Tag Archives: endemic to California

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Summer is when the Leopard Lilies bloom. Chris Pechal found this beauty recently.

Lilium pardalinum is their Scientific name and they are endemic to California. A legend warns that if you sniff these wildflowers, you will get freckles!

Thanks to Chris for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

Fog over the ocean has kept the immediate coast very pleasant today and there is very little wind. As many other places are sweltering in high heat, I am always grateful for the summer fog that keeps the Mendonoma Coast cool.

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Woodland Clarkia, Clarkia unguiculata, is also called Elegant Clarkia. It's a beautiful native wildflower endemic to California.

I read that bees love these wildflowers - nice to know!

Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

We had heavy fog overnight - it sounded like it was raining! But the fog pulled back in the afternoon and, sure enough, there was an ocean out there.

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In my original post, I wrote that these were Leopard Lilies, Lilium pardalinum, very tall lilies that bloom as early as May and as late as July. However, several readers have contacted me to let me know these are Coast Lilies, Lilium maritimum. They could even be a possible hybrid of the two.  A few weeks ago, Craig Tooley found this beautiful patch of these native wildflowers, kissed with dew.

Coast Lilies are rare. Promise me you will never pick them!

Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is his website: http://www.ruffimage.com

Here in Anchor Bay the fog pulled back early, though it is hovering over the Pacific Ocean. Yes, it's sunny and mild today.

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Leopard Lilies, Lilium pardalinum, have just begun to bloom. Mary Sue Ittner photographed this group of beauties.

These native wildflowers are endemic to California and they are treat to see. Promise me you won't pick them!

Thanks to Mary Sue for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

Beautiful sunny day here today!

 

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It's Latin name sounds pretty scary -Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis. California Red-sided Gartersnakes are only found on the California Coast from Humboldt County south to Monterey Bay. Peter Baye recently photographed one found along Tenmile River.

They have a toxin in their saliva which can be deadly to their prey. They are not considered harmful to humans but I wouldn't want to be bitten by one. Their bite could cause an adverse reaction. California Red-sided Gartersnakes eat a wide variety of creatures, including Banana Slugs. Gartersnakes are the only known creature that can eat Rough-skinned Newts.

They are great swimmers and will often retreat into the water if threatened. C'Anna Bergman Hill photographed this Red-sided Gartnersnake in a creek on the Stornetta Public Lands.

Thanks to Peter and C'Anna for allowing me to share their photos with you here.