Bog Asphodel and native grass - Narthecium californicum
Up in the Lakes Basin, lots of plants have gone to seed. Some have golden, parchment-like, translucent seed pods. Some seeds are covered in gossamer hairs which, when lit by the sun, resemble brilliant sparklers! They all add color, movement, and sometimes even sound to the changing fall landscape!
As the daylight hours shorten and temperatures drop, most plants become dormant. During dormancy, a plants' metabolism, photosynthesis, and respiration rate slow down, and growth stops. Some plants even produce a type of anti-freeze in their cells, to prevent damage from frost and freezing temperatures!
Some plants will create the buds for next year's bloom in the late summer and fall. These buds will remain dormant throughout the winter, but are ready to burst open once enough cold days have occurred and the temperature and daylight hours have increased.
Another way to ensure species survival over winter, is through seeds. Since they cannot walk, seeds depend on wind, water, animals, and explosion to be dispersed. Aquatic plants depend on water movement to disperse their seeds. Animals can eat seeds, or fruits with seeds, and disperse them in their poop! Seeds can also hook onto an animal's fur or feathers and be transported. The dispersal by explosion happens when some dry seed pods burst open and propel their seeds!
Gray's Lovage seed heads - Ligusticum grayii
I love the gold and copper colors of these delicate, dried seed stalks!
Fireweed seed heads - Chamerion angustifolium
Backlit beauty, like a Fourth-of-July sparkler!
Cow Parsnip seed heads - Heracleum maximum
These tall, golden, seed heads are rich in color and design!
This one looks like a starry, exploding cloud! Beautiful!!!
One of my favorite things to do at this time of year is to shake the dry Corn Lily seed heads and be showered by hundreds of seeds! It is so fun! My friend Nancy and I discovered this by accident last year when we were hiking through a bunch of Corn Lilies! Try it next time you're out there!
Gray Fox - Cinereo argenteus
Chance Encounters!
On Tuesday, my husband and I went for a late afternoon walk in our neighborhood. We were hoping to see the Long Horned Owl we'd seen several times last week, but didn't have any luck. However, just about a quarter mile from our home a Mountain Lion crossed the road about 100 yards ahead of us!!! WOW! We only saw it as it took two steps to cross the road, with a glance at us between the steps, for a total of about three seconds! Way too quick to get a photo. When we got up to where it had crossed, I spotted a Gray Fox frozen in motion in the grasses! My husband thought it was a rock, because it was so still. Was it frozen because it was locking eyes with the Mountain Lion or had it just caught a whiff of its scent? We'll never know, as it quickly scooted into the brush as we approached. We didn't hear any yowling or barking so hopefully the fox didn't get eaten by the Mountain Lion! Now THAT was fascinating!
Sharp-shinned Hawk - Accipiter striatus
Then, on the last part of our walk, there was a beautiful little Sharp-shinned Hawk perched in the Alder tree that borders our garden! Wow!!! These little hawks are about the size of a Mourning Dove, with a length of 11", a wingspan of 23", and a weight of 5 oz. It was probably checking out the Lesser Goldfinches that were in our garden. Songbirds are its main prey.
How amazing it was to see a Mountain Lion, a Gray Fox, and a Sharp-shinned Hawk on a one hour walk!!! We are SO lucky!
Cedar Waxwing (adult) - Lesser Goldfinches (adults) - Northern Flicker (male)
Bombycilla cedrorum - Carduelis psaltria - Colaptes auratus
The next morning the alder tree was occupied by perching Lesser Goldfinches, two Cedar Waxwings, and a Norther Flicker!!! The Sharp-shinned Hawk must have definitely left the area!
Wildlife Disaster Network
Fundraising Results
In the month of September, I raised a total of $1,204 for the Wildlife Disaster Network thanks to the Sierra County Arts Council, visiting tourists, and the local residents of Camptonville and Downieville!!! Individual donations ranged in size from $9 to $200, and I am grateful for every penny! I sold over 100 blank notecards, and 40 art prints for the cause! Not included in this total is an unknown amount from several friends of mine, who donated directly online to the Wildlife Disaster Network. It was a cause that resonated with a lot of people! My thanks go out to all of you who made this fundraising event so successful!
Dogwood leaves in the Rain
Damp Earth Art
Despite the strong drying winds, we lucked out fire-wise with no new fires! Rain is in the forecast for Sunday night as well as showers Wednesday-Friday next week! Rain, rain, come on down.... I am so grateful that there aren't any fires in our immediate area. My heart goes out to those who have lost their homes in this unprecedented fire season. My unending thanks go to the fire fighters who continue to battle these dangerous fires every day.
I so wish it would rain! We can't do anything about the drought, the wind, hot temperatures and fires. Worry makes it harder to bear. So anytime I think of it, I think rain, rain, rain. My intention is to focus on the need for rain, and through collective positive energy invoke rain to fall. It is just a wish, a thought, and a hope. I've created a blog, dampearthart.blogspot.com where I post photographs, quotes, and artworks that feature rain.
What's are the squirrels doing?
What's happening with the Deer and Bear?
Check back next week for the answers to these questions and more.
Unfortunately, you can no longer sign up to get my blog via email. Just go to northyubanaturalist.blogspot.com directly. It looks better than the emailed version!
Your questions and comments are greatly appreciated. Please feel free to email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com. Thanks!
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