First snake I've seen out at the blub. Eye scale is ghosted with the onset of a early summer shed. Looking around the area found lots of other skins, must be that time of year. I am always a little hesitant to pick these snakes up as they almost always musk.
I don't know how many times my friends reminded me this week, "Are you gonna watch the solor eclipse?" But, of course come Sunday I totally had forgotten. Came outside during an intermission at a local show my friend was performing in when I "observed" something quirky about the light. Hmm, that's strange my eyes aren't adjusting then I remembered, "SOLAR ECLIPSE!" So gnarly because intermission was right during the peak and there was just enough time to observe the phenomenon then go back inside to enjoi the show. Absolutely amazing lighting, I could see thousands of solar arches dancing through leaves of trees, finishing their ballet on the walls of College ave homes. I took a picture of the shadow cast by my hand and in between my fingers I can see the arch of the eclipse. Absolutely wicked!
I looked under a board at this park in West Oakland and found these snails. It looks as if someone put them there, but I really can't tell. The photos aren't all that great either as I was walking my dogs in the failing light. They kind of looked like periwinkles. Very curious.
Found under an very rotten log, hard to say what type of wood it was, but most likely Oak. Very interesting fungus, although I have no idea what kind it is.
A little haiku...
Often see the leaves, sometimes I see the flowers, never see the fruit.
(but of course all three are here in the photo.)
Didn't get a chance to see the plant in flower, but I recognize the seed pods. Super excited to see it for the first time in Leona Heights.
I know it's not flora or fauna, but death's natural occurrence is what defines life and all of the living are bound by it's boundaries.
It comes to us all whether we want it or not and despite this guarantee it's always shocking to hear when someone passes. This morning I read that Adam Yauch
had died. His life and music filled my own with a greater richness that I will be forever grateful for. Here's to you MCA!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf1YF_MH1xc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XflfiylNNXY&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeUm2f4QlG0&feature=related
R.I.P. MCA!
Growing in the vernal pools found at the end of the parking lot.
Found this very interesting and beautiful bug nestled in some yarrow. I don't really know what it is that I have found but its face kind of reminds me of this droid I'd seen in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/DSD1_dwarf_spider_droid
I wonder if that's the first Star Wars reference for iNat? I've submitted an ID request with the folks over at bugguide.net. Still as always may the force be with you.
Looked like some kind of rolled up tree ear.
Non-native to California, Scotch broom.
Spring wildflowers!
Non-native to California, but this has to be the biggest buckhorn plantain I've ever seen. What marvels lay beneath the highways.
Seems like there are good years for coralroot and others I can't find any at all. This year is a good year lots of coralroot growing under live oaks in the area.
I was looking through an old garbage pile when I came across this fairly large sized gopher snake. Snatched it up and brought it up the hill a bit to show my buddies. They were amazed, but I spied a group of young teenagers in a group of cars nearby smoking and necking and doing things that young teens do. I walked up to them and asked "Hey, guys do you wanna see somethin' cool?"
"Yeah, what is it?"
"This snake!"
The looks and reactions were priceless, but once everyone calmed down it turned into a bit of a naturalist interpretive moment. Almost all of the kids were totally unware that there were snakes living so close to their homes. The snake was returned to it's rightful home under the garbage heap and teenagers learned about snakes and to exercise a caution when encountering a stranger asking them if they want to see something cool.
There be snakes in dem hills!
Found growing on a steep exposed hillside with lots of afternoon sun. I'm thinking it was a plain mariposa lily, but I'm unsure. Could it be the Oakland Star Tulip?
