Quiet June Gloom skies prevail, with no meteor showers until later in the summer. The full moon rises on July 10, bringing early morning minus tides. This is the “herb moon” in the Celtic calendar, a time for gathering and preserving medicinal plants.
The cooler temperatures draw out local reptiles such as lizards and snakes. Western fence lizards, also known as bluebellies, enjoy moderate temperatures; if it’s too cold, they can’t move easily, but if it’s too hot, they can’t sweat off the warmth. They scamper about trails seeking a variety of insects, and you may see them doing “pushups” to communicate. These movements can attract mates and frighten off others. The occasional gopher snake may slide onto the cool tile floors of local restrooms seeking respite from the heat.
The giant leaves and dark-blue starburst berry clusters of elk clover, or Aralia californica, line Bear Valley Trail. As the transition to summer continues, the latest of the flowers are orange sticky monkeyflower shrubs along west-facing Inverness Ridge trails.
Harbor seal protection closures lift July 1 as the pupping season winds down. National park roads, trails and visitor centers remain open on the July Fourth holiday. An annual reminder: No fireworks are permitted in Marin County.