Vancouveria hexandra, Inside-out Flower, is blooming now in moist forest under Douglas-fir. Its petals are swept back as if it's turning itself inside out.
The flowers look like white shooting stars! Peter Baye recently photographed this flower alongside one of the reaches of the Gualala River. I thank him for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
With calm, dry weather forecast the Pacific Ocean will settle down. But with the several storms that hit late last week the ocean was in full voice. Robert Scarola photographed some big waves recently at Gualala Point Regional Park. The couple in the photo had to run from the big surf.
The couple below is on the sandbar, a dangerous place to be when the Gualala River is running so fast.
Thanks to Robert for allowing me to share his photos with you.
Rob Elder had made several tries to find the old-growth Redwood tree known as the McCabe Tree. On his third attempt his wife Jacquelynn Bass accompanied him. With her help he found the big tree. Jackie's photo was awarded Best alongside the river (macro). The McCabe tree is possibly the largest old-growth Redwood in Sonoma County. It measures 47 feet, eight inches in circumference. Amazing.
To be overlooking the mouth of the Gualala River when it opens for the first time in months in the fall is extremely lucky. To get a photograph is even better. Bob Rutemoeller won Best River mouth photo with this shot:
Thanks to Jackie and Bob for sharing their photos with us here.
Last week Friends of the Gualala River and I hosted Gualala River Sightings at the Gualala Arts Center. People were invited to send in their favorite photos of our favorite wild river and its environs. Over 120 photos were sent in. I'm happy to be able to share the winning photographs with you.
Best above the river was taken by Peggy Berryhill:
Best in the river was taken by Rozann Grunig- kayaking under a full moon.
Best alongside the river (micro) was taken by Bryant Hichwa - icy morning leaves:
I will share more of the award winning photographs with you tomorrow. Many thanks to the talented photographers here
Thursday's sunset was beautiful with the leftover clouds from a storm. This photo was taken from our deck in Anchor Bay.
Earlier that day, Rick and I - with our golden retriever, Huckleberry - walked along the Gualala Bluff Trail. The river was closed to the ocean by the sandbar. You can see the river has turned "Steelhead" green. When the river opens Steelhead will enter the river. Catch and release fishing will then be the order of the day.
To see a photo of a Steelhead in the Gualala River, here is the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2012/09/01/adult-steelhead-photographed-by-peter-baye-in-one-of-the-reaches-of-the-gualala-river/