Tag Archives: Craig Tooley

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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...

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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...

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Craig Tooley is sheltering in place at the Mendonoma Coast. He has decided to try to take a photo every day that spreads JOY. I am the lucky recipient of many of Craig's photos and I'm privileged to be able to share them with you here. First is one of our native orchids, Spotted Coralroot, Corallorrhiza maculata, including a close-up of the exquisite blossom. Feeling the JOY yet?

Craig also photographed Wood Anemone, also called Windflower.

This native is in the Buttercup family and its scientific name is Anemone oregana. Rick and I have this wildflower growing on our property too. The flower is very delicate. In fact, if you touch it, it might fall apart. Suffice to say, the bloom doesn't last long, which can be a reminder to stay in present time so you don't miss it!

Thanks to Craig for the JOY! To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is the link to his website: www.ruffimage.com

Weather report: Foggy and cloudy this morning...brrr! But the sun has prevailed this afternoon. Some high clouds might make for a beautiful sunset tonight.

Spring doesn't know...

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They are just so beautiful and jaunty, blooming on coastal meadows. Cream Cups, Platystemon californicus, are a treat to see. Craig Tooley recently photographed some for us to enjoy with the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop.

Cream Cups are members of the Poppy family. Here's a closeup of two of them, taken by Mary Sue Ittner last year.

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

Clouds this morning with a couple of drops of rain, followed by sun breaks this afternoon.

Spring doesn't know...

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Craig Tooley wrote, "This Little possum is one of those creatures I don't often get the opportunity to see and even less of an opportunity to photograph. Some people don't care for them, but as I was brought up on Dr. Seuss it reminds me of characters of my childhood. I managed to get a few pictures of it as it was foraging around some landscape lighting, much to my delight!

Opossums are marsupials and they quite beneficial in the environment. They prey on cockroaches, rats, and mice, and...THEY EAT TICKS! One Opossum can eat 5,000 ticks a season. You can read about their role to play at this link to the National Wildlife Foundation: https://blog.nwf.org/2017/06/opossums-unsung-heroes-in-the-fight-against-ticks-and-lyme-disease/

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: http://www.ruffimage.com 

Craig's photos are featured in our book, Mendonoma Sightings Throughout the Year, which is available at the Four-eyed Frog Books  https://www.foureyedfrog.com/ or on the homepage of this website. It's a beautiful book that will bring you visually to the Mendonoma Coast.

ooo, today is just a beautiful day. The birdsong this morning was a balm. We are at 75 degrees, light breeze and nothing but sunshine today.