Peter Baye found this native wildflower on a stretch of beach near Alder Creek. A Painted Lady butterfly was nectaring on it. It's Pink Sand Verbena, and it is rare. Yes, it is growing in the sand.
Here is a close-up of the flower. It's lovely, isn't it?
Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
Lewis Lubin found this unusual salamander. He wrote,
“My wife and I were removing jubata grass from around our spring box in a creek on our property in Annapolis. We came across this adult California Giant Salamander. It measured about nine inches long, and was incredibly beautiful.”
This salamander barks if disturbed. Here is a look at the entire salamander, photographed by Peter Baye:
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They have a natural camouflage!
Thanks to Lewis and Peter for allowing me to share their photos with you here.
Fog has made a welcome appearance so it looks like our heat wave is coming to an end. Hooray!
Peter Baye noticed this yellow Crab Spider on a King's Gentian, Gentiana Sceptrum.
Crab Spiders can change their color to match their hiding place, at least from yellow to white. But they can't match the vivid blue of the Gentian!
Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Peter Baye noticed a group of Steelhead in the Gualala River. One of them was nearly white - a leucistic Steelhead.
That's not something you see every day! Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Peter Baye recently photographed Leopard Lilies, Lilium pardalinum, a native wildflower.
This wildflower is usually found near water. It is also called Panther Lily or Tiger Lily. Whatever you call it, it is beautiful to to see in bloom.
Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photo with you here.