Wednesday, 5 April 2023
I touched the Pacific today, that is, if you believe Puget Sound is the Pacific.
And I learned that my favorite (well, truth: only) plant ID app did not recognize this as a star magnolia, or even as a magnolia. I think the algorithm interpreted the scale wrong (as there were no other plant parts visible), and had the flowers much smaller, and hence matched them to very different species than magnolia.
Tuesday, 4 April 2023
If one enters Carkeek Park, that means one descends. The focus of this area of public land, it seems to me, is this bridge across the railroad to the beach. One time we were here when low tide was exceedingly low, and we went out to the edge of the water and stood something like 30 feet below sea level on temporarily dry ground.
The park embraces this creek, which flows across the beach in the distance. This shot is off to the left of the RR in the upper photo, and (duh) upstream. Some mallards were sleeping (not shown). Others were watching the man watching them; I think they were hoping for a handout.
Up in the woods, on my returning ascent, I found this denizen “wearing” moss and ferns. Beats all the Paris fashion, if you ask me.
Sunday, 2 April 2023
My finger was descending to catch this rabbit in the grass, nice profile, when s/he realized there was a big dog across the road. Ah, well, this way, you get a better view of the cottony tail.
A bit of internet investigation…and I have learned that this is Ribes sanguineum, or red-flowering currant, and native to this area, although this specimen may be a nursery cultivar.
Watching rain come across Puget Sound. It’s slow moving. I’m typing this almost an hour later, and it still has about half the sound to cross to reach us.
Saturday, 1 April 2023
Just me and one gull checking the weather and the light at 7:18am. And just me enjoying the puddle reflections.
Coffee stop appropriate to the fact that we are Seattle-bound.
First sunshine find of the day.
First dairy stop…well, only dairy stop…Tillamook, of course.
Cloud/precip return…and, yes, that’s snow on that upper slope.
Another “vote” that today’s theme should be dairy.
Downtown SEA, looking overcast and bright at the same time.
Welcome flowers. We had no wind when we arrived and I found the scent intense and lovely.
Thursday, 30 March 2023
I got up, showered, then strolled down by the bay. I “woke up” these mergies and gulls, or at least my footsteps persuaded them to depart the rocks.
Then we hopped in the car and headed south along the coast. Our first stop was this viewpoint for Heceta Head Lighthouse.
Next stop: the trailhead, and lunch…mmmmm.
The trail followed Sweet Creek, with many spring wildflowers…
…a few catwalk sections…
…many waterfalls…
…and looming moss-festooned trees. These are small cousins…
…of the old growth that once reigned here. Note the slot the logger made to insert the board he stood on to cut down the giant.
Wednesday, 29 March 2023
We exited the city in fog and continued in fog into the country. Hazelnut tree orchard to the left.
Oh, look what we spotted! Mystery how it got there….
The last snow we drove by en route to the coast.
Where we found the tide was out.
We met up with our friends who took us to a special place with woods roads and trees and even elk droppings and a soaring eagle and an eagle on a nest.
Old growth stump being re-inhabited by the forest.
Forest floor trillium.
Four trunks on this special tree.
Old Bell System phone for making calls to dearly departed ones.
Fabulous backlighting on the tree-moss.
The tide is even farther out…leaving evidence of an ex-bridge.
Active bridge.
Tuesday, 21 March 2023
Fronds and frond-iness. A frond is a leaf or leaf-like plant part. These fennel fronds trace such delicate imagery.
Thursday, 16 March 2023
A consuming quiet peace washed over me as I looked up at these new leaves, with a blue, blue sky behind them.
Wednesday, 15 March 2023
Looks like the azaleas might make it through the cold snap(s). More below freezing temps coming in the wee hours tonight (too). This is sunset, today. [A local meteorologist suggested that March may be colder on average than February this year…yikes.]
