Nature’s fireworks are on display with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower on Wednesday, Aug. 12, when up to 60 meteors an hour may be seen in the eastern sky beginning at around 11 p.m. The new moon that same evening will leave us with a dark enough sky for some good viewing; hopefully, “Fogust” will leave a clear sky. The celestial calendar also promises a partial lunar eclipse at the end of the month.
As summer wanes, most wildflowers have gone dormant, their seeds scattered and resting before spring rains bring them to blossom. Brightening the scene are two South African flowers adding color to the dusty landscape: pink Belladonna lilies and fiery orange Crocosmia. Belladonnas, or “beautiful ladies,” flower in sunny areas, with clusters of blooms atop a single brown stem. They live off moisture stored in their softball-sized bulbs. Crocosmia, with its long sword-shaped leaves, prefers the shade of Bear Valley and Inverness Ridge forests.
Humpback whales continue to delight viewers on the outer beaches, breaching and spouting as they pursue anchovies and sardines. They are often accompanied by rafts of brown pelicans, all enjoying fishy feasting. As long as the food persists, these whales will linger before eventually heading southward to breeding territories.