Tag: Nature

A Sure Sign of Spring – the Salmonberries are Blooming

Despite the rocky start to spring – we had snow yesterday, and wind, rain and hail last week – the salmonberries are blooming! I found these on the trail recently, on the hottest day of the year when the sun was actually shining, and… Continue Reading “A Sure Sign of Spring – the Salmonberries are Blooming”

An Early Spring Hike on the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River

I never cease to be amazed at the beauty of Washington State. Just over an hour away past North Bend we enjoyed these vistas while hiking along the middle fork of the Snoqualmie River. We started out on the Oxbow Loop Trail with this… Continue Reading “An Early Spring Hike on the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River”

Birds of Coulon with a Shoutout to the Coot

Of all the waterfowl I’ve seen at Coulon Park – the seagulls the ducks canadian geese and great blue heron. The one with the greatest numbers gets the least respect from me – always in the background and never featured. Apologies to you american… Continue Reading “Birds of Coulon with a Shoutout to the Coot”

Bird Condos for Rent – Excavation Continues

Chickadees continue to move into cavities in the snag and I welcome them. In the meantime, excavation continues thanks to the Northern Flicker. Click on pictures in the gallery below to enlarge them. The rapid rat-a-tat-tat of the pecking resounds throughout the neighborhood, while… Continue Reading “Bird Condos for Rent – Excavation Continues”

The Azalea and the Mason Bees

My azaleas are blooming and lighting up the yard with purple, and the largest of them has become a bee magnet. It not only attracts honey bees, it also attracts mason bees and I’m only now learning the difference. My hubby put up a… Continue Reading “The Azalea and the Mason Bees”

Happy Home in the Snag!

I was SO thrilled to see a chestnut-backed chickadee building a nest in the snag we left standing for this very purpose! The cavity is under the highest bare branch near the top of the tree. This mama was singing while busily preparing the… Continue Reading “Happy Home in the Snag!”

Secrets of the Green River Gorge

Yesterday while the weather was dry, we went to explore the Green River, taking the short but steep and hidden trail, down into the gorge. The river beckoned through the trees, and we stopped to enjoy its beautiful color and turbulent flowing water. And… Continue Reading “Secrets of the Green River Gorge”

Surprised by Snow

I’ve wanted to drop by the SquareOdds challenge before it’s over but I’ve been hard pressed to find anything odd! But after our mostly balmy weather the last few weeks during which time I accomplished a bit of spring gardening, it seemed odd to… Continue Reading “Surprised by Snow”

A Walk in the Hoh Rain Forest, one of the Quietest Places on Earth

This was not our first trip to the Hoh Rain Forest – we’re Washingtonians and have been many times before. But it was perhaps the most wonderful, for in the dead of winter we had the Hall of Mosses trail to ourselves. At the… Continue Reading “A Walk in the Hoh Rain Forest, one of the Quietest Places on Earth”

Rhapsody in Blue – Sculptures, Eagles and a Mountain in Tacoma!

Yesterday we visited Tacoma and found everything blue! Outside the Art Museum was a sculpture by Marie Watt: Blanket Stories: Transportation Object, Generous Ones, Trek; and nearby was the Chihuly Bridge of Glass. At Ruston Way the blue sky merged into the bay where… Continue Reading “Rhapsody in Blue – Sculptures, Eagles and a Mountain in Tacoma!”