Tag Archives: Craig Tooley

•

Craig Tooley has sent his "Pic O JOY" photo and it's a beautiful native wildflower, Inside-out Flower, Vancouveria planipetala. These delicate flowers usually bloom near Redwood trees, so they are flowers of the forest.

This unusual spring-blooming wildflower is a member of the Barberry family. Its scientific name refers to explorer Captain George Vancouver. He explored the Pacific Northwest in the 1790's.

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

oh boy, it's downright HOT today! I'm writing this close to 4 pm and our outside temperature here in Anchor Bay at the 600+ foot level is 92 degrees! Too HOT - I must lodge a complaint!

And spring doesn't know...

•

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...

•

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...

•

I hear these little wrens singing in the forest, but I rarely see them. It looks like this Pacific Wren posed for Craig Tooley, singing his beautiful, complex call.

Perhaps the wren didn't like being disturbed by the camera action, because he looks rather miffed in this photo!

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

This website advises looking - and listening - for these birds in the early morning for your best chance to see them. I just enjoy hearing their singing as I walk along a forest path.

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

Our mini heatwave is over; fog rolled in overnight. But it pulled back to the ocean, revealing a beautiful, cool day. More wildflowers are appearing, including a group of Gnome Plants that grow on our property. I will be sharing some photos of them soon.

Spring doesn't know...

•

For years I didn't realize there were tiny, exquisite bell-shaped flowers underneath the leaves of Fairybells, Prosartes hookeri, and Largeflower Fairybells, Prosartes smithii. Talk about shy! Craig Tooley recently found the Largeflower Fairybells in bloom.

Here is another look at the blossoms, a photo Craig took several years ago.

We have the smaller native wildflower, Hooker's Fairybells, growing in our forest. Here's what the leaves look like. Sorry, these next two are my photos and they are no where near the quality of Craig's!

The flowers hide underneath the leaves.

Okay, here's one of Craig's photos to make up for mine.

Many wildflowers are tiny - they are Mother Nature's way of making sure you pay attention!

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

A beautiful, sun-splashed day on the Mendonoma coast today.

Spring doesn't know...