Tag Archives: Anchor Bay

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Fringed Corn Lilies, Veratrum fimbriatum, are blooming alongside creeks and in wetlands. Frank Drouillard photographed this one blooming on his land in Anchor Bay.

This native wildflower is endemic to Sonoma and Mendocino counties. Knowing that it is found nowhere else makes it even more special. You can see Fringed Corn Lilies on the path down to Cooks Beach, on the left-hand side. They are also seen just east of Gualala Point Regional Campground.

Here's a photo of their big leaves, which appear in the spring. It takes many months before we see these beautiful white blossoms. By the time the blossoms appear, these leaves are riddled with insect holes. Native plants feed native insects!

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

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Just look at this beautiful sky! Taken from our deck in Anchor Bay this morning.

 

This second photo shows sunbeams on the Pacific Ocean, called God's rays. This was taken this afternoon.

 

 

Yes, we have a storm on the way. The first edible mushrooms have appeared. Boletus edulis, King Boletes, have been found by a few lucky foragers. Many more to come, we hope!

 

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Anne Mary Schaefer knows a beautiful setting when she sees one. She recently photographed the sea stacks off of Elk, one of the most photographed spots on the coast. I always marvel at this sight when driving by.

Anne Mary has a talent for capturing the magic light. and I thank her for allowing me to share this photo with you here. Anne Mary is also a talented pet photographer. Here is her website: http://www.pawpawrazzipetphotography.com/

It is hot, hot, hot here on the coast today. Someone must have left the heater on! We are not used to such hot weather here, where the Pacific Ocean usually has a cooling effect. As I post this at 1 pm, it is 96 degrees at our place in Anchor Bay. 96 is the highest it has been since we moved here over 21 years ago. We are obviously going to break that not-so-fun record. Bring back our fog!!!

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I haven't seen these birds before, but I'm not the best birder in the world, that's for sure! The birdhouse is an old bluebird birdhouse that has remained empty through the years. Boy, were Rick and I surprised to see two Bewick's Wrens entering the birdhouse from an opening by the roof, and then exiting through the entrance/exit hole, a few minutes apart. Squeaks were heard from the chicks inside.

This wren, which is described as "noisy and hyperactive," has a distinctive call. It ends with a lispy "twee, twee, twee." I've been wondering what bird was making those calls, so I'm happy to come face to face with this little bird with the white eyebrows. Nice to meet you, Bewick's Wren! Glad you brought your entire family to our place in Anchor Bay.

To hear their call, here is a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bewicks_Wren/sounds

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We have found a family of Gnome Plants, more than fifteen of them, growing by a trail we use every day. There were three plants growing nearby on the side of the trail that we thought were gnome plants too. But they grew into something quite different - Sugarstick, Allotropa virgata. The first photo was taken on May 11th and the second on May 6th. You can see the bigger one is just beginning to bloom.

And here's a look at two of the Gnome Plants, Hemitomes congestum.

Both of these plants get nutrients from underground fungi, which are on the roots of nearby trees. A fun look at something unusual for you today!