Tag Archives: Catherine Miller

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The storm door was open over the Presidents' Day weekend, bringing wind and rain in great measure. On Monday, during a break in the squalls, Catherine Miller ventured out to Arena Cove where she saw a startling sight. She wrote, “The waterfall at the Point Arena Cove was getting blown upward by the strong winds.”

The term for this is reverse waterfall. It happens when strong winds hit cliffs and drive water upwards, instead of allowing the water to follow its normal course to the Pacific Ocean. It’s quite rare to see this.

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

Today, Thursday, has been a sunny, clear day but this afternoon clouds are approaching from the north. The predication is for rain beginning tomorrow morning. Here we go again!

 

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Catherine Miller visited Pelican Bluffs recently and found these beauties, Baby Blue Eyes and California Poppies.

And Paintbrush on the cliff edge.

And Pussy Ears are having a big spring, seemingly everywhere!

Many, many more wildflowers are blooming on coastal bluffs now.

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

It's warming up! Breezy close to the ocean, but warm a bit inland. Many visitors are already here, getting ready for the Architectural House Tour and Mother's Day activities. Bonus sighting! Humpbacks, a mother and calf, were seen off the Point Arena Lighthouse Peninsula yesterday.

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At a recent low tide, Catherine Miller found lots of beautiful animals living in the intertidal zone. Sea Anemones and Ochre Sea Stars are living jewels.

The next King Tides are Dec. 13 to 15. Look for the super low tides that come with this event and head for a beach near you!

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

High pressure rules the weather - cold, starry nights and sunny days. Where's our rain?

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Pat Maxwell found this Anise Swallowtail Butterfly on her appropriately-named Butterfly bush.

And Catherine Miller spotted this Pale Swallowtail Butterfly feeding on the geraniums in her garden recently.

The other swallowtail we commonly see here on the coast is a Western Tiger Swallowtail. This photo was taken some years ago by Peter Baye. This lovely butterfly is feeding on one of my favorite native wildflowers, the Leopard Lily.

 

Thanks to Pat, Catherine and Peter for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

Today is simply one of the most beautiful days on the Mendonoma Coast - sunny, bright with a gently breeze.

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Right on time, the first blooming Pacific Rhododendrons have been seen. Catherine Miller photographed one over the past weekend.

We call them wild Rhodies. They are native from southern British Columbia to Northern California. Their scientific  name is Rhododendron macrophyllum, which literally means, “Rose tree with big leaves.” Here's a closeup of a blossom Catherine took in a prior year.

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

Another sunny, warm, breezy day in Anchor Bay. I see fog over the ocean so perhaps it is foggy to our north. Lots of micro climates here on the Mendonoma Coast!

The wild rhodies are blooming because Spring doesn't know.