Photos / Sounds
What
Candy Flower (Claytonia sibirica)Observer
suzanneschettlerDescription
"Bow-tie" cousin of Miner's Lettuce.
What
Domestic Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus domesticus)Observer
suzanneschettlerDescription
In an area of very sparse population, we found an injured cockatiel on the road. Luckily, we were near a house. Behind the house a man lived in a trailer with an African grey parrot. So he had appropriate food for a cockatiel. And, he was a veterinarian! He will be able to heal the bird or end its life humanely.
Observer
suzanneschettlerDescription
Artichokes are a handsome garden perennial, especially when grown in front of a deep red rose.
Photos / Sounds
What
Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis)Observer
suzanneschettlerDescription
Western Fence Lizards are dull and dark when they are cold (which helps them capture warmth) but show beautiful hints of color when they are warmed up. Males have yellow femoral pores that they use to mark territory.
What
Southern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata)Observer
suzanneschettlerDescription
Southern alligator lizard tends to be warmer-colored than northern alligator lizard, and this is a particularly bright example. It bears live young.
What
California Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata ssp. multicarinata)Observer
suzanneschettlerDescription
Northern alligator lizard has darker eyes than southern alligator lizard.
Photos / Sounds
What
Devil's-Fingers (Clathrus archeri)Observer
suzanneschettlerDescription
Taxonomists have been busy with the scientific name of Octopus stinkhorn, a.k.a. Devil's fingers. It is native to Australia and Tasmania. In 1982 David Arora reported it was new to North America.
Photos / Sounds
What
Butterfly Mariposa Lily (Calochortus venustus)Observer
suzanneschettlerDescription
This beautiful Mariposa Lily is widespread on serpentine soil along Panoche Road and in the Griswold Hills. In a rare year it flowers profusely. In this drought year it produced a surprising moderate bloom, although it was spotty and completely absent in some known locations.
Photos / Sounds
What
California Buckeye (Aesculus californica)Observer
suzanneschettlerDescription
California Buckeyes are showing the effects of three years of drought, turning yellow early at the same time they are blooming.
Photos / Sounds
What
Hollyleaf Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia)Observer
suzanneschettlerDescription
Holly-leaved Cherry grows in heavy scree at this site. A few earliest plants were in full bloom, most in bud. Map location is a best guess since there are few landmarks in this area. It is a short distance southeast of the old schoolhouse with the tin roof.
What
Palmer Ceanothus (Ceanothus palmeri)Observer
suzanneschettlerDescription
Ceanothus integerrimus is white-flowered and winter-deciduous. Dr. James Griffin, in his Plants of the Highest Santa Lucia and Diablo Range Peaks, California, lists it as uncommon at the lower elevations near New Idria, and rare higher up. Here it is growing alongside San Carlos Creek with Lupinus albifrons.
What
Scarlet Bugler (Penstemon centranthifolius)Observer
suzanneschettlerDescription
Scarlet Bugler occurs here and there in the Griswold Hills and below New Idria. It doesn't ever seem to be abundant.
Photos / Sounds
What
Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla)Observer
suzanneschettlerDescription
Dr. Bruce Lyon captured this bird and others at the UCSC Arboretum, and a drop of its blood was previously taken for study. This particular bird (note the identification bracelets) is not trap-shy; it enjoys the goodies in the trap and returns to be studied. I watched it happily fly away after being re-captured and studied again. I believe in being a blood donor myself.
What
Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens)Observer
suzanneschettlerDescription
Another example of the resilience of Coast Redwoods to fire. This burned tree is sprouting "bottle-brush" growth from its trunk and its branches.
What
Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens)Observer
suzanneschettlerDescription
Coast Redwoods are remarkably resilient to fire. This one was hollowed out by probably several fires over time. The cambium is connected to the ground at perhaps half of its basal circumference. The top half of the tree is alive and apparently healthy.
Photos / Sounds
What
Bush Poppy (Dendromecon rigida)Observer
suzanneschettlerDescription
Dense stands of Bush Poppy grew up after the 2009 Lockheed Fire. The stamens fall off as the ovary develops. The grassland in the distance is Swanton-Pacific Ranch, a research facility of Cal Ply San Luis Obispo.
What
Fernald's Iris (Iris fernaldii)Observer
suzanneschettlerDescription
Iris fernaldii is widespread in the Redwood forest on Ben Lomond Mountain. It varies in color from white through cream, lavender, purple, and deep blue. The variability is said to be the result of past logging, which allowed its habitat and that of Douglas Iris to expand and come into contact with each other.
What
Coast Paintbrush (Castilleja affinis var. affinis)Observer
suzanneschettlerPlace
Ridge at headwaters of South Fork of Little Creek, elevation about 1,600 ft.; edge of Lockheed Fire (Google, OSM)Description
The Paintbrush is flowering here amid last year's seed stalks and the foliage and stems of Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
What
California Hazelnut (Corylus cornuta ssp. californica)Observer
suzanneschettlerDescription
California Hazelnut produces more nuts in a sunny location than in the shade. The pollen-bearing tassles are graceful, and the tiny red female flowers are visible in this image.
What
Irises (Genus Iris)Observer
suzanneschettlerDescription
'Canyon Snow' is a white form of Iris douglasiana that was selected by Dara Emery of Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. It is admired for the good substance of its flowers and for foliage that looks good year-round.
What
bitumenObserver
suzanneschettlerDescription
Bitumen is a naturally occurring tarry substance that has been used for at least 40,000 years. It generally is associated with sandstone geology. It is the tar in the La Brea Tar Pits. In the early days it was used to pave the streets of San Francisco
What
Southern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata)Observer
suzanneschettlerDescription
Southern Alligator Lizard prefers wetter habitat than Northern Alligator Lizard. It is somewhat golden in color, whereas the Northern Alligator Lizard is more bluish-grey.