Tag Archives: Bob Rutemoeller

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Bob Rutemoeller spotted this rare trillium, Trillium albidum, or Sweet Trillium.

The flowers are fragrant, I am told. The flower of any trillium should never be picked. So if you find one or more, just enjoy them where they are. Western Trilliums, the more common trillium, are blooming now in shady forests. The Sweet Trillium prefers more sun. Here's a photo of a Western Trillium for comparison, photo taken by Renee Jardine.

Thanks to Bob and Renee for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

A big storm is forecast to drop a lot of rain on the Mendonoma coast. It is already raining this afternoon. Waterfalls will be coming back to life with this much-needed rain. Thank you, Mother Nature!

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The Gualala River, closed to the Pacific Ocean by a big sandbar for months, finally opened last Sunday night or early Monday morning. Bob Rutemoeller found it open at the north end when he checked mid-morning on Monday.

Steelhead, trapped in luxury during the summer and early autumn months, were swept out to sea to begin the next stage of their lives. The Gualala River didn't stay open long, though. It filled once again, and then reopened. And as of Saturday, it was closed again. With the high tides, King Tides, the river might be closed for a while. We will be watching!

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

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Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner noticed this beautiful moth feeding on a plant in their garden. It's a Hummingbird Moth, or a White-lined Sphinx Moth.

This moth has a very long tongue, with which she sips nectar from flowers. You can also see this moth's antennae, a giveaway that it is a moth, not a bird.

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

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One of my favorite summer wildflowers is the Leopard Lily, Lilium pardalinum. Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner found a nice group of them recently.

Never pick these beauties, just enjoy their splash of color wherever you might be fortunate enough to see them.

Thanks to Mary Sue and Bob for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

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Bob Rutemoeller spotted this lovely butterfly which had landed on one his wife's native plants. The butterfly posed for Bob, showing top and bottom views. It is a Lorquin's Admiral Butterfly.

The host plant for these butterflies is willow. I purchased a wonderful waterproof booklet for butterfly identifications. It's titled Butterflies of Central and Northern California by Jim Brock. It shows the caterpillars of each butterfly too. I got mine at the Four-Eyed Frog Bookstore in Gualala. My favorite independent bookstore has a sale starting today...hint, hint! Here's a link to the Frog: http://www.foureyedfrog.com/

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