Tag Archives: Laura Baker

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Lewis Lubin and Laura Baker have an old orchard on their Annapolis property.  Lewis wrote, “During breakfast last Sunday, we saw our neighbor looking for his breakfast of apples and pears from our Annapolis homesite. We all saw each other and respected our boundaries.”

That's a pretty good-sized bear! Here's a couple of favorite photos of a Black Bear eating huckleberries, taken by Jon Shiu.

ooo, lots of huckleberries for the hungry bear! This is a good year for our wild blueberries. Huckleberries are prized by many creatures including migrating birds, Deer, Black Bears...and me!

Thanks to Lewis and Jon for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

On such a high fire danger day, when many neighbors inland have had their power turned off, here on the Mendonoma Coast it is cool and breezy. There is rain in the extended forecast - we just need to get through the next couple of days. Fingers crossed!

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Adrian Bennett recently photographed this beautiful Anise Swallowtail Butterfly feeding in her garden at The Sea Ranch.

Here is a close up of this butterfly taken by Drew Fagan.

And several years ago Laura Baker photographed the caterpillar of an Anise.

It's always lovely to see a butterfly, don't you agree?

Thanks to Adrian, Drew and Laura for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

We are having a spectacular day on the Mendonoma coast. Nothing but blue skies and a gently breeze. Tonight might bring a green flash at sunset as the horizon is clear.

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Linda Bostwick noticed an unusual moth. She wrote, “I discovered this beautiful moth but was unsuccessful in looking it up. We call it the Monkey Face Moth. Check out the beautiful blue iridescent scales, and the great brown face on its back.”

Laura Baker helped find the ID, which is surprisingly enough not the Monkey Face Moth, but a Zigzag Furcula Moth. Its host plants are willows, cottonwoods and birch.  It is also called a Poplar Kitten Moth.

Thanks to Linda for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

Fog over the ocean, sunny a little inland - sounds like summer on the Mendonoma coast!

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Laura Baker noticed this colorful caterpillar, which she knew was an Anise Swallowtail Caterpillar. It was feeding on Coast Angelica, a native wildflower.

Here is the beautiful butterfly it will become. Drew Fagan took this photo of the Anise Swallowtail Butterfly feeding on lavender.

Seeing a butterfly makes me happy. How about you?

Thanks to Laura and Drew for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

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The Salamanders are enjoying the wet winter we've been having. Several have recently been spotted. Bettye Winters photographed a Speckled Black Salamander. You will see this salamander measures a little more than four inches.

Laura Baker spotted a different salamander, an Oregon Ensatina Salamander.

I learned that the Ensatina can be found under logs or brush, by or in streams and lakes, and other moist places, like the Mendonoma coast! It’s better not to touch this Salamander, as they rely on cutaneous respiration. Their skin is very sensitive and they are easily distressed by handling.

There is a great website to learn more about all things Herps. Gary Nafis created the website California Herps, a guide to amphibians and reptiles in California. Here's the link: http://www.californiaherps.com/index.html

Thanks to Bettye and Laura for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

We have three storms on the way, so we are in for another rainy period. Breaking the drought feels really good!