Stonecrop / Madrone

Broadleaf Stonecrop - Lake Lagunitas  2026

Madrone (New Growth) - Lake Lagunitas  2026

Photos taken last May.

California Hedgenettle / Cobweb Thistle (Abbotts Lagoon)

California Hedgenettle - Point Reyes  2026

Cobweb Thistle - Point Reyes  2026

"This native annual species is not really a nettle at all, but a member of the Mint Family."

"Cobweb thistle - Cirsium occidentale is a native plant found in California and parts of Oregon, Nevada and Baja California. . . . The whiteness of the stems and base of the flower heads are your first indication that this is not one of those invasive thistles. This is the real deal - a native thistle."

A couple more photos taken on the Abbotts Lagoon trail. Nice to see some native plants!

Everlasting Pea / Velvet Grass (Abbotts Lagoon)

Everlasting Pea - Point Reyes  2026

Velvet Grass - Point Reyes  2026

So, "Everlasting Pea?" Mike has always identified this plant as vetch. But it's not vetch.

"Unlike the related annual sweet pea, Lathyrus odoratus, with which it may be confused, it has no scent. While grown as a garden plant it may be pervasive and difficult to remove. Because of this, this species is often considered to be a weed despite its attractive appearance."

Velvet Grass is an invasive species, no question.

"In North America, Holcus lanatus is an invasive species in native grasslands and other ecosystems. In Yosemite National Park it is one of nine priority noxious weeds to control for habitat restoration and regenerating native plant balances. It forms dense stands that can exclude other plants."

Monday River Otter Blogging

River Otter - Point Reyes  2026

River Otter - Point Reyes  2026

Seen first while swimming underneath the trail bridge between the upper and lower lagoons. Then he - or she - got up on land, thought for a while, then went back into the water.

Lupin, Lagoon (Abbotts Lagoon)

Lupin, Lagoon - Point Reyes  2026

Photo taken using the wide-angle option on an iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Yes, Mike's spelling of "lupin" (vs "lupine") is idiosyncratic. Although to be honest, Wikipedia shows "lupin" as one of the options:

"Lupinus, commonly known as lupin, lupine, or regionally bluebonnet, is a genus of plants in the legume family Fabaceae."

Driftwood / Ocean (Abbotts Lagoon)

Driftwood - Point Reyes  2026

Ocean - Point Reyes  2026

There's no established trail to the ocean, just walk through the dunes towards the sound of the waves.

Lupin, Fence / Trail (Abbotts Lagoon)

Lupin, Fence - Point Reyes  2026

Trail - Point Reyes  2026

Top: view from the trailhead parking lot.

Next: Abbotts Lagoon trail. Overgrown in some spots . . . my pants got soaked walking through wet grass.

Hills, Clouds / Lagoons, Bridge, Ocean (Abbotts Lagoon)

Hills, Clouds - Point Reyes  2026

Lagoons, Bridge, Ocean - Point Reyes  2026

Changeable weather that day . . . warm sun giving way to foggy mist. At times I wished I had brought a parka.

Top photo taken with a Nikon Z7II. Bottom one with an Olympus E-M1II using a 75-300mm zoom lens.

The bottom photo show both upper and lower lagoons as well as the bridge over them.

Ranch Buildings, Lagoon, Mist (Abbotts Lagoon)

Lagoon, Ranch Buildings - Point Reyes  2026

Hemlock, Lagoon, Mist - Point Reyes  2026

Photos taken during a June hike. I was using a Nikon Z7II with a 24-200mm zoom lens.

Hemlock, Lupin / Hills (Abbotts Lagoon)

Hemlock, Lupin - Point Reyes  2026

Fence, Hills, Lupin - Point Reyes  2026

Hiking out to the ocean on the Abbotts Lagoon trail.

Monday Caspian Tern Blogging

Caspian Terns - Point Reyes  2026

Caspian Terns - Point Reyes  2026

"The regal Caspian Tern is the largest tern in the world, easily recognized by its brilliant red fish-knife of a bill and deep, raspy call. Found all over the world, the Caspian favors both freshwater and saltwater environments. It feeds mostly on fish, captured in nimble aerial dives."

