Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Day Trip to Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually Wildlife Refuge
We often neglect the things in our own backyard as being too local or too familiar. And so it was for me with the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge which I had passed by many, many times on my way to somewhere else.
“Someday,” I would say to my husband Bob, “we’ll have to stop.”
But we never did. All these years. Until today. After being sick and housebound all week, Bob was desperate to get out and enjoy the summer weather we were having. The Nisqually Wildlife Refuge would be perfect for a day trip and simple hike. After stopping by our favorite coffee shop (you know the one) we headed south for the hour drive to the Refuge.
A little background first for those of you unfamiliar with the Nisqually. There is a big beautiful mountain in our neck of the woods which has more glaciers than any other peak in the continental United States. One of those glaciers on Mt. Rainier is the Nisqually, the source of the river that flows from the mountain into Puget Sound, forming the rich Nisqually River Delta. The Glacier and River were named after the Nisqually Tribe who have lived in this area for thousands of years.
The Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1974 to protect the delta and its diverse fish and wildlife habitats. It was renamed in 2015 to honor Billy Frank Jr., a Nisqually Indian activist for Native American rights, who played an important role in getting treaty fishing rights restored to local tribes.
We arrive at the Refuge and after browsing through the Visitor Center, take the Twin Barns Loop Trail, an easy boardwalk through riparian forest. Here we are dwarfed by enormous maple trees which overshadow us. The air is warm and fragrant, and rich in the chatter of birdsong. The peace is pervasive.
The boardwalk continues through the Refuge to several overlooks including the Nisqually River Overlook below.
Further down the trail we meet a photographer who shows us pictures he took of baby Great Horned Owls. He’s carrying two large cameras, binoculars and a tripod. I’m carrying my new and much smaller camera but am not skilled, nor patient enough to photograph birds – yet. I am content rather to watch them flit through the brush and listen to their music and luxuriate under the tree canopy. I do manage to photograph more sedentary fauna and flora including this turtle..
and these cattails releasing their seeds from velvety tops.
The Loop Trail was enough for today and we were both rejuvenated by our visit to this wonderland. We vow to return again for the other trails and to experience the Nisqually River Delta in all four seasons.
~ Susanne
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A Summer Day in May
Summertime and the livin’ is easy here in the Pacific Northwest. After the longest rainy season on record, summer arrived with gusto this week with temperatures in the seventies and eighties. We poor, cold, and waterlogged natives embraced the sunshine and are soaking up the long overdue rays while they are here.
That includes me as I head to Coulon Park in the heat of the day where I find the irises in bloom and bright as the sun,
and these walkers blending in with the green.
The view of Rainier to the south was striking as always..
but the Olympics floated in the haze somewhat ghostly to the west,
reminding me that I will welcome the cleansing of the next refreshing rain. I am after all, a true native.
~ Susanne
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Catmint – It’s What’s for Lunch
This is Tiger and today was a good day to be a cat. The sun was out to warm my fur and cheer my soul. And even better, I had the catmint all to myself on this glorious summer day.
Catmint – it’s what’s for lunch.
~ Tiger
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The Garden, a Stream, and Benji
After a busy day out and about in long lines and traffic and life’s uncertainties, I made it back home and went into my garden to rest. Here the lavender never fails to cheer,
while the scent of the woods, the sound of birdsong and the beauty of the stream lifts my spirit. The stream was made by my creative husband a few years ago. A flip of a switch causes the water to flow. I love the soothing sound it makes and how the light reflects upon it in the early evening.
Benji joins me and stops for a cool drink,
before striking this handsome pose.
~ Susanne and Benji
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Cedar River Trail and the Big Birds Beside
Today was overcast but just right for a morning walk along the Cedar River Trail.
The river was flowing gently while reflecting the flowers and trees alongside its banks,
and the ducks were enjoying the flow.
Boeing!
It wasn’t long before the Big Birds came into view. The Trail meanders along the river and through Boeing’s Renton Plant, home to the best selling commercial airliner of all time, the 737. (Did you know a Boeing 737 takes off or lands somewhere every two seconds?)
The Boeing Renton Factory opened during the 1940’s and produced the B29 Bombers used during World War II.
