Hi Friends! I started a separate social feed to share bite-size discoveries, local events, and tips to spark your curiosity about nature. Hope you'll follow me on this new journey. I'll post my other social links on Facebook once they are up!

Hey local peeps! 🎉 Come join us for a pottery sale filled with handmade goodies from students (yes, I’m selling too!) and our awesome teacher. Shop small, support local, and snag some one-of-a-kind holiday gifts! 📍 2384 Rupert Drive, San Jose #ShopLocal #PotterySale #Handmade #HolidayGifts #SanJose

Pacific Madrone (Arbutus menziesii) produces berries that persist into winter, providing an important food source for birds and mammals. #WinterBerries #Berries #Nature #Wildlife #Madrones #California #LearnAboutNature #DiscoverPlants #NativePlants #WildPlants

🎃 Had fun making this pumpkin. It still needs one last touch—any guesses what it might be? #GlazingTrails #CuriousPotter #MadeWithCuriosity #PumpkinSeason #HandmadeCeramics #HandmadePumpkin

Rock Wrens (Salpinctes obsoletus) often build walkways leading to their hidden nest cavities. Sometimes these pavements become elaborate, with hundreds of objects—including human-made ones—though their true purpose remains a mystery. #BirdBehavior #AvianArchitecture #Nature #Wildlife #California

A young male Bewick’s Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) learns to sing from neighboring adult males while coming of age in his parents’ territory. His song develops with subtle differences—a note changed here, a syllable there. #Wrens #BirdSongs #CaliforniaBirds #DiscoverBirds #Nature #Wildlife #California

When you follow a leader, consider what would lead you to withdraw your support. If the answer is nothing, your integrity is in jeopardy. Our highest loyalty belongs to principles, not people. No leader deserves unconditional love. Commitment is earned through character.

When Northern Pygmy-Owls score more food than they can eat, they stash it away—tucking prey into tree cavities or even impaling it on thorns, a trick more often associated with shrikes. #NorthernPygmyOwl #BirdBehavior #CaliforniaBirds #Owls #Nature #Wildlife #California

Manzanitas (Arctostaphylos spp.) flower and fruit when water is plentiful. To gauge upcoming conditions, they form flowering shoots at the tips of spring growth that stay dormant until the next season—like a tiny “big toe” testing for moisture. #Manzanita #DroughtAdaptation #Nature #Wildlife

Owls fly almost silently thanks to unique feathers. Serrated leading edges and soft trailing fringes break up airflow, while velvety plumage with tiny hairlike extensions further muffles the sound of each wingbeat. #Owls #SilentFlight #WildlifeFacts #DiscoverBirds #Nature #Wildlife #CaliforniaOwls

In late summer, young Elegant Terns (Thalasseus elegans) trail their parents on fishing trips, quietly following until a fish is caught—then breaking into loud begging calls. They often drop to the water’s surface to receive their meal before taking off again. #Terns #BirdBehavior #Nature #Wildlife

Fifth-instar Monarch caterpillars (Danaus plexippus) stop feeding and often wander away from milkweed in search of a safe pupation site—sometimes traveling up to 10 meters before forming their chrysalis. #Monarch #Pollinators #ButterflyLifeCycle #Milkweed #WildCalifornia #Nature #Wildlife

The Eccentric Sand Dollar (Dendraster excentricus) is a cousin of sea urchins and sea cucumbers. It uses tiny spines to scoot along or burrow into the sand. This shows its exoskeleton — you might find washed up on the beach. #SandDollar #Echinoids #OceanLife #Nature #Wildlife #CaliforniaCoast

Jumping spiders (family Salticidae) may be tiny—usually less than 15 mm—but they’re mighty hunters. Instead of spinning webs, they stalk prey in daylight, sneaking close before springing into a spectacular leap. #JumpingSpiders #Spiders #CaliforniaSpiders #Nature #Wildlife

Pacific Glasswort (Salicornia pacifica) thrives where few plants can—using saltwater as its main source of water. It tucks excess salt into tiny vacuoles at the tips of its stems. When those fill up, the segments turn red and fall off, taking the salt with them. #SaltMarsh #Nature #Wildlife

Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea) thrives in wetlands and riparian zones with rich, moist soils. It’s remarkably flood-tolerant—able to withstand water above its root crown for up to seven years. #RiparianHabitat #FloodTolerant #CaliforniaPlants #Nature #Wildflowers

Just posted a bunch of new pottery I made in the last month!

