Tag: nature
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New bird at the feeder
When you daily monitor your bird feeders you get to know what birds frequent it. You can recognize a new bird quite easily. It’s the color, shape, and size. For the last couple of days I’ve noticed a bird smaller than a robin and bigger than a nuthatch or chickadee. It is also sleeker than…
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A new post goes in and the old fence comes down
In the northwest, wood decays into the soil. Fence posts and entire fences biodegrade into the soil. I’ve seen this after just a couple of years in the ground. Pay a little more for pressure treated and the fence will last longer. Pay the extra, it’s worth it. I have a fence on the side…
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Propagating the Monkey Puzzle Tree
I’ve written about the monkey puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana) before. This is a evergreen tree commonly found in the northwest. but it did not originate here. It is native to argentina and chila, specifically the andes. When we bought our home in the north of seattle, we found ourselves in the shadow of a 50…
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the oregon trail’s start and finish lines re-visited
Over the years, in my travels, I’ve come across portions of the Oregon trail. Where possible, roadside markers indicate the exact location of this famous emigrant route. You look and see two ruts where the wagon wheels traveled. There must have been a lot of wagons traveling the road to embed such tracks. We called…
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Good day, bad night on the skagit
I’m enjoying being at home sometimes day after day. However, i get the itch to go camping. In january i packed up and made reservation at rasar state park in skagit county. the park is located along the skagit river. The river flooded in december so I expected to see some evidence of the flooding…
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Daily Abstract: waterfowl, fly fisherman
January 17, 2026 – Is this winter? Cloudless blue skies in January? There have been years where we’ve had overcast and cold for months on end, nine months with little breaks. Imagine, no sun. This last summer was extended, fall was an extension of that, and now this winter is mild. It is chilly. When…
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A rare variation of a common bird
I’m studying the red-breasted Nuthatch. However, all I see is the dark-eyed junco. The junco is a common bird at the feeder. No two are alike. Some are about as big as a robin, some small and delicate. they love the feeder and the seeds that fall on the ground. They spend equal time between…
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Golden; Ghost Town of Southern Oregon
In Golden we have standing structures that can be entered, at least some of the structures as of this writing (October 2025). There are five main structures to Golden and these were vital to the community when it had residents roughly from 1890 to the mid twentieth century. The structures include a one room schoolhouse. These were common in rural areas and in this case…
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The raucous Steller’s Jay comes out of the woods
The Steller’s Jay is a bird I associate with Yosemite National Park. They are a constant sight in the valley campgrounds. I’ve seen them get into nasty fights over food. Despite having a bad disposition, I’ve always thought they were beautiful with their black heads contrasted with a blue body. They style quite a hairdo.…
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July: Mid-summer blooms from the Hydrangea, Wax begonia, and a Daphne.
How foolish of me to think I only had one bloom on the property. I overlooked a wax geranium in a large pot. They love the sun and this one really sprang to life after placing it here next to the driveway. Wax begonia can be overwintered. Overwintering involves taking plants that you know will…
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Bird bath repair. Sealing a leak and raising the water level. Dry pouring concrete.
I’m taking a discarded bird bath and putting it back into service. I bought it for someone as a gift. It returned to me but is useless. Birds never went to it. I surmise that it is too deep and wobbles due to its light weight. One more thing; it’s made of plastic. I’ve observed…
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Plant Id: Cherry Plum tree. Diciduous tree with deep purple leaves.
