Tag Archives: Huckleberry

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Recently Rick and I and our Golden Retriever, Huckleberry, explored the east side of Gualala Point Regional Park. There is a small but beautiful campground there, nestled up against the Gualala River. Using our annual day pass, we parked near the campground and headed east on a narrow trail. Just a few steps into the forest felt like we had entered another world.

Here is a photo of a Douglas-fir that grew over a Redwood stump. I've never seen the roots of a Douglas-fir growing above ground before.

And we found this old, knobby California Bay tree. Elves could live here!
We then came to the Gualala River and in went Huckleberry.

Life is good when you are a Golden Retriever getting wet!
Here's a link to a beautiful sunset taken at the park. http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/08/01/beautiful-sunset-at-gualala-point-regional-park/

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Last night - and a balmy one it was - Rick and I heard a Western Screech Owl calling just outside our courtyard. These owls don't screech! They have a very melodic, soothing call. We know we have Screech Owls in our area in Anchor Bay because last year we found two juveniles in a dark canyon. Here's the link to see them on this blog: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/04/29/hoping-for-a-western-screech-owl-to-take-up-residence-in-my-beautiful-owl-house/

I decided I'd like to learn more about owl calls. I found a great web site, forgetting that I had turned the volume on my iPad all the way up. Huckleberry was sleeping behind Rick and me. It was very tranquil and quiet. Quiet, that is, until I clicked on the very loud "hoo, hoo, hooooo" sounds of a Great Horned Owl. The calls boomed out into our house, echoing off the walls. Huckleberry reared up in great alarm, looked everywhere in the living room and then began barking.

Here's a photo of a Great Horned Owl taken by Steve Wilcox. I thank him for allowing me to share his photo here.

And if you'd like to hear their call, here's a link: http://www.owlpages.com/owls.php?genus=Bubo&species=virginianus But learn from my lesson and keep the sound down so you don't scare your furry friends!

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Rick and I walk every day, in fact twice a day, as demanded by our Golden Retriever, Huckleberry. On a path that leads to the forest floor a Dyer's Polypore, Phaeolus schweinitzii, appeared overnight. We were amazed! What life force mushrooms have to grow so fast.

This mushroom isn't good to eat but it has so much pigment that people use it to dye fabric. Depending on the age of the Polypore the color is yellow, gold, brown or orange. It has a part to play in nature as it breaks down dead wood into nutrients. There are several dead trees - snags - where this mushroom grows.

The first picture is the first day it appeared. The second is four days later.

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Gail Spencer photographed a beautiful sunset at Gualala Point Regional Park. This park is one of my favorites for a walk on the bluffs or a visit to the beach. It's the perfect place to watch the sunset too.

Rick and I had a memorable day there when a Gray Whale and her calf were rolling in the surf. Two visitors from New York were on the beach too and were they ever thrilled. Here's a link to find out more about this park. http://www.sonoma-county.org/parks/pk_glala.htm

It's also a wonderful place to walk your dog on leash. Huckleberry, our golden retriever, gives it two paws up! Thanks to Gail for allowing me to share her photo.

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This is what the early morning sunrise looked like with the full moon setting as Rick and I watched. To start the day with such beauty is a joy.

Our golden retriever wasn't as impressed. Huckleberry was entirely too relaxed to care about the sunrise.