The full moon on Monday, May 16 steals the celestial show with a colorful lunar eclipse. The moon will enter Earth’s shadow at 8:28 pm. As it makes its way, the moon will look darker and take on a reddish color; it’s referred to as a blood moon in farmers’ almanacs. The eclipse will be complete at 9:11 a.m. the next morning. Early risers will see extra-low tides around sunrise that week.
It’s worth repeating each year: Nesting birds and many baby animals, including elk calves, fawns and harbor seal pups, are being born right now. Many of these offspring are left on their own quite safely while their parents forage nearby and return if not disturbed by our presence. Observe quietly and then be on your way.
Clouds of pale lavender ceanothus shrubs are in bloom along Limantour Road, and more spikes of purple lupine appear on hillsides. The abundant wildflower season continues with plenty of cow parsnip starting to show up along roadsides—they look like white cauliflowers on thick stems.
Taking advantage of the warmer and longer days that heat up the ground, snakes are coming out of winter hibernation. The most common one is the diamond-patterned gopher snake, especially around Bear Valley, where it joins the great blue heron in hunting gophers.