Sightings

•

Paul Nordstrand found the first reported Calypso Orchid in bloom and Jinx McCombs photographed it.

They are so tiny, I usually spot them by their single leaf, which rests on the forest duff.

Amy Ruegg found one recently too.

Craig Tooley took this super-close-up photo of one, showing its intricate beauty.

And Grace O'Malley was surprised to see a completely white Calypso Orchid blooming amidst the normal colored ones.

Thanks to Jinx, Craig, Amy and Grace for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

•

Peter wrote, “I have a quirky and very uncommon shore sighting for you. My visiting son, Isaac, and I walked down the storm-eroded beach and found five of these massive objects that look like a cross between a blubbery carcass and a giant, juicy, gnarly sea-turnip.

“It took me a while to recognize what they were and where they came from. They are a couple of feet across and were a strain to lift! They are the massive taproots of Marah, also called Man-root or Wild Cucumber. They erode from coastal bluffs when there is major erosion. During the drought, shorelines were stable or grew, and no roots eroded.”

You can see from the photo of Isaac how huge this taproot is. Here's a photo of one still embedded in the bluffs.

We have had a lot of erosion due to our big winter. And more rain is on the way.

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

•

...is it raining again?

Karen Chu, a guest at the Preserve, took this cute photo. We do have a lot of rain in our forecast, starting with light rain today. Here is what the Giraffes much prefer.

Judy Mello photographed them on a perfect sunny day in Point Arena.

Thanks to Karen and Judy for allowing me to share their fun photos with you here. To learn about the fabulous B. Bryan Preserve, here is the link to their website: http://bbryanpreserve.com/

•

Carol Bogovich captured this beautiful wave seen off the Mendonoma coast.

I wish I had a video of this wave to show you! I love the turquoise color of the wave against the oh-so-blue of the Pacific Ocean.

Another favorite wave photo was taken by Jerry Anon at Anchor Bay Beach. The setting sun makes this wave look like glass.

Thanks to Carol and Jerry for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

•

Sometimes when I look out our windows I almost can't believe what I'm seeing. That's how I felt this morning at the stunning sunrise.

If you look closely, you will see the lights of a fishing boat out near the horizon. The colors of this sunrise only lasted for a few minutes. But isn't it beautiful? I love how the Pacific Ocean glows with the reflected colors.

A while later this morning fog enveloped our house. You just never know what will happen next on the Mendonoma Coast!