Peter Baye found this beauty blooming on a rocky outcrop along the Gualala River. Its common name is Wallflower, and its scientific name is Erysimum capitatum. It doesn't look like a shy, retiring wallflower to me!
Peter describes this flower as egg-yolk yellow, and you can see why. Peter had previously photographed a different species of Wallflower, Erysimum menziesii ssp menziesii.
Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
Peter Baye was at Manchester State Park when he saw this plant, Dodder, Cuscuta.
Dodder is the orange and beige string-like plant. It is parasitic and it has attached itself to a Gumplant, the green leaves in the photo. In the next photo you can see the little pegs on its bright-orange leafless thread-like stems. Peter tells me it inserts these into its host's leaves to obtain water and nutrients.
It's blooming very early this year. Dodder has vanilla-scented flowers and is in the morning glory family.
Peter also found a half-parasite plant, a rare dune variety of Purple Owl's clover, Castilleja exerta subsp. latifolia.
Peter says it taps into dune sage's roots. There was obviously enough rain in early winter for it to grow.
Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
Peter Baye and Will Ericson were exploring the newly exposed river bed of the Gualala River when they spotted a juvenile Western Pond Turtle.
This is the first juvenile that Peter has seen in quite some time, good news as these turtle are on the endangered species list.
Western Pond Turtles favor a habitat with boulders and logs where they can sun themselves. They are very wary of people. Peter tells me he is usually made aware of one of these turtles' presence by hearing the sound of the turtle disappearing into the water. This little guy must have wondered what happened to the water. It was walking across the newly exposed stream bed when Peter and Will noticed it.
Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photos with you here. May there be many more juvenile Pond Turtles in the Gualala River!
Peter Baye has several large tubs that he uses for a wetland nursery. Sierran Treefrogs moved right in. During the wild storms several weeks ago, the males became agitated and started vocalizing, sending out their mating call.
You can see the males' vocal sacs are fully extended.
The next morning there were eggs at the bottom of these tubs. Love was definitely in the air!
Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
Peter Baye found this wildflower growing near a tributary of the Gualala River. It's never been documented to be growing in our area, so it's rare here but not in other locations.
It's scientific name is Clematis ligusticifolia. Peter found it climbing ten feet high in willow trees, blooming brightly in sun and shade.
Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photo with you here.