I didn't see them diving for fish, but I was able to see them swooping around the Abbotts Lagoon area.

Caspian Terns - Point Reyes  2026

Cattails, Barn

Cattails, Barn - Point Reyes  2026

The barn has been on the blog before . . . I regularly stop for photos here before driving on to my day's hike.

Photo taken with a Nikon Z7II.

Moon, Airplane

Moon, Airplane - Marin County  2026

Interesting. Taken with a Nikon Z7II with a 24-200mm lens.

Signs

Keep Cash Alive - Marin County  2026

Enough - Marin County  2026

Enigmatic.

Berkeley Sightems

Trucks, Clouds - Berkeley 2026

Elegant Kingdom - Berkeley  2026

Photos taken while April fabric shopping in Berkeley.

Windsor

Oliver's Fruit Basket Cake (Windsor) - Sonoma County  2026

Machado Burgers Burger (Windsor) - Sonoma County  2026

After arriving on the train we disembarked and walked around the town of Windsor. We hadn't been here in a while, so most of what we saw was new to us. Highlights: Oliver's, a fancy grocery store, and Machado Burgers where we got burgers with a combo fries and onion rings.

Then the return trip home.

SMART Train Excursion

Northbound SMART Train - Marin County  2026

SMART: Sonoma-Marin Area Rapid Transit. We'd been meaning to take a ride on it for a while, finally entering a date into the Google Calendar. Senior Citizens ride free! Whoa!

We took the train up to Windsor in Sonoma County (the end of the current line). Some fun views on the way up.

Wetlands, Oaks - Marin County  2026

Monday Spotted Towhee Blogging

Spotted Towhee (Fairfax) - Marin County  2026

Spotted Towhee (Lake Lagunitas) - Marin County  2026

Very vocal! Lots of them this season.

Selling Photographs

 

Marin Open Studios Exhibit (San Rafael) - Marin County  2026

In May I participated in the Marin Open Studios weekends. I had a goodly amount of space for my setup: frames, bins and notecards. Two weekends in May (four days). Sold a few things, but nothing major.

In June I returned to set up my booth in the Fairfax Festival. Only one weekend, but sales were considerably higher! (Live music and beer probably helped.)

My booth:

Booth (Fairfax) - Marin County  2026

Note two framed photos in the image above: one the left a large framed photo of Convict Lake, and in the back a large framed photo of  Owens Valley. Both were sold! Wow!

BTW, my current booth is way more sophisticated than my first Fairfax Festival appearance in 2008:

Mike, Fairfax Festival - Marin County  2008

Toyota RAV4

2026 Toyota RAV4 (Fairfax) - Marin County  2026

2026 Toyota RAV4 (Fairfax) - Marin County  2026

A new 2026 RAV4 recently appeared in our neighborhood. Nice looking! Although my 2025 model is also nice.

2025 Toyota RAV4 - Mariposa County  2026

Grass, Hills, Clouds

Grass, Hills, Clouds (Fairfax) - Marin County  2026

Grass, Hill, Clouds (Fairfax) - Marin County  2026

Morning walk iPhone pix. Bottom one used the wide-angle option.

Ferns / Moon

Ferns (Fairfax) - Marin County  2026

Moon, Redwoods (Fairfax) - Marin County  2026

Ferns seen just below a local foot bridge in the back - iPhone.

Redwoods and moon seen on a morning walk - Sony RX100.

Oak Branches / Rainbow

Oak Branches - Marin County  2026

Rainbow - Marin County  2026

Top photo taken in January, using a Sony RX100. Bottom one in March, using an iPhone.

Mt. Diablo - January

Mt. Diablo from Sky Oaks Road, Sunrise - Marin County  2026

Mt. Diablo from Sky Oaks Road - Marin County  2026

Both photos taken on the same day in January, the top one while driving in for my hike around Lake Lagunitas, the bottom one while driving out.

Monday Wood Duck Blogging

Wood Ducks - Lake Lagunitas  2026

Wood Duck - Lake Lagunitas  2026

I've been seeing them on a pretty regular basis recently.  

Both photos taken with a Nikon Z7II, 24-200 zoom lens. Substantially cropped.