Monthly Archives: March 2012

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Like the Salal Trail, the Stengel Beach Public Access Trail is a little hard to find. To access the Stengel Beach Trail you turn off of Highway One onto Wild Iris at mile marker 53.96. You will then see the pay station and parking on the right. This is a very short trail with a big pay-off with enough rain - a waterfall!

 Below is the sign that you will be looking for at the entrance.

 And here is a portion of the easy trail out to the bluffs.

 Looking down over the waterfall and over Stengel Beach. Bring a coat! It can be very cold on the bluffs.

To learn about the beautiful Salal Trail, here's the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2012/01/30/how-to-find-the-salal-trail-a-hidden-gem-of-a-trail-on-the-sea-ranch/

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Storms have been hitting the Mendonoma Coast, with three more to go. Last night's sunset was spectacular and I photographed it so you could see it too.

Tomorrow I will be sharing photos of the Stengel Beach Public Access Trail and Waterfall on The Sea Ranch. Rick and I walked it on Thursday, one of the few clear days this week. I'll give you a hint - it's beautiful!

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Beth Petit caught it with her camera otherwise I'm not sure I would have believed it! Our year 'round Anna's Hummingbirds have been fighting off the migrant Allen's and Rufous Hummingbirds that have been coming through the Mendonoma Coast recently. But Beth caught an Allen's and an Anna's sharing a feeder.

 But it looks like in this second photo that the Anna's just might have noticed there was an intruder at "his" feeder. Watch out, little Allen's Hummer!

Thanks to Beth for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

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Yes, Horsetails are ancient plants. In the time of the dinosaurs, they grew as trees more than a hundred feet tall. They have evolved to survive in modern times when the dinosaurs obviously did not. They now grow one, two or even three feet tall. The first signs of Horsetails have appeared in and on the banks of Quinliven Creek at our property in Anchor Bay.

Horsetails are also called Scouring Rush and were used for scrubbing pots. Equisetum is their Latin name and they have medicinal qualities. Native American peoples used these plants to stop bleeding.

We have a big storm coming in late tonight. Last night's sunset showed the first clouds of the storm. Batten down the hatches!

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Last month Mark Hancock was driving along Highway One when the sun was about to set. He pulled over and took a series of photos. This one looks just like a golden tornado, don't you agree?

I mentioned to Mark that these are the conditions to look for to see the green flash. He said there was a green flash that night but he missed getting the photograph. I can relate.

To see a green flash that occurred earlier this month, here's the link to Tom Eckle's photo: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2012/03/08/the-green-flash-as-photographed-by-tom-eckles/