Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Flaming Geyser State Park, A Missing Flame and Steelhead in Training
In the middle of a rainy April we picked the sunniest day for a walk at Flaming Geyser State Park where instead of a flame we found a flowing river, luscious forest and steelhead in training – who knew there was such a thing?
To get there we took the scenic route from Auburn through the quiet pastures and farmland of the Green River Valley, which eventually led to the bridge into the park.
There we took the trail into the forest alongside the Green River where all was fragrant and lush and mossy green.
We emerged later near the Flaming Geyser for which the park was named – though we were a few years late getting to it.
According to Wikipedia, “The park was named for a flame which burned through a concrete basin, fueled by a methane gas pocket 1,000 feet below the surface. When the pocket was discovered by prospective coal miners in the early 1900s, the test hole hit gas and saltwater, shooting water and flames 25 feet into the air. The same methane pocket seeps gas through a mud hole to create the “Bubbling Geyser” nearby. Both “geysers” can be found along a short hike, though as of 2016 the flaming geyser is no longer lit due to depletion of its methane source.”
But we did get to see summer steelhead sporting about in the conditioning pond which prepares them for release.
Flaming Geyser State Park has over 500 acres including three miles of shoreline. There were many other trails to explore but we were running out of time and would have to save them for another day. We headed back to where we started, taking a different route next to marshy wetlands filled with birdsong.
It was still and quiet, but at the same time full of activity. I walked slowly hoping to capture pictures of the frogs and birds but they moved too quickly or managed to stay hidden.
While I lingered Bob went ahead and found a place to sit, then called me over when I caught up with him to look at these.
“Daisies,” he said. “Aren’t they pretty? Everyone walks by without really noticing them. I think they’re happy when someone stops to appreciate them.”
And so we did.
Shared with Jo’s Monday Walks.
~ Susanne
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Something there is that loves a Bridge!
I don’t love walls but I do love bridges so I had to share a few favorites for Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge.
I’ll start in my home state of Washington and move down the coast.
First up is the Vantage Bridge carrying Interstate 90 across the mighty Columbia River near the town of Vantage and George (yes, there is a George, Washington!)
Moving south but still crossing the Columbia at its mouth, is the Astoria-Megler Bridge connecting Washington to Oregon at the historic city of Astoria.
In California I have two bridges to show you. First up the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge connecting, you guessed it, San Francisco to Oakland, and more often simply called the Bay Bridge.
Next door is that other bridge you may have heard of – San Francisco’s Golden Gate.
Bridges – still better than walls.
~ Susanne
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Tiger’s Corner
Three years ago I mustered up the courage to start this blog ~ with a little help from my feline friends! Since then the forest in back is gone, the sweet Benji has come to join us, but otherwise much remains the same. Here’s the first story from Tiger in case you missed it. 🙂
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Lady’s Mantle with the Dew
As long as I’ve had a garden it has included Lady’s Mantle. Not for its flowers, tiny and yellow, appearing like clouds atop its stems. Not for its fragrance – there is none – or its medicinal uses – there are many.
I grow the plain and hearty plant year after year just so I can see it after a rain. Or with the morning dew as I found it this morning.
~ Susanne
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Dazzled by the Tulips at Roozengaarde
I was completely dazzled at the Tulip Festival this week and thought I’d share a few more pictures I took at Roozengaarde Farms.
According to their website, “William Roozen emigrated from Holland in 1947 with years of experience in the bulb industry and started a bulb farm on five acres of land. Today, Roozengaarde is the largest flower bulb grower in North America with more than 1000 acres of tulip and daffodil fields located in the Skagit Valley.”
I was happy to visit during their peak bloom under mostly sunny skies.
~ Susanne
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Tis the Season for Tulips
Yes indeed. The Tulip Festival in the Skagit Valley is in full swing and the fields were an explosion of color yesterday and we were happy to visit under mostly sunny skies without rain or mud in this so very rainy month of April.
And though it is impossible to properly convey the glory of the place it’s fun to try. And so without further adieu here are some pictures from the fields and display gardens of Roozengaarde.
As always I took far too many pictures and will likely share a few at a time in future posts – because, why not?
~ Susanne
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Camellias
I love the camellia plant, her flower rivals any rose.
Her leaves are dark and strong and glossy, some to brew as tea.
Even her name is lovely.
~ Susanne
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A Walk through Bellingham fueled by Rockets
I know you’ve been waiting so here’s the final story from our road trip last month that included Skagit daffodils, Fairhaven, and Western Washington University (here’s that story in case you missed it, though you probably didn’t.)
Bellingham remains a special place to me with memories of my college days and the first place I lived outside Seattle. The population of the town and the school have doubled since I attended but neither one felt much bigger to me. It’s still a great place to walk and so I left my husband behind at the museums – the Sparks and the Railway – and headed to the Rocket – wouldn’t you?
Rocket Donuts is new to town since I lived here, which is probably a good thing as I have a weakness for donuts and homemade ice cream, of which they have both.
Once inside you’re greeted by this big guy and other movie memorabilia from the science fiction of the fifties. At the Fairhaven location you’ll also be able to watch old Buck Rogers movies -. and just so you know – that’s waaaay before my time. 🙂
After enjoying my truly decadent espresso ice cream, I had the strength to walk around town and headed towards this view of old City Hall – overlooking Maritime Heritage Park.
Here I followed the trail next to Whatcom Creek
until I was surprised by these lovely falls
and peaceful stretch of creek above, all in the heart of downtown.
The creek empties out of Whatcom Lake further east where there is another lovely park worth a visit. Maybe next time. Instead I climbed the steps back into town and came across the new Courthouse
and many old buildings I remember so well like the historic Mt Baker Theatre – missing its E –
and named after the mountain you see hiding off in the distance.
Just an hour drive from town, Mt. Baker doesn’t loom over the city quite the way Rainier does over Seattle, but its presence is felt nonetheless. It’s an active volcano in the Cascade Range and I remember there was frequent talk of her erupting someday. So one day after school when I heard a volcano had blown its top, I immediately thought it must be her, but no, it was Mt. St. Helens further south. We saw nary a cloud or speck of ash in Bellingham.
I continued my walk around town and eventually back to where I started,
where I met up with Bob as he finished his museum tours. But before we left, I couldn’t resist one more picture of the Rocket though I did resist a donut.
~ Susanne
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Cats Seeking Shelter in the Rainy Northwest and Baseball
After a bizarre winter in the Great Northwest – featuring summer temperatures and record-breaking snowfall – we have now settled into a typical rainy spring. The garden is loving it and new plants are being thoroughly watered in.
Cats seek shelter wherever they can find it, if they are willing to go out at all.
When inside at least they have good baseball to watch as the Seattle Mariners are off to an amazing start, the best in all of baseball, a surprise to all those who predict such things.
Tiger watches attentively while Benji is more distracted,
and hushed by his older brother.
~ Susanne and Tiger and Benji
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Happy National Pet Day!
I said these words to our two feline residents and they were puzzled.
“What’s a pet?” asked Benji.
“Um, well,” I replied, a bit startled by the look in his eyes. “According to the dictionary it’s a tamed animal kept for companionship.”
“Tamed?” questioned Benji.
“Kept?’ asked Tiger.
“Are you planning to curtail our freedoms? You know how much we like the outdoors. At least when it’s not raining.”
“No of course not you two. You’re way too sensitive. Sorry I mentioned it at all!”
~ Happy National Pet Day from Susanne and Tiger and Benji
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 