Brush Rabbits (Sylvilagus bachmani) have some clever tricks for staying safe. They can sit motionless for ages, but when danger strikes, they dart away in a zigzag at 20–25 mph. #Rabbits #CaliforniaWildlife #Wildlife #Nautre #FastAnimals

Blochman’s Leafy Daisy (Erigeron blochmaniae) is a California endemic found only along the San Luis Obispo and northern Santa Barbara coasts. It grows in sand dunes and coastal hillsides—habitats that are shrinking due to development. #CaliforniaEndemic #NativePlants #Wildflowers #Wildlife #Nature

Did you know bobcats play a key role in regulating small prey populations, like rodents and birds? This helps reduce the spread of diseases like Lyme disease. Like pumas, humans threaten bobcats due to habitat fragmentation and rodenticide usage.

Saltgrass (Distichlis spicata) is highly salt-tolerant, excreting excess salts onto its leaves and stems. It often forms dense stands, sometimes spreading clonally. #Saltgrass #NativePlants #SaltTolerant #Wildlife #Nautre #CaliforniaPlants

The Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) can climb trees like other woodpeckers, but it prefers foraging on the ground. Its main food is ants, which it digs up and collects with its long, barbed tongue. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northe... #Woodpeckers #BirdBehavior #Nature #Wildlife #California

Most California Thrashers (Toxostoma redivivum) spend their entire lives in chaparral, a fire-adapted habitat. Their populations peak about 20 years after a burn. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/califo... #Thrashers #Chaparral #BirdWatching #CaliforniaBirds #Nature #Wildlife #California

Courting Bewick’s Wrens (Thryomanes bewickii) usually form monogamous pairs. Even after the female begins incubating eggs, the pair often forages together—a behavior that may help the male guard his mate from rivals. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bewick... #Wrens #Nature #Wildlife #California

Downy Woodpeckers (Dryobates pubescens) often join mixed-species flocks in winter, gaining safety in numbers and better chances of finding food. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Downy_... #Woodpeckers #BirdBehavior #DiscoverBirds #Nature #Wildlife #California

My favorite oak! It host so many cool gall wasps!

The tiny Northern Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium gnoma) is a fierce daytime hunter with a taste for songbirds. Its piercing yellow eyes scan for prey as it waits quietly to strike. Songbirds often mob these owls to drive them off. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northe... #Owls #Nature #Wildlife #California

Blue Oak (Quercus douglasii) is California’s most drought-tolerant deciduous oak. Its deep roots, small canopy, and tough blue-green leaves help it endure dry conditions. #Oaks #Nature #Wildlife #California #LearnAboutNature #DiscoverOaks #NativePlants #DroughtTolerantPlants

Glaze party happening in the studio today! 💫 Getting a bunch of pieces ready for the next shop update—can’t wait to share them with you soon! #Pottery #Ceramics #FunctionalArt #HandmadePottery #GlazingTrails #CuriousPotter #MadeWithCuriosity #FromTheKiln #StudioVibes #PotteryProcess

Turkey Mullein (Croton setiger) is toxic to some animals, but its seeds are eaten by birds. Several of its common names reflect the affinity of doves and wild turkeys for its seeds. #Nature #Wildlife #California #LearnAboutNature #DiscoverPlants #NativePlants #WildPlants #BirdSeed

Tanoak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus) is named for its tannin-rich bark, once the foundation of a major tanning industry on the Pacific Coast. Its high tannin concentration was prized for producing durable leather goods, until overharvesting limited its availability. #Nature #Wildlife #California

Honeydew Gall Wasps (Disholcaspis eldoradensis) form stem galls on several oak species. While the larvae feed, the galls exude a sweet sap that attracts ants and yellow jackets—providing an important late-summer honeydew source when other foods are scarce. #Nature #Wildlife #California #OakGalls

