50 inches so things are looking good here on the Mendonoma Coast.

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We've had several small storms that brought enough moisture for the first King Boletes to appear. Amy Ruegg found what might have been the very first one.

Several others have found porcini too. And CeCe Case found a Chanterelle. They are being found in moist areas. The spots I find them have not seen any appear...yet!

Thanks to Amy for allowing me to share her photo with  you here. It's always a good time of year when the first edible mushrooms appear.

A smattering of rain was heard last night while I, and others, celebrated the SF Giants baseball win. Today is beautiful, sunny and breezy. The horizon is clear so if you are on the coast, look for a possible green flash at sunset. Below is a photo taken by Peter Cracknell of a green flash. It only lasts for a second, so don't blink!

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Many  native wildflowers are quite small. It's Mother Nature's way of seeing if you are paying attention! Amy Ruegg is definitely paying attention. Here are some of the beauties she found recently. The first is Hound's Tongue, Cynoglossum grande, a member of the Forget-me-not Family.

Redwood Violets, Viola sempervirens, are blooming now too.

The lovely Wild Ginger, Asarum caudatum, joins in the chorus.

And Amy also found Douglas Iris, Iris douglasiana, one of the coast's larger wildflowers.

Thanks to Amy for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

Another warm day with no wind. It's easy to spot Gray Whale spouts on the ocean. Changes are afoot though, with cooler temps and the possibility of some wet stuff in a few days.

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Joining Slink Pod in blooming in winter, Western Trilliums are up. Frank Lalle sent in this photo of one.

The white flower will turn pink after some days, and then purple. Promise me you'll never pick this wildflower! At the very least, it would set the plant back years, and at the worst, picking it might kill it.

The first Milk Maids, aka Spring Beauty, are up too. I saw a group of them at Gualala Point Regional park, by the steps from the parking area that lead to the Visitors' Center. Here's a photo taken by Amy Ruegg.

The first Bracken Ferns have poked through the ground. And the first Douglas Iris have bloomed in a sunny meadow.

Thanks to Frank and Amy for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

It sure feels like Spring today. Temps are warm, and there is very little breeze. It's a magnificent day on the Mendonoma Coast.