The following is an article written by Jeanne Jackson for her blog Mendonoma Sightings where she documents the wildlife, the land, and the waters of our coast.
Peter Baye found this beauty, which is endemic to the Mendocino Coast, Mendocino Coast Paintbrush, Castilleja mendocinensis. It grows in coastal sage scrub habitat.
This native wildflower is considered rare, and it’s a treat to see it.
Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
We’ve had a pretty darn big rainstorm. Our rain gauge had 1.80 inches when it was all said and done. Total season to date is 48.40 inches, and 50 inches is a “normal” year here. Today the Pacific Ocean is riled up, with big breakers crashing into bluffs and on sandy beaches. It’s LOUD! Skies are blue, as the storm clouds have left. It should be a lovely weekend here on the Mendonoma Coast!
How Can You Support the Efforts of Mendonoma Sightings?
- Buy Jeanne Jackson’s book Mendonoma Sightings Throughout the Year here. The 270-page, full-color documentation of our coast’s beauty would make for a great gift or coffee table conversation piece.
- Jeanne Jackson has also written two children’s books: Sunny Loves Spring on the California Coast and Sunny Loves Summer on the California Coast. These playful children’s books were written to instill within children a love of nature. Jackson will be publishing the other two seasons this year. Those books can be purchased at http://sunnylovesnature.com/
- Check out Craig Tooley’s incredible photography of our coastline here. Buy some prints of his photos, get them framed, and bring the Mendonoma coast home.
- “Follow” and “Like” the Mendonoma Sightings Throughout the Year Facebook page for direct access to Jackson’s dispatches of life on Mendonoma.
- If you have your own Mendonoma Sighting, contact Jeanne Jackson at mendonomasightings@gmail.com to submit your narrative and photograph so she can document the experience.
