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Rozann Grunig wrote, “On Christmas – and Hanukkah – morning, I awoke to see this rainbow from a north-facing window. It wasn’t raining, but the sunrise was full of pinks and oranges. It lasted perhaps 20 second, then was gone.

“I showed my photo to George’s cousin, a former military pilot. He said this is virga, which is rain, ice or mist in the clouds that evaporates before hitting the ground. It causes streaks of light as the sun refracts light through the moisture.”

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

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It's our earliest wildflower, the one with the unlovely common  names, Slink Pod and Fetid Adder's Tongue, Scoliopus bigelovii.  I recently found one blooming in our forest. You can see its leaves are just peeking up at the base of the stem.

This is what we look like trying to find one of these tiny wildflowers. This photo was taken by C'Anna Bergman-Hill a few years ago, the very same place I found them last week.

Craig Tooley took this close-up photo, which is in our book, Mendonoma Sightings Throughout the Year. Yes, it's a MUCH better photo than mine! The leaves of this member of the Lily family are distinctively mottled. If you find the leaves, which can grow to 12 inches long, you know where to look for the earlier-blooming flower next winter.

Thanks to C'Anna and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

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Ron LeValley was up early to capture the morning light, clouds and the waves at the Little River Headlands.

It's a mystical look, isn't it? And here is a photo Ron took a few years ago just at sunset, with the waves back-lit by the setting sun.

 

I thank Ron for allowing me to share his photo with you on this first day of 2017. To see much more of Ron's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://levalleyphoto.com/home/

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Fly Amanitas, Amanita muscaria, have been known as symbols of good luck. Craig Tooley recently photographed one of these distinctive mushrooms.

Judy Woudenberg also captured a photo of one. They change size rather dramatically as they age. Judy's is younger than Craig's.

Not edible unless parboiled several times to flush away the toxins. I just enjoy seeing them in sunny meadows, flaunting their bold beauty as I walk by.

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

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Kirsten Lenzing, visiting the Mendonoma coast from Germany, enjoyed a hike on the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands. You can see the day was full of sunshine, and the waves were big.

Far in the distance is the Point Arena Lighthouse, one of the treasures of the Mendonoma coast!

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