images of the week

The underground critters are harvesting the blue wild rye

while I harvest ripe deerweed

and manzanita berries, pajaro and hookers mainly

meanwhile the chamise is still in beautiful bloom

and the acorns are green

The bark of the manzanita is peeling

the flowers of the golden yarrow have tiny insects on them

the coyote scratches its chin

and the clarkia punches bright through the browns and the greens of Summer.

images of the week

This praying mantis was near one of our freshwater guzzlers.

This guzzler just had a face lift (thank you Shirley Murphy!) with new native plants and a brush pile for refuge.

Rush rose (Helianthemum scoparium) seeds about to go into the toaster oven. 250 degrees for 5 minutes helps them to germinate.

Rush rose seeds.

Found this beauty while I was moving bricks.

Deerweed (Lotus scoparius) seeds.

Deerweed seeds in a hot water bath. You know, to help them grow.

And who is this sweet heartbreaker and why is she in the Slough images of the week? Well, I picked her up after work as she charged out of the marsh into the busy Elkhorn Rd. She's safely at a shelter, and if no one claims her. . .let's just say she made an impression on me in the 15 hours we spent together.