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Mary Sue Ittner trained her camera on a few of my favorite wildflowers. The first is Leopard Lily, Lilium pardalinum. They appear in the late spring. A fun myth is if you sniff this wildflower, you will get freckles!

Another late spring wildflower is Ithuriel's Spear, Triteleia laxa. It is named after Ithuriel, an angel in Milton's Paradise Lost.

And finally, Self Heal, Prunella vulgaris. They are members of the Mint family. They are known to have healing properties. As you can see from Mary Sue's photo, they love sun.

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

Here in Anchor Bay it is sunny and warm. But I can see a fog bank over the Pacific Ocean and I think Point Arena to our north might be foggy today.

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Amy Ruegg several weeks ago wrote, "I am so excited to share my photo of Little Prince’s Pine or Pipsissewa, which grows in the Redwood forest on the ridge in The Sea Ranch. It is such a special little plant, only about two or three inches tall. I have been trying to find one in full bloom and get a picture of it for over five years. Today it was absolutely perfect, even though the mosquitoes were attacking me as I held still for the shot.”

Craig Tooley also got a photo one one, this one a close-up of the flower. Isn't it striking?

A neighboring property in Anchor Bay has several groups of these native wildflowers, but they are growing in full sun. However, this year there are no flowers. These tiny plants are quite sturdy, and they are a joy to find.

Thanks to Amy and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.ruffimage.com

Happy Summer Solstice, the first day of summer. We started out foggy this morning but the sun soon prevailed, at least in Anchor Bay. It's sunny with a few drifting high clouds. I wish you a happy summer as we navigate through these difficult times. Walks in nature can surely help!

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This is the male Bald Eagle. He has been seen fishing for a lamprey in the Gualala River and flying upstream. Perhaps the female is at a nest? We hope so.

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

Sunny and warm with just the slightest breeze.

I only have a few more days to say...spring doesn't know.

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Eric Zetterholm had fun watching Caspian Terns fishing together at the Gualala River.

Here one rests in the river.

Here's what Eric observed: “There are three that seem to work together. They fly into the wind that blows up the river and allows them to move slowly as they fish. They fly up to the mouth together with a space of a hundred yards or so between them, and return in a group. It is a fun challenge to get a picture of them flying by and diving for the fish. They seem to be getting along with the few Osprey on the river, but there is a lot of chatter and calls between them all.”

Thanks to Eric for this fun sighting and for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

Breezy, sunny, and warm on the Mendonoma Coast today.

Spring doesn't know...

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Cloud watching is a Mendonoma Coast tradition. Tricia Schuster captured this beautiful sight over The Sea Ranch.

These are clouds to dream under!

Thanks to Tricia for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

Nothing but blue skies today, but lots of wind!

Spring, nearly over, doesn't know...