We've had some spectacular big surf!

We take a break from a series of storms that brought much needed rain to California. This week is forecast to be dry and warm, a perfect time to visit the Mendonoma Coast.

When the storms were arriving, the wave action was beautiful to behold. Allen Vinson was out with his camera and got these wonderful photos. First a rainbow wave.

 The surging Pacific Ocean is in plain sight.

 And here storm clouds gather over a silver ocean.

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

Mushrooms are popping here on the Mendonoma Coast.

After one of our recent storms, Wendy Bailey found this branch down in her garden. It's beautifully decorated with Lichens and Turkey Tails.

Belly Button Hedgehogs are up, as are Winter Chanterelles. I've had a report that Sweet Tooth Hedgehogs are appearing too. And the first Black Trumpets. Here is a photo by Eric Kritz taken a few years ago of my friend, Rachel Kritz, holding a Sweet Tooth Hedgehog, a delicious edible mushroom.

And here Rick shows you the difference between a huge Sweettooth and the smaller Belly Buttons.

Thanks to Wendy and Eric for allowing me to share their photos with you here. Happy foraging!

Monarchs are beginning to appear, gracing us with their presence.

It's always a special moment when we see Monarch Butterflies appear. This is the long-lived generation, the Methuselah generation. They have migrated many miles and the females will soon migrate inland to lay their eggs on native milkweed. Here on the Coast, where milkweed isn't native, these beautiful butterflies are feeding on other native plants, such as Manzanitas.

Nancy Scarola noticed one in her Sea Ranch garden last week and her husband, Robert, photographed it. Notice its tattered wings from the many miles it has traveled.

I saw one in my garden today - my first one of the year. Journey North tracks these butterflies. If you would like to participate in this citizen science project, or just see the sightings that other people have posted, here is their link: http://www.learner.org/jnorth/maps/Maps.html You will see they track many other migrations, including Gray Whales.

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

Mother Nature built a sandcastle!

Bob Schwein was at Hearn Gulch after one of the recent storms. This is what he found.

Here's what Bob had to say about this: “I found this natural pagoda sandcastle at Hearn Gulch. Apparently the rocky area became filled with sand during a storm. As the tide/water receded, the ‘castle’ was left atop a boulder. The wonderful things we see on our coast!”

It is surely now gone, washed away by the high surf we've been having. But we have Bob's photo to show us this work of art, courtesy of Mother Nature.

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

A Mendonoma traffic jam!

Elizabeth Lane was traveling on Highway One when she had to stop her car for nearly fifteen minutes. Two Bulls were pushing and shoving their way across the highway.

One Bull got the better of the other and they finally parted ways. No harm, no foul.

That's a true Mendonoma traffic jam.

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

Big waves hit the Mendonoma Coast on Saturday.

The waves were huge and the warnings of high surf went up on Saturday. Richard Kuehn photographed Gualala Point Island being hit big a big wave.

Rich says Gualala Point Island is about sixty feet high. That makes this wave more than a hundred feet high.

There were beautiful clouds that day too. I took this photo from our deck in Anchor Bay. A storm was headed our way.

And another welcome storm is hitting the Coast this afternoon. We just say no to a drought! At my home we have had 28.85 inches of rain so far this season, a miraculous comeback. On Feb. 1st we had just 5.65 inches. We still have a ways to go but we're getting there, thank goodness.

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

Before the storms...a brilliant sky and several lovely sunset photos.

Carolyn André was near Point Arena when she pulled over to take a photo of the spectacular sky.

Drew Fagan photographed the sunset over Sail Rock.

And Don Spear captured this beautiful sunset.

There is always something beautiful to see here on the Mendonoma Coast!

Thanks to Carolyn, Drew and Don for allowing me to share their photos with you here.