When I was growing up Seattle was known as the Jet City and everyone knew someone who worked at Boeing. Boeing is still the largest private employer in the state of Washington.
The 737, which went into production in 1967, is still manufactured at the Renton plant and can be seen lining both sides of the river.
We talk with a guard who points out the 737 MAX currently under construction, distinguishable by the unique ‘pincher’ on the end of its wings.
We follow the trail to the south end of Lake Washington and stop to enjoy the views.
It won’t be long before color lights up the trees on the trail.
We’ll be back for the show.
~ Susanne
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The Faithful Ones in the Early Spring Garden
Under a light rain I venture outside to the spring garden and admire the faithful flowers blooming there. These are the ones who really do bloom where they are planted, requiring little if any assistance from me.
I planted the Clematis a few years ago to fill in a spot of chain link fence. It has been pleased to do that and more, happily climbing overhead onto nearby evergreens, spreading color everywhere.
This Rhododendron, though completely neglected by me, blooms heartily every year in spite of it.
The Candytuft gets no special attention either,
yet fills the air with its sweetness, attracting the attention of two residence cats, Benji and Tiger, who also appreciate its scent.
Sweet Woodruff provides a nice bed for the bird bath and kitty watering hole,
while this uninvited intruder fills in where I can get nothing else to grow
providing a nice background for a portrait of the handsome Tiger.
All are happy in the spring garden.
~ Susanne
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Sleeping with Style
Sleeping.
With Style.
Nobody does it better.
~ Benji
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Mt Rainier Up Close and Personal
Did you know there is a Paradise on earth? Well yes, there is! And it can be found at Mt Rainier National Park!
After being teased by beautiful local views of the mountain we decide to take the drive to the National Park for an up close and personal look at Mt. Rainier. No, not for the first time, but for the first time this year. A sunny day is promised and the roads are clear.
We arrive at the south entrance to the Park at Longmire, and after lunch at the historic National Park Inn, take the drive up to the Paradise Visitor center.
Mt Rainier National Park was established in 1899 and was the fifth U.S. National Park. It was the first to be designed from a master plan to include entrance arches, rustic buildings, scenic lookouts, trails and visitor centers, becoming a pattern for National Parks to follow. We stop at many viewpoints and waterfalls on our way to Paradise.
Near the top we spot a red fox by the side of the road who wisely climbs the snow bank to safer ground.
We arrive at the Paradise Visitor Center at 5,400 feet and enjoy close-ups of the 14,410 foot volcano, the second highest mountain in the continental U.S. It is from here that climbers make their way to Camp Muir at 10,188 feet so they can rise under the darkness of night for the climb to the top. Over 10,000 people a year attempt the climb and almost half as many make it. With binoculars, you can already see climbers making their way up to Camp Muir. Others are content to play in the snow a little closer to the ground.
After our visit we head back down for a short hike at Longmire in an area where meadows meet the forest. We take the boardwalk through hot springs, skunk cabbage and fragrant woods.
Under the tree canopy I tell Bob to look for the buried treasure ahead. ‘X marks the spot’ I say, but he walks on by.
We complete the loop, following the trail into golden meadows where more views of Mt. Rainier await,
until we are finally back to where we started.
On the drive home we pass by the Recycled Spirits of Iron Sculpture Park near the small town of Elbe. For just a donation you can walk among the unusual sculptures created by artist Dan Klennert which we did,
finishing up with a song.
And so after a wonderful day under sunny skies at the most beautiful mountain in America we head back home, once again counting our blessings that we live in such an amazing part of the world.
~ Susanne
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The Mountain in our Midst
Always there though not always visible, tonight’s walk at Gene Coulon Park yielded these views of the mountain in our midst ~ Mt. Rainier.
Happy to be living in the Pacific Northwest.
~ Susanne
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Kitty Bliss
Most mornings after I rise I settle into my office with coffee in hand and shortly thereafter a kitty will appear. If Tiger, he will saddle up next to the chair for a good scratching. Benji will take the lap as he did this morning and enter into a state of kitty nirvana.
One might think such a deep state would last longer; but Benji can go from kitty bliss, to kitty this, at a moment’s notice,
until I am driven completely from the chair.
Good Morning everyone from Susanne and Benji.
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 