A large ant, within a colony under a dead branch. they had completely hollowed out the log and had used the wood to create their nest. black head and thorax, with a red abdomen.
The flower in my opinion looked like a california poppy. It was found in the dried grassy area. It had leaves that were long and at the bottom of the stem. It was approximately at least 2 inches. The stem was thin in the bottom and as it got to the top it got think and wider. The flower seems to not have bloom yet and if it does it might have orange tint in the middle. It also has 4 petals and are yellow on the outside as seen in the photo. The flower itself was approximately nearly half an inch.
Seems to have split in half but continued growing. Found around other trees of its kind and rocks.
A purple flower that has a thin stem and is a bluish color. The bottom of the flower part is a green color and the inside of the flower is a yellow color. There were about 100 of them around on the trail.
This green praying mantis was approximately 2" long. It was found in one of the double ponds at Pepperwood. The pond was mostly dried up, and full of grassy plants.
Found under rock, in the speckled shade, on a hill, in oak woodland. Hiding under leaf.
Grey to brownish body and head. Found hiding in Frog pond in some grass. Lower body had darker brown stripes with light brown markings. Had opaque, milky eyes. Only one praying mantis was found. Approximately 7 cm long.
In a small stream bed near a medow. It is shaded, and there is a trace of water around the base. About 6 feet tall, 5 feet in diameter. The fronds are very large at the base, and get smaller near the tips. It is a course, thick fern, and the pinne are slightly curved inwards
A black beetle discovered under a rock on a ridge. Under the shade of oak trees in a oak/bay woodland forest. It is about 1 inch long, and 1/2 inch wide. scampering around sticking its head under leaves to maybe hide itself.
On old decaying branch with many other lichens and mushrooms growing with it. The branch that the Turkey Tail mushroom was growing on fell from a black oak that was most likely broken in a wind storm.
The lichen was found on live oak trees and maple trees, and the rocks surrounding.
Found on a trail in the grassland. 5-8 growths found in one yard radius. Found only on rocks. Varies from 1/2 inches in diameter to 2 inches in diameter.
This baby rose bush had non stop thorns on the stem. The roses seemed to be out of season so none of them were growing. This rose bush was located in a shady redwood area.
Deer scat located in the redwood Forrest on a slope with shade.
It seemed to be sprouting and blooming. The leaves were covered in a very sticky residue and had an odor on the skin once touched. It had a dark mint color and the leaves grew out of the center. They were about a a .5-2 feet long and were all different. The plant was surrounded by dry grasslands and a creek near by.
Catkin from a tanoak. Only a few on the ground, right under a large tan oak. About 3.5 inches long. Fuzzy small bits of "pollen" on "strings."
Found underneath rock under an oak tree, possibly for protection. It had dak markings and was long buy less than 3 inches.