Tag Archives: Mel Smith

Ospreys are beginning to return to the Mendonoma Coast, as photographed by Eric Zetterholm.

Jeanne Jackson • March 19, 2023

Eric Zetterholm spotted this Osprey taking a bath in the Gualala River. It's good to see Ospreys returning to our coast where they choose to nest.

Another returning bird was seen on St. Patrick's Day, Friday the 17th. Mel Smith spotted a Violet-green Swallow at his place in Point Arena. Surely spring is close! What? Tomorrow, you say?!? Nice!

It's raining here today. It started during the night, raining hard. When I read my gauge in the morning, there was a half inch. That brings my season to date total to 57.40 inches. I consider 50 inches a "normal" rain year at Rick's and my place in Anchor Bay.

The winter-blooming wildflower, Slink Pod, has appeared to welcome in the new year.

Jeanne Jackson • January 2, 2022

On Christmas day, Mel Smith spotted and photographed perhaps the first appearing Slink Pod, Scoliopus bigelovii.

This wildflower is a member of the Lily family. Its distinctive leaves are just barely showing. But they will grow in the weeks ahead. They are mottled, so if you see them in the spring, long after these exquisite flowers, then remember where they are so you can look for them next winter. Here's a photo of the leaves, taken by Craig Tooley a few years ago.

Thanks to Mel and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Clouds are pouring in and the surface water of the ocean is now flowing northward - all signs that a storm is on the way!

Would you like to see my Gnome Plants? And an emerging Sugarstick??

Jeanne Jackson • May 22, 2020

There are several rare plants that bloom at our place in Anchor Bay. One of them is Gnome Plants, Hemitomes congestum. They are growing between a wooden step we put in some years ago when we put in a hiking trail.

On the left there are two small ones just peeking up. We have to be careful where we walk to protect these unusual plants. They extract nutrients from decaying matter. We have Allotropa virgata, Sugarsticks, close by, which indicates there is a LOT going in in this area. Sugarsticks need a fungus to thrive and this is where we find Matsutakes in the winter. Mel Smith recently photographed the first emerging Sugarstick.