Tag Archives: Ken Browning

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Ken Browning trained his camera on a beautiful member of the orchid family, a Merten's Coralroot, Corallorrhiza mertensiana.

You will see there is in an insect resting lightly on one blossom. I asked entomologist Will Ericson what is was and he responded, "That looks like some dipteran but I'm not sure. I saw similar midges pollinating Scoliopus flowers."

There are many pollinators in nature! Thanks to Ken for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

Lots of visitors to the Mendonoma coast are here, enjoying the sunny, warm weather!

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Martin Steinpress found two of these mushrooms,  Hydnellum aurantiacum.

Hydnellum aurantiacum 2 by Martin Steinpress Hydnellum aurantiacum by Martin SteinpressThey grow under Pines and other conifers. They do sport "teeth" like Hedgehog mushrooms do, but to quote David Arora, "[They are]unequivocally inedible."

This mushroom is in the same group as the Strawberries and Cream Hydnellum I shared some months ago. Here's the photo Ken Browning took of that one.

Hydnellum peckii, Strawberries and Cream, by Ken Browning

Sometimes it seems that Mother Nature has a sense of humor! Thanks to Martin and Ken for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

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I love the common name of this mushroom - Strawberries and Cream. Its scientific name is Hydnellum peckii and it is also called Bleeding Hydnellum. Ken Browning and Anne Little came across one recently.

Hydnellum peckii, Strawberries and Cream, by Ken Browning

Ken photographed a young one, as it is white. The red beads on top are seen in moist weather. It is inedible but certainly unique and lovely to observe in the forest.

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

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Little Prince's Pine, Chimaphila menziesii, is blooming now on the Mendonoma Coast. They are fairly rare so it's a treat to see one. Ken Browning recently photographed one he found on The Sea Ranch.

One is also blooming on the Gualala Ridge. There are a few on our neighbor's property but they haven't put out a bloom yet. This native wildflower is also called Pipsissewa. It is only about two inches high and the leaves are saw-toothed.

Wildflowers like these are Mother Nature's way of seeing if you are paying attention!

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

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Ken Browning recently led a geology hike at Gualala Point Regional Park. He showed us a small earthquake fault at the south end of the beach.

The fault is below the fence and wind-blown trees.

 Here's a closeup of the fault.

 Close by are these wonderful moon rocks. These formations are also at Salt Point State Park. I discuss these formations at this blog post: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2013/03/02/moon-rocks-and-a-few-other-oddities-at-salt-point-park-as-photographed-by-john-sperry/ if you'd like to learn more. That is Diane Hichwa inspecting the formation.

 And I was struck by this rock's impersonation of a turtle. Hope you enjoy it.

If you'd like to learn more about this beautiful park, here's the link: http://parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/Get_Outdoors/Parks/Gualala_Point_Regional_Park.aspx There is a wonderful campground in this park on the east side of Highway 1 with campsites right along the Gualala River.