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Week of May 21st – May 27th, 2026
Photo by: Anonymous Western Fence Lizard I know we’ve all spotted our fair share of lizards around Idyllwild—and often inside our houses! If you find one indoors, don’t panic: they mainly eat insects like spiders, beetles, flies, and ants, making them great little roommates. However, they do need water, so it’s best to gently relocate…
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Week of May 14th – May 20th, 2026
Photo submitted by Kenny Gioeli California Mountain King Snake I was beyond thrilled to spot this California King Snake right in my own backyard! While they might look intimidating, these beauties are incredibly beneficial and completely harmless to humans and pets. They are the “neighborhood watch” of the reptile world because they actually eat rattlesnakes…
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Week of May 7th – May 13th, 2026
5-Week Old “Jubilee” Bald Eagle Chick at Lake Hemet: Photo by Joe Papp Bald Eagles The Bald Eagle has been our National Bird since 1782. In 1967 they were endangered due to the use of pesticides and only about 30 nesting pairs remained. Since 2007, due to the ban of DDT and other harmful pesticides,…
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Week of April 30th – May 6th, 2026
California Quail: Photo by Jim Brock Tahquitz Rock Tahquitz Rock is a monolith. A monolith is a geological feature consisting of a single massive stone or rock. Tahquitz or Lily Rock is the largest monolith south of Yosemite. El Capitan is the largest in the United States and one of the 10 largest in the world. El…
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Week of April 23rd – April 29th, 2026
The “Grape Soda Lupins” are coming up everywhere in Idyllwild. History of Chart House Building With the opening this week of the new Lily’s Restaurant, I thought it would be good to do a little history of the building at Fern Valley Corners. You can date your arrival to Idyllwild by what restaurant was there…
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Week of April 16th – April 22nd, 2026
Snow Plant – Photo by Mimi Jacaruso Snow Plant The Snow Flower is one of the coolest flowers you’ll ever happen across and it will probably be a surprise. They pop up in the early spring, sometimes right through a patch of snow. They lack chlorophyll which is why they’re red. They are a parasitic…
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Week of April 9th – April 15th, 2026
Photo by Stephen Sutton Lilacs: (VERY Early this year!) Common Lilacs (Syringa vulgaris) These flowers were brought over in the 1700’s from Europe and cultivated all over the United States. They only bloom for a few weeks, usually in May in a variety of colors from white to magenta and a variety of pinks and…
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Week of April 2nd – April 8th, 2026
Photo by Gary Leva 3 Years ofGood Morning Idyllwild! ! First Issue – April 1st, 2023I began with 6 friends and my husband signing up to receive Good Morning Idyllwild in their inbox. We currently have 2,540 subscribers. Thank you everyone for your support and enjoyment of Good Morning Idyllwild. It’s still FREE, it still…
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Week of March 26th – April 1st, 2026
Photo by Bruce Watts – Pale Swallowtail on California Thistle We lost Bruce on March 14th. We will be having a memorial where friends and anyone who knew Bruce can come and tell stories of his heart for this mountain. The memorial will be at the Nature Center in the outdoor amphitheater by the giant…