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Craig Tooley photographed this Lorquin's Admiral Butterfly.

Laura Baker ID'd this butterfly, which was originally thought to be a California Sister. I couldn't get the ID to match because the orange on the upper wing of this butterfly goes all the way to the edge.  Laura wrote, "Lourquin's admiral is frequently confused with California sister.  You're right that one of the distinguishing  characteristics is that the California sister's wings are tipped in black beyond the orange spots.  Lorquin's admiral has orange all along the edge of the forewings.  Lorquin's admirals are associated with willows and alders while sisters are usually associated with oaks.  But we have tons of sisters and they seem to love our fruit trees, so go figure!"

Here's a California Sister for comparison. This photo was taken by Wendy Bailey.

Thanks to Laura for the ID, and to Wendy and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with  you here. Craig's photo is one of his daily Pic-O-JOY photos. You can see much more of Craig's nature photography at his website: www.ruffimage.com

We're having a heat wave! Well, it's over 80 degrees at our place in Anchor Bay. We tend to start melting when it goes over 80.

Spring doesn't know...

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John Wall and his dog, Dash, confirmed that there was no walking on Walk On Beach at The Sea Ranch recently.

Dash doesn't understand why he can't go down and run on his favorite beach. But for now, you can only enjoy this beach from the bluffs. Walk On Beach is one of the public access trails and beaches usually accessible on Sea Ranch. We look forward to the day when it, and others, can be reopened.

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

It's heating up on the Mendonoma coast! I call this tomato weather, as in good weather for growing tomatoes. Today, for the first time, I saw through our spotting scope two scrawny Osprey chicks in their nest. The father Osprey had brought fish back to the nest and the mother Osprey was feeding them. It was a happy sighting for me this morning.

Spring doesn't know...

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I love this native wildflower, Blue Eyed Grass, Sisyrinchium bellum. Craig Tooley recently photographed three of these small flowers.

Blue Eyed Grass is a member of the Iris family. They love sunny meadows.

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

Sunny and breezy today. I've heard that a lot of tourists have driven here as the beaches in Mendocino County were opened a few days ago. But there are no bathrooms or other services! And there is no place to stay, as all lodging is still closed. All Sonoma County coastal parks remain closed. It's really too early to visit the Mendonoma Coast. I hope my posts will help a bit while we figure this virus out.

Spring doesn't know...

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There are several rare plants that bloom at our place in Anchor Bay. One of them is Gnome Plants, Hemitomes congestum. They are growing between a wooden step we put in some years ago when we put in a hiking trail.

On the left there are two small ones just peeking up. We have to be careful where we walk to protect these unusual plants. They extract nutrients from decaying matter. We have Allotropa virgata, Sugarsticks, close by, which indicates there is a LOT going in in this area. Sugarsticks need a fungus to thrive and this is where we find Matsutakes in the winter. Mel Smith recently photographed the first emerging Sugarstick.

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

Sunny and windy today - don't bother to fuss with you hair if you are on the coast today!

Spring doesn't know...

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Deloras Jones photographed Lupine in bloom at The Sea Ranch. It's a happy sight, don't you agree?

The wildflowers are pretty amazing this spring. Thanks to Deloras for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

Today couldn't be lovelier - sunny with a nice breeze. And spring doesn't know...