Driftwood surprises

Steve Serdahely found a unique piece of driftwood on the beach at Gualala Point Regional Park. It looks just like a whale.

 One day Rick and I were on the same beach when we saw a Mother Gray Whale and her calf rolling in the surf. Apparently the mother was getting barnacles off her back. Whatever was going on, it was magical to see them so close.

  Adrian Bennett needed a new handle for her microwave. When she was told how much one would cost, she said the heck with that! She found a piece of driftwood that served the purpose with a lot more style.

Thanks to Steve and Adrian for allowing me to share their photos with you.
 If you'd like to see a chair made out of driftwood, here's the link: http://mendonomasightings.blogspot.com/2011/03/chair-made-out-of-driftwood.html

Scarlet Waxy Cap looks like a flower blooming in the forest

Scarlet Waxy Caps, Hygrocybe punicea, are fruiting on the forest floor. These mushrooms are found in Northern Europe and are suppose to be edible there. But the ones in North America are not edible, causing adverse reactions for some. Golden Waxy Caps, Hygrocybe flavescens, have also appeared. I think of these small mushrooms as the "flowers" of winter and I just enjoy looking at them peeking out of the duff of the forest.

Craig Tooley recently photographed one and has kindly allowed me to share it with you here.

Craig has more mushroom photos on his web site, which you find using this link: http://ruffimage.com/

Anna's Hummingbird beautifully photographed by coastal photographer Siegfried Matull

Siegfried Matull caught a male Anna's Hummingbird hovering in the air, showing the fast wingbeats of this beautiful creature.

Anna's Hummingbirds are year 'round residents of the Mendonoma Coast. They are already feeding on the first blossoms of early-blooming Manzanita plants.

First sunset of 2012 as photographed by Robert Scarola and some edible wild mushrooms

Robert Scarola photographed the first sunset of 2012 and a lovely one it was. Yesterday the Mendonoma Coast basked in warm sunshine. The temperature climbed to 70 degrees at our house in Anchor Bay, very unusual for wintertime. Today the warmth and sun has disappeared and light rain is falling. But our memories of the glorious first day of the year remain.

Thanks to Robert for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

Wild mushrooms continue to fruit. There has been a second bloom of Matsutakes, nearly a month after the first one.

 Bellybutton Hedgehogs continue to fruit in abundance.

 And they make for some mighty fine eating!

Dawn of the New Year as photographed by coastal photographer Craig Tooley and the Green Flash Cocktail

Craig Tooley got up early this morning to photograph the Dawn of the New year at The Sea Ranch. Just lovely!

And to start 2012 off right, perhaps you'd like to toast the year's first sunset with a Green Flash Cocktail. Allen Vinson has been on a quest for the perfect recipe, which you will find below. Here he is with the winner:

To see a photo of an actual green flash at sunset, here's the link: http://mendonomasightings.blogspot.com/2011/04/green-flash-its-not-myth.html

Green Flash Cocktail Recipe

1 oz vodka
1/2 oz Peach Schnapps
1/2 oz Blue Curacao
3 oz orange juice
3 0z sprite
ice

1. mix ingredients together, serve over ice.

2. garnish with an orange slice and maraschino cherry

3. lean back, savor the sunset and enjoy

The first wildflower to herald the New Year!

Everything seems early this season so why should I be surprised to find the first Fetid Adder's Tongue, Scoliopus bigelovii, blooming on the forest floor? It's a treat to see these little brown orchid-like flowers. The leaves of this California native are just peeking up from the ground. Most people never see the flowers as they bloom in the winter, deep in the forest. However the leaves that follow are large, mottled and last for several months.

Greet the New Year and welcome the first wildflower too!

Happy New Year! Jeanne Jackson, Gualala

Lobster mushroom photographed by Linda Bostwick

Lobster mushrooms, Hypomyces lactifluorum, are some of the strangest looking mushrooms I've seen. Well, they aren't exactly mushrooms but are a fungus that has taken over a host mushroom, usually a Milk Cap or a Russula. The technical term for what Lobster mushrooms are is parasitic ascomycete. This fungus envelopes the host mushroom, twisting it into strange shapes and turning it orange, hence the Lobster name.

Many people believe these are among the most delicious of the edible mushrooms. Linda Bostwick found this one growing in Point Arena. The host mushroom is some type of Russula.

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