Hello Monday. Here is a Tangier Pea (Lathyrus tingitanus), a species of wild pea. An annual herb, native to Southern Europe and North Africa and introduced to the Pacific Northwest. I found this one and many more all over Santa Cruz Mountains. The Tangier Pea produces a winged stem that climbs by coiled tendrils. It […]
I never knew our own Nitwit trail could be such a romantic setting. I came across this Mosquito Hawk on the trail and decided to take his photo. Because of the dark setting, I had no idea he was engaged in a romantic encounter with another mosquito hawk (to the right of the photo) until […]
I didn’t take critterology in college, but I think this is a Northern Alligator Lizard. There are many subspecies and it is difficult to identify which one this is. Perhaps this is a Sierra Alligator Lizard. This one was found on our Nitwit trail in Santa Cruz Mountains. The feet behind it is of a […]
Wild Radish--Raphanus raphanistrum—a member of the mustard family (Brassicaceae) is native to Asia but introduced into most parts of the world. Wild Radish prefers growing by roadsides or places where the ground and soil has been disturbed, where I find it most in Santa Cruz Mountains. A tall plant in loose clusters of 2-3’ tall, its flowers […]
There are several species of the genus Acmispon, and they are difficult to distinguish. I’m taking a wild guess that this is the Acmispon glaber, otherwise known as Common Deerweed, California Broom or Western Birds-Foot Trefoil.