Optical Illusion: Wooly Mammoth

Wooly Mammoth Beachside Illusion

Rodeo Beach - Marin Headlands - California

March 27, 2010

by Dawn NicDarrah

What gives the illusion of appearing as a wooly mammoth is actually a outcropping of rocks covered in seaweed . . . kind of reminds me of Mr. Snuffleupagus!

From the Garden: New Strawberry

New Strawberry

Sonoma County, California

March 2010

by Dawn NicDarrah

Wayside Weeds: Vetch

Vetch

Sonoma County, California

March, 2010

by Dawn NicDarrah

Wayside Weeds: Wild Radish

Wild Radish Flower, White with Purple VeinsSonoma County
March, 2010
by Dawn NicDarrah

Wild Radish also comes with purple flowers as shown here . . .

. . . and due to the cross pollination with mustard we can also find yellow (as shown in the photo with the honey bee) and shown here with the yellow centers and reddish tips on the petals.

Regardless of what color flowers they display, they all produce these lovely little gems for seed pods.

Wayside Weed: Mustard

Mustard Flowers

Sonoma County, California

March 2010

by Dawn NicDarrah

Following the honey bee on a yellow wild radish flower photo, thought to share a photo of the mustard flowers that are often found growing along side the wild radish helping to facilitate the cross pollination and changes in the color of the wild radish flowers.

Wayside Wanderer & Weed: Honey Bee and Wild Radish

Honey Bee on Wild Radish Flower

Sonoma County, California

March 2010

by Dawn NicDarrah

From what I have read regarding the wild radish, these flowers are yellow because of cross pollination with mustard . . . looks like the honey bee has helped this evolution along. Wild Radish flowers are typically white with purple veins or white centers with purple tips on the petals.

Waxing Moon: March 27, 2010

Waxing Moon - March 27, 2010

Marin Headlands

by Dawn NicDarrah

This lovely waxing moon was framed so nicely by the wild and weedy roadside plants while we sat and waited for the 5 minute stoplight at the one lane tunnel, thought to share even though it's not quite full yet. Enjoy!