It's so wonderful to see Sea Stars in abundance, recovering from the wasting disease. Roxanne Holmes found a baby Star, a juvenile Bat Sea Star, Patiria miniata.
Amy Ruegg went to Walk On Beach at low tide recently and she found this glorious group of Ochre Sea Stars, Pisaster ochraceus.
Thanks to Roxanne and Amy for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
We are having a sun-splashed day on the Mendonoma Coast today!
Amy Ruegg several weeks ago wrote, "I am so excited to share my photo of Little Prince’s Pine or Pipsissewa, which grows in the Redwood forest on the ridge in The Sea Ranch. It is such a special little plant, only about two or three inches tall. I have been trying to find one in full bloom and get a picture of it for over five years. Today it was absolutely perfect, even though the mosquitoes were attacking me as I held still for the shot.”
Craig Tooley also got a photo one one, this one a close-up of the flower. Isn't it striking?
A neighboring property in Anchor Bay has several groups of these native wildflowers, but they are growing in full sun. However, this year there are no flowers. These tiny plants are quite sturdy, and they are a joy to find.
Thanks to Amy and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.ruffimage.com
Happy Summer Solstice, the first day of summer. We started out foggy this morning but the sun soon prevailed, at least in Anchor Bay. It's sunny with a few drifting high clouds. I wish you a happy summer as we navigate through these difficult times. Walks in nature can surely help!
Every winter, beginning around Christmas, Rick and I look for Slink Pod, Scoliopus bigelovii, also called Fetid Adder's Tongue. This year we found our first one mid-January.
They can be very hard to spot, as they are quite tiny. They are members of the Lily family and the two leaves you can see just peeking up through the forest duff, will grow in the weeks ahead to be quite large. These leaves are oblong and mottled and if you see them later in the year, then next winter look for the tiny orchid-like bloom in the same spot.
Amy Ruegg found the first blooming Douglas Iris, Iris douglasiana.
Now that does seem early! I am looking for Milkmaids, Cardamine californica. The first leaf has appeared in spots but no sign of the flower stalk yet.
Thanks to Amy for allowing me to share her photo with you here.
Another dose of rain overnight, along with a few showers today. Coastal streams are full, creating beautiful waterfalls when they spill over bluffs. The weather forecast calls for sunny, warm days. Pretending to be spring?
Amy Ruegg was at Stengel Beach on The Sea Ranch recently. She wrote, “It has been beautiful seeing the waterways fill up, and the rain soak the earth.
The cloudy sunsets have been almost unbelievable of late, as if a piece of heaven fell to earth. I enjoyed seeing a splashing waterfall there. The tide was low as the sunset revealed a purple and an orange Sea Star clinging tightly to slippery rocks.”
Thanks to Amy for allowing me to share her photos with you here.
After a strong storm on Sunday, today is a different story. Sunny, with a few clouds to add interest, and cool temps. Come to the Mendonoma Coast to start your year off right!
Amy Ruegg photographed a recent sunset at Pebble Beach, on The Sea Ranch.
Amy also found Oyster mushrooms.
And Scott Mercer found a King Bolete, boletus edulis, in his yard.
I heard that Catherine Miller found her first King Bolete this morning, along with the first Yellow Chanterelle. A combination of some rain (.14 inches at our place early Friday morning, and some heavy fog earlier in the week, seem to have prompted the first bloom of choice, edible mushrooms. Hooray!
Thanks to Amy and Scott for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
The ground is damp, the sun is out and the temps this afternoon are in the high sixties. Perfect!