Jepson Prairie

Just on the other side of Mt. Diablo from where we live is the Jepson Prairie Preserve and its seasonal vernal pools. See Mt. Diablo in the distance over my shoulder. I'm near a pool called Olcott Lake which was just dry ground in March before our rains came.

Except for our rainy season the pools dry up and the aquatic life preserves itself in the dry cracked earth until the next year's rains arrive. This shin-deep lake fills and spreads out as a result.

March through Mothers' Day tours are lead by docents on Saturday and Sunday in addition to self-guided walks any time of the year. Biologists collected water from the lake to show us the variety and abundance of life, some of it rare or endangered. 

We saw Pacific Chorus Frog tadpoles, water boatmen, water fleas, conservancy fairy shrimp, and copepods. There are tadpole shrimp in this container.

There was so much water that some of the paths were underwater as you see here. The Pacific Chorus Frogs were wet and happy. This area was carpeted with these purple Erodium which the docent Maramee said her mother called scissor flowers.

A little girl in the group really liked that story and made a pair of scissors. Do you think she took them home to a doll?

What thrilled me was this seed that comes out of the 'scissor' seed pod. Five corkscrew seeds come out of the pod. The seed expands and contracts depending on the moisture and drills itself into the ground.

At the time of my visit on April 14th Goldfields painted the prairie right up to water's edge. The flowers will change as the season progresses and the vernal pools evaporate. I want to go again to see what's in bloom and how much the pools have evaporated.

If you want to know more about Jepson Prairie, check out the article at Bay Nature Magazine. 

Here is the link:

http://baynature.org/articles/apr-jun-2011/vernal-splendor

Happily Remembering Biology Field Classes Forty Years Ago

With Heart

Earth Day Hike at Macedo Ranch

Wildflower season is here! Get outside and take a look! Pick a wildflower trail from Tri-Valley Trails by Nancy Rodrigue and Jacky Poulsen, and see what you can find. 

We chose Macedo Ranch Stage Road Trail out Green Valley Road. 

The Stage Road Trail meandered in and out and under Pine Creek.

Stepping stones and a steadying hand were helpful in the crossings.

A mallard pair landed just after we crossed this spot.

This beautiful 5 foot gopher snake swam away over the trail just after we passed it.

Ithuriel's Spear

This beetle was near deer tracks in the dirt.

Indian Paintbrush

Blue sky and craggy peaks hovered over us.

California Poppy

Thank you Karen for teaching me how to take better flower photos.

After at least 10 crossings of Pine Creek, at least that many shade and water breaks on this 87 degree day, and many photo ops, we made it back to the car tired and hot but satisfied.

With a Happy Heart

Pt. Reyes National Seashore

Spring break has been a wonderful stay-cation for me. I've rested, read, clutter-busted a little bit, and taken some great day trips. Pt. Reyes National Seashore was our first stop on Monday. It's a place our daughters will tell you we return to over and over again. I never tire of it!

This is one of my favorite views. It's from the headland on the way to the light house and its 309 steps. You're looking north where the beach swings around to Tomales Point which I have hiked 4.5 miles to land's end and back!

There were huge stumps and logs washed up on the beach this time. 

This one reminded me of a wooly walrus. Check out the close-up below.

North Beach is a good site for beach combing for flotsam and other treasures. Mark picked up this yellow striped rock to show me and said it's really prettier seen in the context of it's setting.

  

When I set the rock back down with the other rocks, I agreed with him.

I staged some of my treasures. If you click on the picture you can see them better. There are gooseneck barnacles, a crab shell, walnut shells, beautiful bark, rocks, heart stones, sand dollar pieces, and something fluffy.

This beautiful piece of driftwood made a perfect seat for me.

Another favorite view is of the cows grazing where I can just look a little farther and see the ocean. If you click on this picture you can see the purple Douglas Irises that I was actually trying to capture. This is wildflower season at Pt. Reyes.

Relaxing 

With Heart

Nature Booking Long Distance

You might remember that I had a chance to do some nature discovery with my 3 year old grandson when I visited him across the country. 

                                           

June Bug discovery!

Quick! Get the bug box!

Observe. Talk. Write?

Mama, we need a journal.

Now we're separated 

By a day of flying.

How do we partner 

With this Nature-Booking?

The boy and his mama

Go outside and discover.

Observe. Talk. Show Brother.

Mama, let's call SweetHart.

I Google and send a link

While Mama does her 24/7.

They study; print a picture.

Trim. Glue. Write a story.

The book is special because it started out as a dream book for a young woman with a few pictures and quotes in it. When the son needed a journal, the mother quickly found her book. I took it home with me and just added little boy pictures and nature notes to it. Now it's on its way back to my grandson and his mother.

Check out these 2 links to see their tent caterpillar discoveries and their turtle visitor. 

http://trahanshappenings.blogspot.com/2012/03/bugs.html

http://trahanshappenings.blogspot.com/2012/04/turtle.html


Satisfied
With Heart