Here are a few more photographs of these adorable, hungry young swallows. Amazing how quickly the parents would race back and forth to feed their babies! When I finally got home I told the Zendog “Every time I visit the park there’s a surprise waiting […]
Oregon’s Nature Nooks … NorthClackamas Park
After I had noticed the swallows around the bird house I began stopping by the nesting box every time I visited the park, once upon arriving and then again after my walk before leaving. Somehow, I never saw the swallows and never heard any sounds […]
Oregon’s Nature Nooks … North Clackamas Park
Earlier this spring, on one of my many walks at North Clackamas Park I spotted a pair of brilliantly colored violet-green swallows. They were busy flying in and out of this small nesting box right by the community garden. There are four bird houses hanging […]
Meditation in Moments … Gazing into the Swirly Whirl
One of my favorite stops at the park is the bridge that spans across Mount Scott Creek. It’s especially fun after it rained and the current is swifter than usually. I love how the light creates these abstract patterns and reflections in the water. 🙂
Meditation in Moments … Please be Kind!
Yes! I’m talking to you! “Please Be Kind” said this smart and considerate hummingbird: This now new world order requires an invisible physically distant border around you and me and everyone we see along with a mask to stay disease-free. Most humans are kind and […]
Oregon’s Nature Nooks: Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
View from the garden entrance The Zendog and I finally ventured out to explore the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden here in Portland. It’s located on SE 28th Avenue in the Westmoreland neighborhood. This garden got its start in the 1950 as a test garden and […]
Autumn Magic at the Oregon Garden
Can you hear the leaves crunching underfoot?  water striders and sunlit autumn afternoons always float my boat. Late October was the perfect time to visit the Oregon Garden for fall colors. Four large brick reflecting pools and and forty brick planters occupy this garden plaza. Each […]
Ribbit!
Last week started off so well, or so I thought! Monday I went to my drawing class and then later in the day to my watercolor class. I love both courses. The drawing is taught at a local community center and the watercolor class is […]
Tasty Tuesday … Vegan Thai Coconut Mango Curry
Were I to ever find myself stranded on a tropical island, on which I could choose only one kind of fruit tree to grow, it would be a mango tree. While I love most fruit, the mango is my absolute favorite! Right now my favorite […]
Autumn Magic at the Oregon Garden, Part 3
Every time I’m at the Oregon Garden I stop at this sign and then … … head down this narrow path towards the Secret Garden … … only to remember, when I come around the bend, that this is a dead end … The view […]
Autumn Magic at the Oregon Garden, Part 2
If you turn right outside the Visitors Center you’ll walk right into the Fuchsia Garden. Dozens of enormous hardy fuchsias grow there on the hillsid . Some are 6 to 7 foot high. Since we haven’t had any frost around the area fuchsias are still in full […]
Autumn Magic at the Oregon Garden, Part 1
Stepping out from the Visitor Center into the Oregon Garden After endless rain all week I awoke to a bright blue sky and sunshine on Monday morning. I decided to enjoy this beautiful day at the Oregon Garden. This Amazing Water Garden was created by […]
Tasty Tuesday … Wild Mushroom & Coffee Dutch Baby
An intriguing cookbook I recently came across at the library was “Bake the Seasons”. The author is Marcella DiLonardo and I think her book is fantastic. While browsing through pages of yummy sounding recipes, I noticed this Wild Mushroom & Coffee Dutch Baby recipe. It’s […]
Zunday Zen … Dazzling Dew Drops
Under gloomy skies summer’s fragrant last blossoms dazzle in first fall rain.
Hummingbird Magic!
Despite fewer blossoms to nourish the visiting hummers now, they still visit daily. I watch them sip nectar and defend their territory against other birds and me. The butterfly bushes, a hummingbird favorite, will continue to flower until the first frost. Once the last flowers wilt, these […]
Up Close & Personal … The Backyard Meet-up, Part 2
The flicker kept munching away … … when suddenly a rare visitor to our garden peeked out from the beautyberry bush. A Western Scrub Jay hopped out of the bushes … … looked around … … and then jumped over onto the suet feeder pole. […]
Up Close & Personal … The Backyard Meet-up, Part 1
The Northern Flicker checking out the backyard before coming down from the tree … … where he encounters a Stellar’s Jay at the suet feeder. They thoroughly check each other out … … when the jay starts to clown around and then hops onto the […]
Hummingbird Magic!
This magical moment lasted at most about a minute or two! I was sitting near the dahlias thinking “wouldn’t it be nice if the hummingbird would come by these beautiful flowers before they fade. Suddenly this male Anna’s Hummingbird appeared and fulfilled my wish! These […]
