Category Archives: nature

Fast Forward

Posted on June 21, 2025 by joanienaz

This week I took a trip through time. I camped in the northern Sierra Nevada mountains, and visited a botanical area that I hadn’t seen in many years. The surrounding forest was ravaged by the Dixie fire in 2021, and … Continue reading →

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May Garden

Posted on May 8, 2017 by joanienaz

Year two in my vegetable garden is starting with cool weather crops. The abundant rain we have had along with mild temperatures has encouraged my leafy vegetables and root crops to get rolling. Yesterday I thinned the radishes, snow peas … Continue reading →

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Herbs in the Garden

Posted on April 30, 2017 by joanienaz

Here we are, approaching the middle of spring. The days are getting longer and warmer, and the veggie seeds you planted have sprouted and are beginning to look like real plants! While you wait patiently for your garden to mature, … Continue reading →

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Give a Fig

Posted on April 23, 2017 by joanienaz

On a recent field trip for my UC CA Naturalist class, I was able to obtain several cuttings of a white fig. I rooted them in water, but after some investigating I discovered that the cool weather may be impeding … Continue reading →

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A New Adventure

Posted on March 26, 2017 by joanienaz

Today I return to this beloved blog from a long sabbatical. I have been teaching full time again, and have become a grandmother. As if this weren’t enough to keep me occupied, I am starting a new project! The UC … Continue reading →

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Along the Trail to Enderts Beach

Posted on July 10, 2014 by joanienaz

There is an overlook along the coast south of Crescent City, California, adjacent to a trail head. This coastal trail, which is a part of Redwood National Park, leads to Enderts Beach and beyond. It is a short drive off … Continue reading →

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Shell Games

Posted on June 30, 2014 by joanienaz

It has been so windy here on the north coast of California for the past two weeks that the last time we tried to walk on the beach we didn’t get far. Yesterday morning the wind died down long enough … Continue reading →

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Jack is Back

Posted on June 20, 2014 by joanienaz

There was a family of Black-tailed jackrabbits in the “backyard” of the cabin last year, frequently seen by Sam and myself cruising through the neighborhood. They appeared to have vanished until the past couple of weeks. We thought the coyotes had … Continue reading →

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Above the Marsh, Near the Bay

Posted on June 8, 2014 by joanienaz

Sam and I spent this past Memorial Day weekend in Humboldt County, and while we were there visiting we managed to find time for our customary walk at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary. We enjoyed perfect late spring weather … Continue reading →

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Postcards from California’s Central Coast

Posted on May 27, 2014 by joanienaz

On Mother’s Day weekend earlier this month, I drove across the state from the northern Sierra foothills near Auburn to the San Francisco Bay Area, and then down the coast to San Luis Obispo County. On the central coast leg … Continue reading →

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