Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

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There is a beautiful waterfall on the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands. However several years ago the waterfall "broke." The water no longer cascaded off the high bluff but it found a way down inside the rock. I'm happy to report that the waterfall is once again flowing over the bluff. In fact it is spilling off the bluff in two waterfalls. Margaret Lindgren recently photographed them.

To see this waterfall, which has been refreshed by the wonderful rains we are having this week, go down Lighthouse Road. Before you reach the pay station of the Point Arena Lighthouse, you will see a parking area to the left with a porta potty. Enter there and hike south along the bluffs. The scenery is magnificent there, with a sinkhole.

As you can see by the photo, with our golden retriever, Huckleberry, the sinkhole is huge!

Continue heading south - it might take fifteen minutes or so - and you will come to a seasonal creek. You need to hike down, cross the creek, and then climb back up. Go a little further south and look back. Here's a photo I took some time ago, before the waterfall disappeared for several years. You might be able to see the Lighthouse in the distance.

And below is a look at the waterfall when it fractured and the water went inside the rock face.

I am so glad the waterfall is flowing where we can see it. And because these lands are protected as the first land based part of the California Coastal National Monument, they are preserved for all of us to enjoy.

Thanks to Margaret for allowing me to share her photo with you here. Margaret leads hiking tours here on the Mendonoma Coast. Her website is: www.unbeatenpath.weebly.com

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I have not yet seen these perennial wildflowers. They grow near oaks and can be hard to spot. Frank first noticed the stems and then went back to capture this magnificent photo.

Mission Bells, also called Checker Lily, are members of the Lily family. Their scientific name is Fritillaria affinis. Below is a closeup of the flower.

In Reny Parker's wildflower book she writes,
 "Mission Bells
  the sound in the forest
  no one's around to hear."

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

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Oh, to live where Ospreys choose to nest is such a joy. On March 10th the first Ospreys, males, returned to the Mendonoma Coast. Paul Brewer photographed one of the first ones. The Osprey has nabbed a Seaperch.

And as of Sunday some females have arrived. There is a nest to our west that we can watch through our scope. Sure enough, a male and a female were seen. It will be fun to watch them work on rebuilding the nest, mating and hopefully starting a new family.

Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share his photo with you. To see much more of Paul's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.capturingnatureswonders.com/

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We had a full moon last week and skies were clear to enjoy it. Ron LeValley captured the moon in the early morning hours a little before it set.

The day before Ron photographed the high surf, back lit by the sun.

So there you have it - the moon and the influence of the sun!

Thanks to Ron LeValley for allowing me to share his photos. To see much more of Ron's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.levalleyphoto.com/home/

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Western Trilliums are blooming in the forest. Phil Wendt recently photographed a nice group of these delicate wildflowers.

Below is a Trillium kissed by raindrops. It's darker, pink blossom tells you it is older. Trilliums are white when they first bloom.

Never pick this wildflower. If you do, it will not receive the nutrients it needs to bloom again next year. It takes years for a Trillium to recover from being picked. Just leave them be and they will bloom for many days.

Thanks to Phil for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see Phil's website, Life on the Edge, here is the link: www.philwendt.com