Self-heal, Prunella vulgaris, blooms in sunny grassy spots on the Mendonoma coast. Mary Sue Ittner found it blooming on the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands recently.
Its common name refers to its medicinal qualities. It is said to help heal cuts and inflammation.
Thanks to Mary Sue for allowing me to share her photo with you here.
Margaret Lindgren spotted Western Dog Violets blooming on the southern portion of the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands. They are so beautiful and a real treat to find.
This wildflower is found in moist meadows. It has medicinal qualities - a tea made from dried leaves purportedly treats stomach distress. And the flowers are used to make purple dye. I'd rather just look at this little beauty in its natural abode.
A big storm is hitting the coast - lots of rain and wind. It's an exciting time to be here, experiencing the full force of the storm.
Thanks to Margaret for allowing me to share her photo with you here. To learn of Margaret's hiking/tour business, here is her website: http://www.unbeatenpathtours.com/index.html
Turkey Tails, Trametes versicolor, are fruiting in the forest. They are quite beautiful as you can see by my photo. They are fruiting on a downed Tan-oak on our property in Anchor Bay.
Turkey Tail mushrooms, found all over the world, have medicinal qualities. A soothing tea can release their polysaccharides. Studies are ongoing regarding their use as an immune system booster in breast cancer patients. There's a fascinating article about their medicinal qualities on Huffington Post at this link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-stamets/mushrooms-cancer_b_1560691.html Could a mushroom growing in abundance in the forest be the answer to someone's prayer?
Stream Orchids, Epipactis gigantea, have begun blooming on a rock ledge seep on the Wheatfield fork of the Gualala River. Peter Baye photographed one for us to see their delicate beauty.
Peter also found an uncommon sighting in our area - Wild Licorice, Glycyrrhiza lepidota, blooming in a sunny spot, also along the Wheatfield Fork.
Native People used this plant's root as a food source and for its medicinal qualities.
Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see more photography and learn about the Gualala River, here's the web site to Friends of the Gualala River: http://gualalariver.org/
On a hike in the forest with friends, we enjoyed seeing some beautiful wildflowers. The first is Pacific Starflower, which was growing on a bank in dappled sun. The blossoms are very small but exquisite
In a darkly shaded part of the forest we found this lone Pussy Ears. Yes, the inside of this flower is very soft to the touch. Look at the long slender leaf of this wildflower - it is what you first look for.
And on the forest floor we found a late blooming Douglas Iris amidst the the tiny, white "shooting star" flowers of Alumroot. You can see the maple-like leaves of the Alumroot.
And growing alongside a seasonal creek in a sunny spot was this California Wild Rose. Native peoples made a tea out of the rose hips for medicinal purposes.
It's a beautiful day today on the Mendonoma Coast. The air is so soft and warm you can almost drape around your shoulders. My best to you today, Jeanne Jackson