Our cherry plum tree stands about 20 tall and provides a privacy screen with the next-door neighbors. It took a direct hit when a 180-foot Douglas fir fell on it. The tree split in two yet survived. The branches extend up and out laterally. The rain will weigh the lateral branches down to where they…
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River access makes this park rock
The park with the unpronounceable name is just 6 acres. New to most of us, ƛ̕ax̌ʷadis Park has the one feature that puts it at the top of the list: direct access to the Sammamish River, and with that; boat, kayak, canoe, and SUP storage. River access is more than a muddy trail to the…
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A bench with a view
Took out a large hydrangea to make room for a bench overlooking the front yard, trees, and darting birds. The bench has iron sides with slats cut and installed by the owner. Found it on Craigslist for $35 in Bellevue, Wa. I tightened each bolt on each slat and cleaned the wood with Murphys Oil…
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Mt. Olympus from atop Hurricane Ridge
If the Olympic Mountains were a crown, Mt. Olympus would be the jewel. Protected by miles of deep valleys, glaciers, and thick forests, they’re only viewed from afar by most. To have a grand view of the entire range is to appreciate a place called Hurricane Ridge (elevation 5,242 feet). Hurricane Ridge is popular with…
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Big Four Ice Caves
Expect company on this immensely popular ADA accessible trail to ever-present ice caves. Though highly unstable, the caves remain a year-round sensation for some 50,000 visitors annually. For many, it’s simply an awesome sight to behold, and for others, an irresistible opportunity for deep exploration. Because of the many hazards associated with the ice caves,…
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From Grand Coulee to Leavenworth on Highway 2
One last glance back at Coulee Dam before we start back home. We go at our own pace becausenobody’s behind us pushing, pushing, pushing. However, we’ve got to make good time because I told Michele we’d be home by noon. With the dam behind us, we breeze through three towns whose existence is owed to…
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Grand Coulee Dam
The goal lay ahead; Grand Coulee Dam. I’ve wanted to come here since talking to an older lady some 30 years ago when Curt and I lived off the Hood Canal. She went on about her husband working on the Coulee Dam. Every other sentence had the words “Grand Coulee” and she was boisterous as…
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Colville: Welcome to the Reservation
Kettle Falls turned out to be a remarkable place of mountains, valleys, forests, and small towns. Thenthere was Lake Roosevelt; huge and wide with hardly a boat on it. Where is everyone? This area marks the farthest point east on our giant loop. Looking at the map of Washington we’d be near the upper right…
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The road less trampled: Omak, Okanogan, Tonasket, and Republic
With the North Cascades behind us we drop into the high desert of Eastern Washington. Temperatures will reach and exceed 100 degrees in the next couple of days. At State Route 97 we head north through the towns of Omak and Okanogan. From here on out it’s small dusty towns with the road leading right…
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Iron Goat Trail and the vanished town of Wellington
A vanished town, weird structures, and a tale of death by avalanche. I had high hopes for this hike. But an error on my part caused three of us to turn back. It went like this. The town of Wellington no longer exists. It was a railroad town for the Great Northern Railroad (now BNSF).…
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Snoqualmie Falls and the Salish Lodge
I’m still in denial that summer ended. I come from the land of endless summers. There is a point where summer actually ends. Signs start with the changing color of the leaves with an initial burst of color. This is only a precursor. Then a time of blandness and dull colors mark many of the…
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Drift-wooding into Rialto Beach
Being at Rialto Beach has been one of my goals in coming to Washington. I didn’t think it would happen so soon. And like many goals directed towards places, it doesn’t entirely meet my expectations. The beach itself lacks nothing in beauty and wonder. But I thought that it would be more isolated. The truth…
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Speaking of trees
We had Northwest Arbiculture out to do some tree trimming. We removed one tree, conducted a diagnostic test on another, and trimmed a large Red alder that was listing precariously over the shed. This work has been on the calendar for two months. They sent out two guys who knew their stuff well. One of…
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From Grand Coulee to Leavenworth on Highway 2
One last glance back at Coulee Dam before we start back home. We go at our own pace becausenobody’s behind us pushing, pushing, pushing. However, we’ve got to make good time because I told Michele we’d be home by noon. With the dam behind us, we breeze through three towns whose existence is owed to…
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NO TURNING BACK: RANDLE AND THE ROAD TO MT. ST. HELENS
No turning back. Though the thought crossed my mind between the snow and the noro virus sweeping through the family. On this trip we headed south to Mt. Rainier and then east to a small town called Randle, the gateway to Mt. St. Helens. When the mountain blew up on May 18, 1980, it was…
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A LOOK AT THE OLD WAYNE GOLF COURSE
Park at the old club house and make your way down to the Sammamish River via gravel trail. There’s a bridge over the calm waters with plenty of room to wander off trail. It’s quiet and pastural. The City of Bothell purchased the property in 2017. In total there are 89 acres of which 68…
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LAKE ROESIGER IN SNOHOMISH COUNTY
Short visit to Lake Roesiger (pronounced rose-siger) in Snohomish County. Named after Richard Roesiger, an early settler who kept a diary for 30 years and held over 100 acres in the area. His homestead is now a county park located on the east side of the lake. Humble houses with docks and boathouses ring the lake.…