The bloom of intertidal seaweeds is just as indicative of spring as our cherry blossoms and tulips.
The new growth of seaweeds are especially vibrant, this is really the best time of year to get out and appreciate them!
If you slow down and look very closely, you might see the aggregation of sapsuckers frolicking in the Polysiphonia.
Head on over to my Calendar page to make your purchase for a 2022 filled with mushrooms or sea life from the PNW! I have 2 sizes this year- traditional 8.5x11 and mini 6.5x8.5. Thanks for another year of support for my work. I can’t wait to see what adventure lies ahead in 2022.
I am so thrilled to have my work selected for the online exhibition, Terra and Tide III at Envision Arts! https://www.envisionartshow.com/terra-tide-iii
The morning started with the surfacing of a baleen whale, most likely a gray whale, about 100 ft offshore in downtown Seattle. Being at the Olympic Sculpture Park Pocket Beach, I am always reminded of the connection between our urban city and the wilds of the Salish sea. We share this life together, these two very different worlds.
Blood Star in downtown Seattle
This little pocket beach is my favorite underdog. It isn’t glamorous. It isn’t big. It is a little hidden, so many people walk right by. When the tide is up, it is a good place to sit and admire the water, the mountains, and the comings and goings of boats. But when the tide is out, there is a whole other world to explore.
Ochre Star in downtown Seattle
You will see sea cucumbers, sea stars, crabs, snails and chitons. Maybe a nudibranch, anemone or jellyfish. And the seaweeds..they are stunning.
Lined chiton homing on a discarded coconut shell in downtown Seattle
Sea lemon nudibranch in downtown Seattle
Purple encrusting sponge in downtown Seattle
Hairy crab in downtown Seattle
Spiny pink scallop in downtown Seattle
If you find yourself downtown Seattle on a low tide, make sure to visit the Olympic Sculpture Park pocket beach..you never know what discoveries await!
When I visit the San Juans, I always make a little extra time before getting on the ferry to go explore the marina. My husband likes to poke around and admire the sailboats there. I, on the other hand, delight in poking around under the piers looking for invertebrates.
Apparently, there is a group of folks who do this frequently and they refer to it as “dock fouling” Traditionally, dock fouling refers to the animals who settle on piers and docks, “fouling” the structures with their settlements. In this case, it is more of a verb, referring the activity of looking at all the animals who have fouled the docks. If you like tide pooling, you may very well enjoy the activity called dock fouling. I certainly do.
I met Luan on Instagram and was really intrigued by all the interesting animals she found while out at various marinas around the Seattle area. I asked her to take me with her and she agreed (thanks, Luan). And, btw, I truly love Instagram. It has connected me with so many wonderful, creative humans like Luan.
The highlights of our adventure were witnessing tons of feather duster worms spawning, seeing ctenophores and a red eye medusa jelly (that I failed to get a good shot of) and handful of beautiful nudibranchs. I look forward to more time out on the docks!
You can visit Luan at her website to learn more about dock fouling : https://www.naturelookings.com
The Bremerton Marina
Thick Horned Nudibranch
Leopard Dorid Nudibranch and Colonial Tunicate
Northern Feather Duster Tube Worm
Scaleworm
Mussels feeding
Sea Gooseberry
Plumose anemones
Split branch feather duster worm and plumose anemones
White and orange tipped nudibranch
Plumose anemone amidst the feather duster worms
Dock fouling looks a lot like this.