pics from my hometown

Pacific Grove, California

May 9, 2010

With all the wind we had last week in the late-afternoon, it sure is nice to enjoy a calm evening stroll by the water. You can see the squid boats heading out in the second pic. I really do think they take the weekend off since we didn't see them Friday or Saturday nights. You can see a photographer with his tripod and assistant on the beach in the first pic; this is a very common sight around here. I told my husband to slug me if I ever start talking about acquiring a large tripod and massive lens. He just grinned at me. These pictures were taken from Lover's Point.

habitat ~ 05/08/10 ~ Fort Ord - BLM InterGarrison

Fort Ord - mima mounds
May 8, 2010

See the large lumps in the grass? I'd never heard of mima mounds until my husband pointed these out. During one of his trail runs, he found an interpretive sign at Fort Ord and took note since he grew up near a famous mima mound prairie in Olympia, WA. There's not much online information about mima mounds.

Fort Ord - vernal pool or wet meadow?

At what point does a wet meadow qualify as a vernal pool? Is there a difference? Often vernal pools and wet meadows are mentioned together when referencing where to find particular wildflowers, like the large flowered star tulip below.

large flowered star-tulip ~ 05/08/10 ~ Fort Ord

large flowered star-tulip
Calochortus uniflorus
CNPS 8th Edition Inventory
Liliaceae

Superficially, this looks like the splendid Mariposa lily (C. splendens), but I checked where each was found. I see C. uniflorus only next to one particular wet meadow at Fort Ord. Plus, as a double-check, the large flowered star-tulip is listed as one of four species of Calochortus found at Fort Ord. During a hike last year on May 23, 2009, I saw two of the other Calochortus, a yellow Mariposa lily and a fairy lantern. Now, all I need to do is find a butterfly mariposa lily and I'll have my Fort Ord Calochortus collection complete.

pet peeves 2

posted 02/24/12 - I simply don't understand destroying trail signs that indicate a particular trail is closed.  We've seen this kind of vandalism since the summer of 2009 when they first started closing some of the previously opened trails.  Is someone protesting the closures?