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!
Mark Hancock heard on a radio interview on KGUA that I was looking forward to seeing Baby Blue Eyes, a native wildflower. He sent this photo, saying they are blooming in profusion at the Lighthouse.
Here's a closer look at one of these beautiful wildflowers, this photo was taken by Mary Sue Ittner.
Thanks to Mark and Mary Sue for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
Mary Sue Ittner was at Manchester State Beach with the Thursday Ramblers, a local hiking group. She found California Poppies blooming in profusion.
And Baby Blue Eyes.
And Cream Cups too.
Here's what it looked like when Mary Sue photographed the scene.
Thanks to Mary Sue for allowing me to share her photos with you here.
Mary Sue Ittner was on the Thursday Ramblers' hike last week. She found one of the first Western Trilliums, Trillium ovatum, up. It obviously had been raining!
She also found Slink Pod, Scoliopus bigelovii. I love looking for these tiny wildflowers. They are very hard to spot, so you look for the two leaves poking through the forest duff.
This morning I noticed the first Bracken Fern up and a few Huckleberry blossoms. Spring must be right around the corner! Thanks to Mary Sue for allowing me to share her photos with you here.
We have a lot of rain in our forecast, but there will be breaks to allow for nature walks on bluffs or along forest paths. Heed the siren call on Mother Nature!
Mary Sue Ittner was surprised to find this big Coast Gartersnake nestled into one of her flower pots. Here's her story:
Mary Sue wrote, “I saw a snake crawling up the side of one of my Haemanthus albiflos pots. By the time I got my camera out it had tucked itself in the leaves with just its head sticking out, and then not even that. You wouldn’t know it was even there unless you looked very carefully between the leaves. Later it came out so I could see how long it was. In spite of that it found a way to fit in the pot. I managed to capture one of the times it flicked its tongue.”
Mary Sue estimated the snake was about three feet long.
Among other things, Gartersnakes will eat mice, slugs and snails. Gardeners love to have one in their garden.
Thanks to Mary Sue for allowing me to share her photos with you here.