How do You Know it’s Spring?
Happy Equinox! March 20 was the Vernal Equinox. You may have missed it if you weren’t paying attention. After all, it’s not like we get off from work! The Vernal … Continue Reading →
Category: Nature
Plants, Animals, Geology, Natural History
Oh My Goshawk! (Video)
In the United States we have the Northern Goshawk. It is a bigger, fiercer relative of the Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks. These accipiters prowl dense forests, chasing birds and … Continue Reading →
Prescription Strength Nature – A Hilarious Commercial for the Outdoors (Video)
When I first saw this hilarious video on Facebook, I mistook it for a drug commercial. My initial confusion quickly gave way to laughter! This mock commercial won 6 … Continue Reading →
Bear Eats Sea Kayak! (Video and Lessons learned)
Mary Maley was on a solo 107-mile kayak trip in Southeast Alaska when she encountered a black bear (Ursus americanus). She had just transferred her tent, food, and gear … Continue Reading →
Touch This Frog and You’ll Croak!
We are lucky in California. There are few venomous species that can kill a person. Sure there are rattlesnakes, but they are not aggressive and tend to avoid people. … Continue Reading →
Moths – Amazing Creatures of the Night!
The natural world comes in all shapes and sizes. Not long ago, I described my insect safari and how you can have one too. It made me appreciate … Continue Reading →
The Refrigerator Tree
“What’s with the naked tree?” My hiking partner turned to follow my gaze. His eyes landed on a most peculiar tree. About 40 feet high with wide branches, … Continue Reading →
This Coot has a Secret!
The pond is beautiful. And I pause to gaze into its placid waters. A spring emanates beneath its surface from deep within the Santa Cruz Mountains. During the 1950’s … Continue Reading →
Discover Aliens in your Backyard!
It’s magical when you see an animal you’ve never seen before. You may have heard about it, read about it, or seen it on TV. Or maybe you … Continue Reading →
Wildflowers of the Serpentine Realm
Can millions of years of geology create wildflowers? In California it can, and it does! California is geologically active. Evidence is everywhere in Northern California. There are mountains, … Continue Reading →