Tag Archives: Peter Baye

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Peter Baye was exploring the Wheatfield Fork of the Gualala River when he came across a what he called "a massive aggregation of Western Toad tadpoles!"

That's a lot of tadpoles! Nice to see. Here is a photo of a newly hatched Western Toad at the Gualala River, taken a few years ago by Peggy Berryhill.

Amy Ruegg photographed a juvenile.

And here is one of my favorite all-time Sightings photos, taken by Holly McCarroll, of an adult Western Toad looking in the window at Starcross in Annapolis. Just what was this frog thinking? Too funny!

Thanks to Peter, Peggy, Amy and Holly for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

It's been quite foggy today, with some sun breaks this afternoon.

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I've never found this native wildflower. Peter Baye photographed Tincture Plant, Collinsia tinctoria.

And here's a bonus wildflower sighting, a Phantom Orchid, Cephalanthera austiniae  photographed by Peter. The native orchid is also called a Snow Orchid - a real treat to see.

Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

It's foggy today, with rain forecast for tomorrow!

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Peter Baye found Wild Strawberries, Fragaria vesca,  and he found one not just blooming but with ripe fruit – now that’s early!

He wrote that even in the earliest warm spots these native strawberries ripen up in April, not late February. And while these strawberries are small, they are delicious.

Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

We did get two small rainstorms. On Thursday, there was .10 inches at our place and Friday brought .25 inches. Season to date is 36.85 inches. Nice to get some wet stuff! Today is windy, cool, with many clouds racing across the sky. Oh, did I mention that it's incredibly beautiful?

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Shooting stars is one of the common names for the native wildflower Primula hendersonii. They, like quite a few other wildflowers, have bloomed early due to our warm, dry False Spring. They are quite lovely to see.

Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

It's cloudy and chilly on the Mendonoma Coast today. Hoping for rain, and it is in the forecast for early next week.

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Peter Baye wrote, "The native milkweed, Asclepias cordifolia, is one of my favorites, common elsewhere, but not around here. It’s toxic to livestock, so ranchers historically got rid of it as much as they could. We need them now for Monarch Butterfly recovery! Fortunately, they spread like weeds once they establish. I’m growing some now.”

Heartleaf Milkweed is this wildflower's common name. It sure is beautiful!

Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photo with  you here.

Very foggy this morning but the sun is trying to break through this afternoon.