![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_576420347e7142e3a3aa12a958c27adc~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_576420347e7142e3a3aa12a958c27adc~mv2.webp)
![Sparrows foraging in the garden](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_576420347e7142e3a3aa12a958c27adc~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_576420347e7142e3a3aa12a958c27adc~mv2.webp)
Sparrows foraging in the garden
During a break between light rain showers, a group of sparrows and a California towhee descended on the front yard. I observed the...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_57dfd01b5ce749acaea2215d42c1a7d0~mv2_d_2000_3000_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_57dfd01b5ce749acaea2215d42c1a7d0~mv2_d_2000_3000_s_2.webp)
![Happy Holidays to You!](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_57dfd01b5ce749acaea2215d42c1a7d0~mv2_d_2000_3000_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_57dfd01b5ce749acaea2215d42c1a7d0~mv2_d_2000_3000_s_2.webp)
Happy Holidays to You!
Wishing you a season of joy and cheer, and a bright new year full of hope.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_794c55fd55fc41b4a60be4a8f14a4ba5~mv2_d_6000_4000_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_794c55fd55fc41b4a60be4a8f14a4ba5~mv2_d_6000_4000_s_4_2.webp)
![Golden Crowned Sparrows in the Mist](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_794c55fd55fc41b4a60be4a8f14a4ba5~mv2_d_6000_4000_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_794c55fd55fc41b4a60be4a8f14a4ba5~mv2_d_6000_4000_s_4_2.webp)
Golden Crowned Sparrows in the Mist
Rain and mist creates so much atmosphere. These are silhouettes of golden crowned sparrows perched high up on dried blackberry vines....
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_4067b2f034514771b7717d983c2827c7~mv2_d_3000_2000_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_4067b2f034514771b7717d983c2827c7~mv2_d_3000_2000_s_2.webp)
![Winter Sunset](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_4067b2f034514771b7717d983c2827c7~mv2_d_3000_2000_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_4067b2f034514771b7717d983c2827c7~mv2_d_3000_2000_s_2.webp)
Winter Sunset
I love sunsets, but winter sunsets are especially gorgeous. This view is from our front porch looking toward the Marin headlands. There...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_a674bf72e9024e86b66741a9b78d92bd~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_a674bf72e9024e86b66741a9b78d92bd~mv2.webp)
![Gulf Fritillary enjoying the sun](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_a674bf72e9024e86b66741a9b78d92bd~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_a674bf72e9024e86b66741a9b78d92bd~mv2.webp)
Gulf Fritillary enjoying the sun
After a week of misty, rainy weather, we enjoyed a weekend of sunshine. The plants were starting to get soggy, blossoms moldy. We love...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_312ad911011c4df3a6156f558a1798d8~mv2_d_2015_1343_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_312ad911011c4df3a6156f558a1798d8~mv2_d_2015_1343_s_2.webp)
![Bewick's wren and a dandelion plant](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_312ad911011c4df3a6156f558a1798d8~mv2_d_2015_1343_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_312ad911011c4df3a6156f558a1798d8~mv2_d_2015_1343_s_2.webp)
Bewick's wren and a dandelion plant
Every day I am reminded by local wildlife why it's important not to remove every single "weed" from the patio and garden. I took these...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_52bf86ac56084f51bcadbc6dc26057c1~mv2_d_3000_2000_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_52bf86ac56084f51bcadbc6dc26057c1~mv2_d_3000_2000_s_2.webp)
![It's the season of sprouting doormats](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_52bf86ac56084f51bcadbc6dc26057c1~mv2_d_3000_2000_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_52bf86ac56084f51bcadbc6dc26057c1~mv2_d_3000_2000_s_2.webp)
It's the season of sprouting doormats
Our outdoor welcome mats are made of sisal. And in the winter rain all seeds that have blown onto the mats throughout the year germinate....
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_76393c87477545648f903d049b27034a~mv2_d_1822_1215_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_76393c87477545648f903d049b27034a~mv2_d_1822_1215_s_2.webp)
![Lovely rain](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_76393c87477545648f903d049b27034a~mv2_d_1822_1215_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_76393c87477545648f903d049b27034a~mv2_d_1822_1215_s_2.webp)
Lovely rain
Some plants seem transformed by our winter rain. The leaves of this Baja fairy duster Calliandra californica are beaded with raindrops....
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_c922329ce72b47af825129ed7cd4ffea~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_c922329ce72b47af825129ed7cd4ffea~mv2.webp)
![A Ruby-crowned Kinglet visiting](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_c922329ce72b47af825129ed7cd4ffea~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_c922329ce72b47af825129ed7cd4ffea~mv2.webp)
A Ruby-crowned Kinglet visiting
These days, we just never know who we'll see around the backyard. This is a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, a small olive greenish songbird with a...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_35bcfa3b30ec49b8ac8f81fb27626def~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_35bcfa3b30ec49b8ac8f81fb27626def~mv2.webp)
![Ooh, it's a Northern Flicker](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_35bcfa3b30ec49b8ac8f81fb27626def~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_35bcfa3b30ec49b8ac8f81fb27626def~mv2.webp)
Ooh, it's a Northern Flicker
This was a surprise. Usually I can hear the northern flickers calling, up in the redwood tree. Or now and then I can hear one drumming...