When I noticed this tall flower stalk with its brightly colored blossoms at the park last summer I thought that it might be some kind of wild orchid. I had seen it in the exact same spot in previous years but never bothered to investigate […]
All posts filed under: North America
Up Close & Personal … The Marbled Godwit
Whenever visit Sonoma County, California, I stop by Bodega Head and Doran Beach. Most visits I’ll go there several times. The beaches there are simply spectacular! And rarely crowded. During my last visit, as I was driving along Westshore Road toward the town of Bodega Bay, […]
Up Close & Personal … White-Throated Sparrow
Last summer I encountered this white-throated sparrow sitting high up in a tree. This was my first time seeing one in person. These large sparrows are easily identified by their white or tan head stripes, white throat and and yellow spots above their eyes. Their […]
My First Muddy Boots Adventure of 2021!
Warning! If you are squeamish you might want to precede with caution! Raptors are eating lunch! It’s been nothing but raining here in our neck of the woods lately. This continuous rain has kept me from going to my favorite park for the last several says. However, […]
Oregon’s Nature Nooks … North Clackamas Park
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: 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 […]
California Road Trip 2019 … The Laguna de Santa Rosa Revisited!
Looking north towards the Mayacamas Mountains! I last came here four years ago with my friend Christine. This time, it was hot, dry and slightly breezy. Last winter the area received record rains which created a lot of serious flooding. The Meadow Lark Field Pink grass!!! […]
Hummingbird Magic!
This rufous hummingbird is usually keeps his distance when I’m in the garden. All hummingbirds love salvia! After the hummers battle each other in the air, the winner always seems to return to the plant where the battle first began. 🙂 Charging me! This is when […]
Exploring the Oregon Coast … Siletz Bay Part 3
A large group of harbor seals hanging out … … along with this Great Blue Heron, who was keeping an eye on everything! Here the heron reminds me a bit of the Road Runner from the old cartoons. Coming in for a landing! After watching […]
Exploring the Oregon Coast … Siletz Bay Part 2
This was new to me! The fishing for crabs this way! This little guy was the lucky one to escape the dinner plate! He, or she, measured half an inch too small to be taken. The crab scampered sideways towards the water’s edge and then […]
Exploring the Oregon Coast … Siletz Bay Part 1
Spending a couple of days at the coast always recharges my batteries! The rhythmic sound of the waves crashing onto the shore is calming. And calm is what I’ve been needing lately. It seems like there is never break from all the bad stuff happening […]
Happy Friday from Downtown Portland!
Check out this view! Gorgeous, isn’t it? Happy Friday from the 30th floor terrace in Downtown Portland! A view of Pioneer Courthouse Square and the Pioneer Courthouse with the Willamette River, SE Portland and the Cascade Range in the background. Mount Hood was hidden behind the clouds. Have […]
Zunday Zen … The Magical Redwood Forest
Sequoia sempervirens the world’s tallest, living trees. There’s not much one can say about these incredibly beautiful, long-lived, resilient, fire-resistant and evergreen sky scraping giants! Even on a warm day the air within the forest stays reasonably cool. There’s really nothing else quite like it! […]
Bienvenue à Quebec! La Deuxième Partie!
While we were visiting Quebec, we also took a bus out towards the St. Lawrence Estuary where we got on a boat for a whale watching excursion. There were lots of Beluga whales, and also a fair number of Mink whales. The boat was a […]
Friendly Friday Photo Challenge … Time flies …
… when you’re having fun! A little late, but here is my combined contribution to the last two Friendly Friday Photo Challenges. First came Amanda’s prompt, “Alleys”, and then this past Friday, Snow picked “Chairs” for the prompt. While sorting my digital photo library I […]
Meditation in Moment … Earth Day
Phoenix Rising from the Ashes, Sonoma County Fair 2018 Sunday night, October 8, 2017, I went to bed excited because the next morning I was going to leave for my annual road trip to California. I had packed my car and was ready. This trip […]
Up Close & Personal … The Townsend’s Chipmunk
The arrival of spring always brings with it the Townsend’s Chipmunk. These adorable tiny rodents are related to squirrels and every bit as agile and acrobatic as their much larger relatives. They mostly scavenge on the ground, picking up sunflower seeds and bits of suet […]
