Monthly Archives: October 2011

• 1 Comment

•

Coccora mushrooms, Amanita calyptroderma, are just poking up through the forest duff on our Anchor Bay property. They appear in the same place, year after year. A mushroom expert friend, Bev Vogt, identified them for Rick and me some years ago. She declared this part of our property, "Coccora heaven!"

In the days to come, the white you see below will adorn a golden-colored cap. These are edible, indeed considered choice by some. But with the creamy white top removed they can be confused with the Death Cap, Amanita phalloides. As the name implies, it is deadly poisonous.

I wouldn't eat a Coccora unless I had picked it myself. They are quite beautiful to look at. I will post a photograph here when they are in "full flower."

• 2 Comments

•

Yellow-rumped Warblers are arriving on the Mendonoma coast to spend the winter here. Their song can be heard from trees. I learned on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website that they are the only warbler that can digest the wax of the berries of Wax Myrtle and Bayberries.

Here's a link to their site where you can hear their sweet call.
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-rumped_Warbler/sounds

Craig Tooley has photographed this small songbird several times and has kindly allowed me to share them with you here.

To see more of Craig's work, here is a link to his website: http://web.me.com/theruffians1

• 2 Comments

•

Last night's sunset was epic. I call this kind of sunset a Biblical sunset. It evolved for nearly a half hour - just magnificent. Ron LeValley captured the sunset at its peak loveliness and has kindly allowed me to share it here. The light comes from the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse, which resides in the Point Cabrillo Light Station Historic State Park in Mendocino County .

To see much more of Ron's photos, here's a link to his website: http://www.levalleyphoto.com/home/

•

Peter Baye found this beauty in Mendocino County, specifically at the back of the beach at Alder Creek. It's Orobanche californica and its rather awful common name is California Broomrape. The color of the flower Peter found is unusual. Because of its extreme environment - salt spray from the Pacific Ocean and marshy sand - it has this lovely purple coloring.

Yes, it's a California native. And if you are a regular reader here you might not be surprised to learn it has medicinal qualities. A decoction of it can be used to treat colds and pneumonia.

 Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share this photo here.

•

They are like finding a jewel in the forest - Mother Nature's treasure hunt. Rick and I were driving down our driveway early this morning when I saw it, a beautiful King Bolete or Boletus edulis. We had walked down the same driveway yesterday but it wasn't up then. The life force in wild mushrooms must be very strong indeed!

Warm weather is blessing the Mendonoma Coast this weekend and last night the horizon was clear, perfect conditions for the green flash. And there was a small one but once again I missed the shot. I promise to keep trying. Here's how the sunset looked. Beautiful!

Here is a link to a photo of the green flash by Frank Vaskelis:
http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/04/28/the-green-flash-its-not-a-myth/