Bowl-and-doily Spiders (Frontinella pyramitela) weave a two-layered web: a bowl-shaped dome suspended above a flat sheet. The spider hides beneath the bowl, safely sheltered, and bites prey that falls into the web from below. #Nature #Wildlife #California #LearnAboutNature #NativeSpiders

Blue Oak (Quercus douglasii) hosts more than 50 species of gall wasps, the largest number known on any oak. #Nature #Wildlife #California #LearnAboutNature #DiscoverPlants #NativePlants #GallWasps

Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura) have stomach acid so strong they can safely eat carcasses tainted with anthrax, rabies, or tuberculosis. By cleaning up carrion, they prevent disease spread and keep ecosystems healthy. #Nature #Wildlife #California #LearnAboutNature #Scavengers #EcosystemHeroes

Coastal Woodfern (Dryopteris arguta) produces sori—clusters of spore sacs called sporangia—that split open to catapult tiny spores into the wind for dispersal. #Ferns #Nature #Wildlife #California #LearnAboutNature #DiscoverFerns #NativePlants #WildPlants

California Quail (Callipepla californica) broods may mix after hatching, with all parents helping care for the young. Adults that raise chicks cooperatively often live longer than those that do not. #Nature #Wildlife #California #LearnAboutNature #DiscoverBirds #CooperativeParenting #BirdWatching

Turkey Mullein (Croton setiger) has toxic foliage, and it was traditionally used by California Native Peoples as a fish poison to stun and catch fish. #Nature #Wildlife #California #LearnAboutNature #DiscoverPlants #NativePlants #WildPlants #Ethnobotany

Steller’s Jays (Cyanocitta stelleri) are excellent mimics, capable of imitating other birds, squirrels, cats, dogs, chickens—even mechanical sounds. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Stelle... #jays #mimics #birds #nature #wildlife #california

Pacific Madrone (Arbutus menziesii) sheds its bark in colorful layers—green to buff, orange, and deep red—with tannins and continual peeling working together to deter insects and other harmful organisms. #tanins #madrones #trees #bark #nature #wildlife #california #LearnAboutNature #DiscoverTrees

Jumping Gall Wasps (Neuroterus saltatorius) produce tiny galls that “jump” on the ground as larvae move inside. This behavior, observed in warm, dry weather, may help the galls burrow into leaf litter for protection. #gallwasps #cynipids #oaks #nature #wildlife #california

"Red-breasted Nuthatches (Sitta canadensis) migrate southward earlier than many irruptive species. They may begin in early July and may reach their southernmost point by September or October." www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-br... #nuthatches #migration #nature #wildlife #birds #california

Pacific Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum) climbs trees and other plants using adventitious roots—special roots that grow from the stem to anchor it in place. #adventitiousroots #vines #nature #wildlife #california

Had so much fun coloring these little tapas plates—each one turned out with its own personality!

Masked immigration raids don’t protect us. They hide abuse and strip away our dignity. Stand with me in demanding transparency and accountability by adding your name to this petition.

Dusky-footed Woodrats (Neotoma fuscipes) build large, conical nests up to 8 feet tall in trees, on the ground, or on bluffs. Made of sticks, bark, and plant material, the nests can house multiple generations and include rooms for specific purposes. #woodrats #nests #nature #wildlife #california

Durango Root (Datisca glomerata) hosts nitrogen-fixing Frankia bacteria in its roots, helping enrich the soil with nitrogen. #actinorhizalplants #nitrogenfixers #frankia #nature #wildlife #california

Big Berry Manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca) can live for over 100 years but doesn’t begin to fruit until around age 20. Its seeds need fire to germinate, and it produces large, edible berries. #arctostaphylos #manzanitas #nature #wildlife #california

Spotted Bee Fly (Anthrax irroratus) larvae are parasitoids of solitary bees and wasps, living in close association with their hosts and ultimately causing the host’s death. #parasitoids #beeflies #nature #wildlife #california

California Mugwort (Artemisia douglasiana) tea has been traditionally used by the Chumash to ease menopausal hot flashes, PMS, and menstrual pain. A small amount of leaf or stem is steeped in hot water and taken over several days, depending on the condition. #artemisia #nature #wildlife #california