Author Archives: Jeanne Jackson

• 1 Comment

•

Robert Scarola photographed the first sunset of 2012 and a lovely one it was. Yesterday the Mendonoma Coast basked in warm sunshine. The temperature climbed to 70 degrees at our house in Anchor Bay, very unusual for wintertime. Today the warmth and sun has disappeared and light rain is falling. But our memories of the glorious first day of the year remain.

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

Wild mushrooms continue to fruit. There has been a second bloom of Matsutakes, nearly a month after the first one.

 Bellybutton Hedgehogs continue to fruit in abundance.

 And they make for some mighty fine eating!

• 1 Comment

•

Craig Tooley got up early this morning to photograph the Dawn of the New year at The Sea Ranch. Just lovely!

And to start 2012 off right, perhaps you'd like to toast the year's first sunset with a Green Flash Cocktail. Allen Vinson has been on a quest for the perfect recipe, which you will find below. Here he is with the winner:

To see a photo of an actual green flash at sunset, here's the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/04/28/the-green-flash-its-not-a-myth/

Green Flash Cocktail Recipe
1 oz vodka
1/2 oz Peach Schnapps
1/2 oz Blue Curacao
3 oz orange juice
3 0z sprite
ice
1. mix ingredients together, serve over ice.
2. garnish with an orange slice and maraschino cherry
3. lean back, savor the sunset and enjoy

•

Everything seems early this season so why should I be surprised to find the first Fetid Adder's Tongue, Scoliopus bigelovii, blooming on the forest floor? It's a treat to see these little brown orchid-like flowers. The leaves of this California native are just peeking up from the ground. Most people never see the flowers as they bloom in the winter, deep in the forest. However the leaves that follow are large, mottled and last for several months.

Greet the New Year and welcome the first wildflower too!

Happy New Year! Jeanne Jackson, Gualala

•

Lobster mushrooms, Hypomyces lactifluorum, are some of the strangest looking mushrooms I've seen. Well, they aren't exactly mushrooms but are a fungus that has taken over a host mushroom, usually a Milk Cap or a Russula. The technical term for what Lobster mushrooms are is parasitic ascomycete. This fungus envelopes the host mushroom, twisting it into strange shapes and turning it orange, hence the Lobster name.

Many people believe these are among the most delicious of the edible mushrooms. Linda Bostwick found this one growing in Point Arena. The host mushroom is some type of Russula.

Thanks to Linda for allowing me to share her photo with you here!

•

Storms to our north are bringing big waves to the Mendonoma Coast. Surfers are enjoying them, that's for sure! I love to hear the waves crashing on the off-shore rocks, beaches and bluffs. Even though I am a half mile back from the Pacific Ocean, the sound carries easily.

John Sperry captured this photo in the Timber Cove area of Sonoma County. He entitled it thusly: "Sea Gods are angry. Gull maintains its grace." Can you spot the lone Gull in John's photo? Many thanks to John for allowing me to share his photo here.