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by Sue Rosenthal
The classic image of a redwood forest is one of stately tall trees, dense shade, and lots of green. The columnar trunks of the giant trees draw our gaze up to the high canopy, but if we follow them down to the forest floor instead, in summer months we may find unexpected points of brilliant color. These are the colorful fruits (mostly berries) of the smaller plants that live in the shelter of the big trees.
by David Carroll
In the early hours from moonset to dawn between August 8 and 14, skywatchers in the Bay Area will be able to see the spectacular annual show put on by the Perseid meteor shower. At its peak on August 12, the tiny cast-off comet particles will streak across the sky at rates up to 60 per hour. Stay up late, grab a blanket or a lounge chair, find a spot away from streetlights, and enjoy the show!
by Jody Zaitlin
During summer, this glowing Pacific fish makes nests in the muds of the San Francisco Bay and attracts a mate with humming.
By Laura Hautala
The Ventana Wildlife Society, which leads California condor restoration efforts, is looking for public support after Big Sur's massive wildfire wiped out its rearing and release facility.
By David Carroll
Until August 1, 2008, you can add your comments to a major planning process for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and other Bay Area parks managed by the National Park Service.
by Laura Hautala
Though surrounded by houses, Lime Ridge in Walnut Creek is rich in rare plants, including two new species discovered by an amateur botanist.
by Laura Hautala
If butterfly watching sounds sedate, perhaps you've never witnessed the excitement of the territorial chase...
by Jessica Taekman
Picture hungry tourists swarming around an all-you-can-eat buffet. Only the tourists are 100 feet long and weigh almost 200,000 pounds. These are blue whales, the largest animals ever, and they've come to feast on some of the tiniest animals on the planet: millions upon millions of tiny shrimplike krill.
by Jody Zaitlin
Several beavers have taken up residence in downtown Martinez, and this summer may be the best time to see them, before they become more famous and attract bigger crowds or get forcibly ousted by the local government.
by Sue Rosenthal
As many a plain Jane turned prom queen will attest, blooming late can have its rewards. But it's also a challenge for local wildflowers.
by Laura Hautala
Find out the latest on California's effort to establish some of the strongest marine protected areas in the world.
by Sarah Sweedler
For better and worse, the upper reach of the Pilarcitos watershed on the Peninsula was dammed to supply water to San Francisco in the 1860s. The surrounding land has been protected and kept off-limits to the public ever since, allowing rare species to thrive here. That includes the marbled murrelet, which nests only in old-growth conifers, such as Douglas fir. But the dam and other impacts also leave less water in the creek for oceangoing steelhead. Now, a diverse group of stakeholders has come together to chart a brighter future for the fish and the creek.
From the Jul-Sep 2008 issue
Published July 01, 2008
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by David Carroll
From the Jul-Sep 2008 issue
Published July 01, 2008
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by Kathleen M. Wong
Most folks don't think much of snakes unless they trip over them. It turns out that a remarkable diversity of serpents lives nearby, from beautiful red-bellied ring-necked snakes hiding under logs in damp woodlands to three- or four-foot rattlers sunning themselves on rocky slopes in Sunol Regional Wilderness. Able predators, many of our local snakes have evolved fascinating strategies for subduing their prey, whether rodents, amphibians, or even other snakes.
From the Jul-Sep 2008 issue
Published July 01, 2008
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by Kathleen M. Wong
From the Jul-Sep 2008 issue
Published July 01, 2008
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by Joe Cervelin
I go to the beach in January. Sometimes I bring a sweater and a hat. I go to the beach in June in work clothes and roll up the cuffs. It reminds me why I'm still in California, what my rent really includes, that I'm alive...
From the Jul-Sep 2008 issue
Published July 01, 2008
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by Aleta George
Cut off from land for thousands of years, the Bay’s largest island is a natural and cultural gem just a ferry ride or paddle away from city life.
From the Jul-Sep 2008 issue
Published July 01, 2008
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by Ann Sieck
Great views on the cliffs of the Sonoma coast.
From the Jul-Sep 2008 issue
Published July 01, 2008
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by Ann Sieck
Take mass transit to lake swimming, and wildlife-watching, in the East Bay.
From the Jul-Sep 2008 issue
Published July 01, 2008
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by John Kesselring
Start with the kids at the working farm, then head into the hills, where you may see coyotes, bobcats, or even a mountain lion.
From the Jul-Sep 2008 issue
Published July 01, 2008
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