Welcome back to Field Notes!
December 1, 2025
To celebrate the glorious fall days we've been experiencing, I pulled out a puzzle that I borrowed from my Aunt Char (she and I both enjoy the pleasure of an interesting and beautiful puzzle). This one captures the colors of fall and coziness of home!
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Country Life: Autumn Farmhouse (Buffalo Games & Puzzles)
Artist: Dominic Davidson |
December 4, 2025
According to AI Overview, the full moon in December 2025 is known as the Cold Moon or the Long Night Moon. It is the last supermoon of the year, meaning that it appears brighter and larger than usual. Here, the moon is viewed from the front porch over the new landscape.
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| A big, beautiful supermoon over the garden |
December 6, 2025
Mari and I recently joined the last Over-the-Hills Gang hike of the year, topped off with a delicious potluck lunch at the Tilden Nature Center. We hiked the Jewel Lake trail, in the crisp morning air, and enjoyed the colors and scents of fall. Surprisingly, it was my first visit to the Nature Center in all the years I've been in the Bay Area, although I have attended family picnics in other areas of the park, and visited the Tilden Botanical Garden. Anthony Fisher lead our hike.
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| Assembling at the Tilden Nature Center |
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| Jewel Lake trail highlighted in yellow (photo by Mari) |
We encountered a fire crew that was gathering the shredded bark from the eucalyptus trees, in preparation for a future controlled burn. The bark is highly flammable, so removing it from the landscape helps the area be fire safe. We saw quite a few large piles of bark and other material to be burned.
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| Talking with the fire crew at Tilden Park |
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| Bridge over Jewel Lake reservoir |
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| The path through the woods |
We worked up a good appetite for our potluck back at the Nature Center. What a spread! We enjoyed many tasty dishes and desserts, and the chance to relax with our fellow hikers. The OTHG is a wonderful group of 55+ hikers of all levels. This was our last hike of the year, but you can learn about upcoming hikes in 2026 by visiting the website.
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| Setting up the potluck in the Nature Center |
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| Intrepid hikers at the Jewel Lake bridge (photo by Mari) |
December 8, 2025
While on our hike at Tilden Park, Anthony Fisher (our Over-the-Hills Gang group leader) spotted some Russula maculata mushroom specimens. The rosy pink color is quite appealing, but according to AI Overview, while Russula maculata might produce some color, one shouldn't expect vibrant, strong hues. It's more of an experimental or niche dye choice within the broader world of mushroom dyeing.
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| Shrimp Russula (Russula maculata) in Tilden Park |
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| Maggots hatch in the stem and eat their way out |
December 12, 2025
Sad news - my dear Dad has passed away at the age of 97 years at the Pioneer Home in Juneau, Alaska. His health had been failing for some time, so it wasn't a surprise, but it still leaves an empty hole. Dad lived a remarkable life and inspired all of us with his curiosity, intelligence, interests, and capabilities. He met Mom at U. C. Berkeley in the 1950s, they married, and moved to Juneau, where they built a house, raised a family, and enjoyed a full life.
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| Dad enjoying coffee with Mom on a trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico |
Dad was a research scientist with the U. S. Forest Service, wrote extensively, and imparted a love of nature and science to all of us. He and Mom enjoyed their retirement years travelling, visiting their kids and grandkids, and finding the best bakery wherever they went. I enjoyed travelling with Mom and Dad in the Southern California desert to view the spring wildflowers. Dad will be missed.
December 17, 2025
I'm on my way to Alaska, to celebrate my Dad's life with Mom, my brother Dave, my sister Marianne, and Aunt Char. My husband and adult son are staying in the Bay Area with Bobo the Husky, so we'll celebrate the Christmas and New Year holidays when I return. I'm expecting cold and snowy weather in Juneau!
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| On my way to Juneau, Alaska |
December 19, 2025
As expected, Juneau is cold and snowy. We're experiencing a cold snap (teens and low twenties), with clear blue skies by day, and crisp, sparkly nights. Here's a shot taken toward the airport with the Chilkat mountains covered with snow (click on the photo to see a larger image). It is wonderful to be together with my natal family, in the state and home that Dad loved so much.
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| Winter view of the Chilkats from the front porch |
December 21, 2025 ⛄
Happy Winter Solstice - the shortest day and longest night of the year! Here in the north, the days are long and dark this time of year so the solstice provides hope that the days of more light are returning. In the meantime, there is beauty everywhere when you take the time to get out and see it!
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| Chilkat Range from North Douglas Island at 2:09 pm (looks like sunset) |
My sister, Marianne leaves for her home in Oregon tomorrow, so we all took a ride together to see the sights. Everything is covered with snow and looks so beautiful!
December 26, 2025
Hope everyone enjoyed all the fun of the Christmas season! The beautiful cold weather has continued to hold here in Juneau, Alaska (we're now in the single digits for temperature). We've been taking car rides to see the snowy sights from the comfort of a heated vehicle. A favorite ride is out North Douglas highway, but it is also fun to drive "out the road" to Eagle Beach, out to the Mendenhall Glacier, out Thane Road and up Basin Road.
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| Mendenhall Glacier across the channel from North Douglas Island |
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| Festive Christmas lights in a residential neighborhood |
As it starts getting dark, we enjoy driving through downtown Juneau and the residential neighborhoods to see the festive holiday lights. At the end of of a car drive, we look forward to a delicious hot meal at home or at a favorite restaurant.
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| Mar y Sol is one of our favorite restaurants |
December 28, 2025
Honestly, it is difficult to think about gardening here in Juneau, Alaska, where we are surrounded by snow and ice! But I am grateful for our landscape maintenance crew back in Oakland (they have have done most of the work in the garden this month). The rainy season has started in the Bay Area, which will foster growth (and weeds) in the garden. I'll have work to do when I return in January!
🗹 Weed the garden paths and beds (ongoing task). After a soaking rain, the roots slide out of the soil so easily.
🗹 Cut back ornamental grasses to low mounds.
🗹 Remove dead or diseased leaves from perennials, such as the heucheras, and trim dead branches from the juniper and pine trees.
🗹 Replace plants that are not doing well and plant new plants to try. This timing takes advantage of the winter rains in our Mediterranean climate and helps ensure a deep, healthy root structure. Note: New shrubs and perennials were planted in November, and are thriving with the fall/winter rains.
☐ Harvest a few green conifer branches for a holiday wreath. Note: this fun activity will have to wait until next year! In the meantime, I'm enjoying snow on conifer branches in the landscape, here in Juneau.
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| Spruce boughs are heavy with snow |
