Tag Archives: Judith Fisher

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Judith Fisher wrote, “We live near the top of the Gualala Ridge, and face directly East. As the Sun sets, the Earth’s shadow climbs slowly, gradually up the far ridges, while painting the distant hills in shades of pink and apricot and lavender. Our sunset in reverse inspires gratitude—that we live here—and often, just one more photograph.”

How wonderful to be able to see the sunset looking east! Thanks to Judith for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

A vigorous storm came in this morning dropping a quick half-inch of rain. More rain is predicted for tonight. Then two days of calm before a series of wet storms hit the Mendonoma Coast.

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The most common bumblebee seen here is the hard-working Yellow-faced Bumblebee, Bombus vosnesenskii. Judith Fisher saw one of these important pollinators gathering pollen on Lupine at Gualala Point Regional Park.

Judith’s photo shows that the Yellow-faced Bumblebee has a nice packet of orange pollen in one of her corbiculae,  aka pollen basket, which are grooves in her hind legs. Inside the corbiculae are specialized branched hairs called scopae.

I wondered which flowers provided her with orange pollen. The most likely suspects are the Lupine Judith observed the bumblebee feeding on, an obvious clue. Also California Poppies, which are blooming in abundance, offer orange pollen to our native pollinators.

It’s interesting and fun to know that the color of the pollen varies from flower to flower. Black pollen is rare, but I read Beekeepers always know when Oriental poppies are in flower, because homecoming bees are dusted with black pollen.

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

It's sunny and warm here today. Lots of visitors here, escaping the inland heat!

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Western Columbine, Aquilegia formosa, is a treat to find. Judith Fisher found this beauty at Gualala Point Regional Park recently.

This wildflower's scientific name is interesting. Formosa means "beautiful." Wildflower.org's website states this: "The genus name Aquilegia comes from the Latin aquila which means eagle and refers to the spurred petals that many believe resemble an eagle's talons." Fascinating! Look for Western Columbine in moist areas.

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

Today is an "in between" day. Yesterday morning at 7, I found 0.40 inches of rain in our gauge. Another 0.15 fell during the day. Today we have beautiful clouds scudding across the sky, pushed by strong breezes. Heck, it's downright windy this afternoon! Tomorrow we have some rain coming in. Thank you, Mother Nature!

 

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To see a beautiful Monarch Butterfly in winter means we have a few overwintering Monarchs here, which is very good news. Judith Fisher recently spotted this Monarch at Gualala Point Regional Park.

And in Timber Cove Grace O'Malley had this Monarch feeding on her Pride of Madeira bush.

Monarch Butterflies used to overwinter on the Mendonoma Coast but their numbers have been in a tailspin...until this past autumn/winter, where Monarchs have been seen in much larger numbers. Fingers crossed and recrossed that these beauties will thrive in the future.

Thanks to Judith and Grace for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Unseasonably warm here today. 73 degrees this afternoon with low humidity. This isn't January weather...is it? Scott and Tree Mercer are seeing lots of Gray Whales headed south. They are a ways out, two to four miles, so binoculars are very helpful.