Mission Bells - they are difficult to find but Frank Drouillard found them.

I have not yet seen these perennial wildflowers. They grow near oaks and can be hard to spot. Frank first noticed the stems and then went back to capture this magnificent photo.

Mission Bells, also called Checker Lily, are members of the Lily family. Their scientific name is Fritillaria affinis. Below is a closeup of the flower.

In Reny Parker's wildflower book she writes,
 "Mission Bells
  the sound in the forest
  no one's around to hear."

Thanks to Frank for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

The first Ospreys have returned to the Mendonoma Coast.

Oh, to live where Ospreys choose to nest is such a joy. On March 10th the first Ospreys, males, returned to the Mendonoma Coast. Paul Brewer photographed one of the first ones. The Osprey has nabbed a Seaperch.

And as of Sunday some females have arrived. There is a nest to our west that we can watch through our scope. Sure enough, a male and a female were seen. It will be fun to watch them work on rebuilding the nest, mating and hopefully starting a new family.

Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share his photo with you. To see much more of Paul's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.capturingnatureswonders.com/

Moonset in a pastel sky - Ron LeValley captured the lovely sight.

We had a full moon last week and skies were clear to enjoy it. Ron LeValley captured the moon in the early morning hours a little before it set.

The day before Ron photographed the high surf, back lit by the sun.

So there you have it - the moon and the influence of the sun!

Thanks to Ron LeValley for allowing me to share his photos. To see much more of Ron's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.levalleyphoto.com/home/

A bevy of Western Trilliums, as photographed by Phil Wendt.

Western Trilliums are blooming in the forest. Phil Wendt recently photographed a nice group of these delicate wildflowers.

Below is a Trillium kissed by raindrops. It's darker, pink blossom tells you it is older. Trilliums are white when they first bloom.

Never pick this wildflower. If you do, it will not receive the nutrients it needs to bloom again next year. It takes years for a Trillium to recover from being picked. Just leave them be and they will bloom for many days.

Thanks to Phil for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see Phil's website, Life on the Edge, here is the link: www.philwendt.com

A Black Bear will occasionally ramble through here on the Mendonoma Coast.

Terry Bold was hiking near the Garcia River when she came across the print of a Black Bear.

Soon thereafter she found scat. No actual sighting of the Bear though. Below are two photos Terry took of the river.

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

Carolyn André has been photographing the wild Pacific Ocean

High surf advisory is what we've been hearing lately. Waves have been pounding the Mendonoma Coast. It's awesome to see the power of the Pacific Ocean. Carolyn André recently photographed the big waves off of The Sea Ranch.

When mist rises from the top of waves we call them rooster tails.

Here's a particularly good rooster tail.

And the waves continue their relentless pounding of the bluffs on The Sea Ranch.

With the February rains, the bluffs have greened up, a very welcome sight after our dry January.

What a wild day on the beautiful Mendonoma Coast! Thanks to Carolyn for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

The Point Arena - Stornetta Lands are now part of the California Coastal National Monument.

We've been very excited to have the beautiful Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands be the first land-based part of the California Coastal National Monument. Last Tuesday President Obama made it official by presidential decree. Mendonomans Merita Whatley, with her white hair, and Leslie Dalhoff traveled to Washington D.C. along with Larry Stornetta and Eloisa Oropeza (not pictured). Congressman Jared Huffman, second from the right, and Mike Thompson next to him, took up this cause in Congress.

On Wednesday a dedication ceremony was held. Look at the beautiful weather we were having. Here is the new sign with the Point Arena Lighthouse in the distance, photographed by Ron LeValley.

Here is an enthusiastic Leslie Dalhoff, former mayor of Point Arena, is addressing the crowd of over three hundred, photographed by Emily Nelson. Both Leslie and Secretary of the Interior, Sally Jewell, were very animated and obviously excited to be a part of this day.

Charlie Ivor photographed Patty Stornetta Woodruff (middle) addressing the crowd. She talked about what it was like to grow up on this land. She and other family members worked together to have these lands transferred to the Bureau of Land Management, thus protecting them from development and giving all of us a priceless gift.

Thanks to Ron, Emily and Charlie for allowing me to share their photos.