Tag Archives: lupine

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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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Deloras Jones photographed Lupine in bloom at The Sea Ranch. It's a happy sight, don't you agree?

The wildflowers are pretty amazing this spring. Thanks to Deloras for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

Today couldn't be lovelier - sunny with a nice breeze. And spring doesn't know...

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Here's a photo Mary Sue Ittner took of Lupine, Goldfields, Lasthenia californica, and Johnny Tuck, Triphysaria eriantha, all native wildflowers.

Peter Baye found Hoffman's Jewelflower, Streptanthus glandulosus.

And Blue-eyed Mary, Collinsia sparsiflora,

Many, many more species are blooming now, a feast for the eyes.

Thanks to Mary Sue and Peter for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Beautiful sunny, breezy, warm weather today!

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On a visit to Gualala Point Regional Park on Thursday, Rick and I hiked along the bluffs. It was a warm beautiful day with little wind. I always bring a jacket when I head to the ocean but I didn't need it that day! The sweet song of a White-crowned Sparrow caught our attention and there he was sitting on top of a Lupine bush. In the warmth the smell from the Lupines was sweet indeed.

 Can you see what is in the photo below? Only Huckleberry's interest and a flash of movement alerted us that something was there.

 Here is a close-up of what Huckleberry saw - a snake in the grass. It was a long one too, well over a foot and a half long.

 And keeping with the hard to see theme, can you see the Deer looking at us? The grasses at the park are lush and full of feed. The Deer at the park are going to be very healthy.

 And lastly, here's a photo of Gualala Point Island, an important rookery for nesting seabirds.

It costs $7.00 for the day use fee. We purchased a Sonoma County Parks annual pass, which we use regularly. It is also good at all the Sea Ranch public access trails.

What I haven't shown you here is the beautiful beach at the park. That will have to wait for another post.

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Wildflowers burst into bloom this week on the Mendocino and Sonoma Coasts with just a few days of warm sunny weather. On a drive down Highway One a few days ago, Rick and I saw the first Lupine in bloom. Wild Iris - Douglas Iris - caught our eyes with their brilliant splashes of blue. Bright orange Poppies, California's state flower, have joined in the party. The wildflowers in the forest are a bit more subtle but worth your attention too. The beautiful False Solomon Seal has just bloomed and the forest floor is carpeted with the yellow-faced Redwood Violets.