Tag Archives: Anchor Bay

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Quinliven Creek runs through our property in Anchor Bay. It's a seasonal creek, with ponds that last year round. It is always a happy occurrence when it comes to life. With all the rain we've had recently it is running fast and strong. Here are a few pictures of this lovely creek.

 Each cascade has a different musical tone, which I enjoy listening to. Yes, the creek is singing!

 And below is Huckleberry, our golden retriever. Rick is telling him not to go in that pond as it's so cold. Last night I didn't have my camera as it was raining hard. I put Huckleberry's raincoat on, which he doesn't really enjoy but being an agreeable golden he puts up with it. We hiked down into the forest to look at the creek. When we weren't looking Huck went into this pond - with his raincoat on! Best laid plans and all that...

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After weeks of dry weather, the Mendonoma Coast is being hit by a big storm. And there are two more lined up - another for Friday and one for Sunday night. Our seasonal creeks had gone dry in places during the long dry spell. I know the creek that runs through our property in Anchor Bay, Quinliven Creek, will soon come to life to delight us anew.

In the meantime, here is a photo I took five days ago of the sun setting into a sea of fog. Beautiful, don't you agree?

Here is a link to a photo I took last March of Quinliven Creek after a major storm: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/03/15/huge-storm-is-hitting-the-mendonoma-coast/

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A group of Shrimp Russulas, Russula xeramplina, has bloomed under a Shore Pine tree on our property. I finally learned the identification of these edible mushrooms after a mushroom forage with David Arora a month or so ago. First, it is a substantial mushroom, not flimsy. The stem is rosy though you will have to look closely at my photo to see the blush. When you scratch the stem it should turn yellow. To further make sure you have the edible Russula, bite off a small piece of the cap, chew and then spit out. If you taste pepper you have the wrong one.

 These two 'shrooms are growing next to a large rock at our home in Anchor Bay.

It's been cold and dry here on the Mendonoma Coast. But these Shrimp Russulas didn't seem to mind! To see several other photos of this mushroom, here's the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/11/24/shrimp-russula-has-appeared-on-the-edge-of-our-forest-in-anchor-bay/

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Watching a lovely sunrise with the full moon glowing in the west is a treat given to those fortunate enough to be on the Mendonoma Coast. You can also see the lights of a fishing boat out on the Pacific Ocean.

 And here is the rest of the sunrise, looking southwest, from our property in Anchor Bay - sheer loveliness!

 The earliest of the Manzanitas have begun blooming. These exquisite white flowers are shaped like upside-down urns. Some people remove Manzanitas bushes from their property and the ecosystem is hurt because of it. These blossoms feed our year 'round hummingbirds, the Anna's. They provide food for our native bees and butterflies. Since Manzanitas are the first to bloom in the winter, they are crucial for our wildlife.

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This is a new mushroom for me. Zeller's Boletes, Boleuts zelleri, have been appearing on our property in Anchor Bay for the past three or so weeks. Is this just a good year for them or have I not noticed them before? Only time will answer that question.

Zeller's Boletes are edible and they are only found in Western North America, from British Columbia, down the Pacific Northwest and south to Mexico. It is a colorful mushroom with its yellow and red stem. Like all Boletes it has a sponge underneath the cap. The ones on our property have a grayish top when young, browner with age and the sponge is yellow.

Do you see the bite mark on the largest mushroom? That was Huckleberry, our golden retriever. Rick and I try to stop him from eating wild mushrooms.

Here's is the dog in question, posing by a bloom of tiny mushrooms on the forest floor. At least he didn't try to eat these. Who knows if they are the hallucinogenic kind!

If you'd like to learn about our recent mushroom forage with David Arora, here's the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/11/17/a-mushroom-forage-with-author-david-arora/