Eastern Fox Squirrels

Join me in the landscape to watch the local squirrels drinking at the water dishes and carrying out their daily routines. According to Wild Oakland, the main squirrel found in the East Bay is the Eastern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger). The fox squirrel's natural range extends through much of the eastern United States, north into the southern prairie provinces of Canada, and west to the Dakotas, Colorado, and Texas. They have been introduced to northern and southern California, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Washington, and New Mexico, plus Ontario and British Columbia in Canada.

The fox squirrel’s coloring differs by geographical area, but in most areas the animal's upper body is brown-grey to brown-yellow with a typically brownish-orange underside. In our yard, they gather and stash acorns from the oak tree for food (sometimes planting a tree in the process). Last year I saw one eating a mushroom that had poked through the wood chips after winter rains. I had never seen that before, and was curious if they were especially delicious mushrooms or if the ongoing drought had impacted the acorn supply. Fox squirrels use leaf nests or tree cavities about 30 feet up for shelter and litter rearing. So far I have never noticed a leaf nest, but they may be hidden in plain sight!

Neighborhood fox squirrel drinking at one of the water dishes

The fox squirrels approach the water dishes boldly, and take long drinks (but watch warily the whole time). The are industrious and spend a lot of time burying acorns; and frequently rebury them if they catch you watching. The squirrels are fast moving - dashing nimbly across the ground, and springing from branch to branch overhead. We enjoy watching them at work and play from the patio, however I find them difficult to film (you'll notice a lot of blurry shots). Sometimes I have to just put down the camera and watch them in real time!

Learn More:

• Oakland Wiki - Learn about the four squirrel types that are found in the San Francisco Bay Area, including the Eastern Fox Squirrel that is the typical type in the East Bay.

• Wikipedia, Fox Squirrels - Learn all about the Eastern Fox Squirrel.

Thanksgiving 2022

The pumpkin pie is made, so really, what else is needed? A few friends and family, a chilly fall day, and a full heart should take care of the rest. Everything else is just gravy (and turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, green beans, salad, fluffy dinner rolls, and mashed potatoes)!

A time for gratitude

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden

On a recent trip north of the San Francisco Bay Area, my husband and I stopped at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden, just south of Fort Bragg. We spent an hour and a half roaming through the gardens, despite overcast skies and a light rain (one of the hazards and benefits of travelling in the fall)! We had hoped to see the gardens two years ago (see Visit to Mendocino), but access was restricted and limited because of COVID-19, and closed during our stay. Now that things are opening up a bit, it was much easier to visit (still with appropriate caution).

Gardens and nursery

The botanical garden was founded in 1961 by retired plantsman, Ernest Schoefer and his wife, Betty, with a grand opening in 1966. The mild coastal climate, available water source, and acid soil inspired them to collect rhododendron species. They added other collections, including perennials, begonias and fuchsias, heath and heather, succulents, Mediterranean plants, camellias, conifers, dahlias, and magnolias.

Entrance to the gardens

During our visit, we caught a sneak peak of the lights being installed for the upcoming Festival of Lights, which runs after Thanksgiving through mid-December. Judging by what we saw, FOL should be a lot of fun. Seeing the decorations reminded me of the holiday lights celebration at Filoli (see Filoli at Christmas).

Printable version

Following is a gallery of photos showing what caught my eye while roaming the garden. Visiting a botanical garden in November is a great opportunity to study what plants look like the fall season. This is useful for assessing the year-round interest of plants, trees or shrubs that you are considering for your own garden or landscape.

Begonia in a beautiful shade of coral

Sedum "Autumn Joy" - perfect color for fall

The succulents and cacti are thriving in the mild coastal environment

A collection of carnivorous plants

Two important components that I look for in a botanical garden, besides amazing plants, include great signage and plenty of benches. The signs should be clear and informative, and the benches should provide a comfortable place to rest and observe nature. Another positive component is evidence of birds and wildlife. The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens has all of the above.

A young dawn redwood dropping its fall needles

An unusual magnolia

A spruce with a low growth habit

Contemplating the beauty of fall

In summary, we enjoyed exploring the plants, trees and shrubs of the gardens, despite the intermittent light rain and dark skies. The staff and volunteers provided helpful information and answered our questions. We didn't make the full loop out to the Cliff House, so we have that to look forward to in a future visit. But we made good use of our time and enjoyed fall in the gardens.

 

The deer gate

Fern collection

A few dahlias are still blooming

An appealing collection of heather

Fall Back and Full Moon

It's that time of the year again, where we move the clocks back an hour (Fall Back, Spring Ahead). It's great to be getting up in the light again on most mornings, but it is a drag to leave the office in the dark. The nights seem darker this time of year, even with all the extra street lights and porch lights that help push back the darkness.

Full moon on a dark night

Moonlight through a ring of oak boughs

The light of a full moon is especially welcome and cheerful, and adds to the coziness of fall evenings. Time for inside projects, tasty soup or stew, good company or an entertaining book or movie.

Month-by-Month: Fall

Today is another beautiful sunny day here in the Oakland Hills. It is 64 degrees this morning, with a possible high of 69 degrees in late afternoon. The days are still warm, and the evenings are cool and sometimes foggy. We're tapering off from our summer heat (which typically occurs in September and October), and hoping for winter rains to start soon (I've heard mixed predictions, for both rain and more drought). The plants need rain after months with only fog for moisture or short bursts of light rain that barely settle the dust. Even the native plants are looking parched.

Raised-bed pumpkin, ready to harvest

Today I'm checking the University of California Master Gardeners of Alameda County website, to see what the Month-by-Month page recommends for October, November, and December. All this year we've been monitoring this site to get a feel for what we should be doing in the garden. By now, most of the summer harvest is complete, so activities turn to preparing the garden for spring and summer. 

In October and November, continue to care for cool-season vegetables and flowers that were planted in September. Plant vegetables, such as lettuce, green onions, potatoes, peas, for harvest in the spring, and garlic and shallots for harvest in the summer. Plant spring bulbs, such as daffodils, hyacinth, and grape hyacinth (some bulbs may need to be chilled before planting to simulate nature). 

Fall is the best time to plant perennials and California Natives, since any winter rains help the plants establish strong root systems. Throughout the garden, clean up debris that might harbor pests, and add weeds, leaves, and spent flowers to the compost pile. Stop fertilizing and turn off irrigation. It's time for homesteaders to wrap up their work in the garden, and time for nature to go dormant and do it's magic!