Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

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I'm very pleased to have Siegfried Matull doing a guest blog today. He and his wife Gretel live on The Sea Ranch and delight in seeing and photographing nature.

"For many years my wife Gretel and I have been admiring and photographing Gray Foxes, which now show up year-round on our property. Our biggest surprise occurred when, for the first time, we saw a Gray Fox climb up into a tree.

"Gray Foxes are the only members of the fox species that can climb up, down and through trees. They have relatively short legs but they are very powerful. One time we watched a Gray Fox in a tree, slowly descending BACKWARDS down to the ground. We have watched several times how Cats also climb backwards down from trees in the same way the Gray Fox performed.

"On another occasion we were also tremendously surprised when a Gray fox was descending down a steep branch, supporting itself by holding on with its tail around the branch.

"Surprises never end in our beautiful Mendonoma Coastal area!"

A big thank you to Siegfried for his guest blog and beautiful photos.

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It seems like everyone with a camera on the Mendonoma Coast tries to photograph the perfect wave. Since there are so many correct answers for this test, we'll just call this photo by Ron LeValley one of many perfect waves.

Ron took this photo off the Little River Headlands in Mendocino County. That is also a great spot for spotting Gray Whales. Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

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

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Red Clintonias, Clintonia andrewsiana, are just now blooming in coastal redwood forests. This member of the Lily family is a California native. It's also called Blue Bead Lily, for the beautiful, cobalt-blue berries the flowers morph into in the summer. That's if a Deer doesn't eat the flower head! Rick and I were lucky that this big, exquisite Red Clintonia wasn't eaten and bloomed this year. Last year we weren't so lucky. You might be able to see it is up against the red bark of a Redwood tree.

This particular plant stands about two feet tall. The flower will continue to open up in the days to come. What a gift to find this wildflower in the darkest part of the forest!

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Craig Tooley and Rita Peck were headed towards the beach when they saw a Striped Skunk digging away in the sand. Craig thought it might be digging a tunnel.

 But I think the skunk was digging for its breakfast. Perhaps some tasty sand fleas.

When the skunk came up for air, it noticed Craig and Rita and began to head their way. They hastily reversed directions, as you might imagine.

Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see more of Craig's photos, here is a link to his website: http://ruffimage.com/

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Rick and I saw the first Wild Rhododendron flowers blooming along Highway One in Salt Point State Park on Wednesday. The beautiful pink blossoms are always a treat to see. And the first Wild Azaleas have bloomed. Robert Scarola photographed a early bloomer.

Just the two blossoms are open but aren't they lovely? So much more loveliness is to come as these beauties will continue to bloom in the weeks ahead. Thanks to Robert for allowing me to share his photo with you here.