“Can you see me now?” The brown creeper’s coloring helps them blend into their surroundings, which is why they can be challenging to spot. They creep upwards around tree trunks searching for insects in moss and bark crevices. Look at the beautiful plumage! Last week […]
All posts tagged: Pacific Northwest
Up Close & Personal … Cedar Waxwings
During my 15 years in Oregon I had never seen any cedar waxwings here until … … this autumn while I was walking along a patch of trees and shrubs at the park. It was mid day when I heard really loud bird chatter, followed by […]
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 … 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Zunday Zen … Dazzling Dew Drops
Under gloomy skies summer’s fragrant last blossoms dazzle in first fall rain.
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 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 […]
Friendly Friday Photo Challenge … Mood
Sideways Geese in the Sky Snow from the blog The Snow Melts Somewhere picked the theme Mood for this week’s Friendly Friday Photo Challenge. You can click right here to see her beautiful sunflower, which should make everyone smile and get into a sunny mood! You can […]
A Stroll through Old Town Olympia
We’ve visited Olympia several times. The people are friendly, the city easy to navigate, and if you stay in, or near Old Town, everything is within easy walking distance. Some of our favorite things to there are looking at the many incredible murals, grab […]
Zunday Zen … A Tale of Two Cities
Just pause and ponder the world’s in disarray. Peace begins at home. The Olympia-Rafah Solidarity Mural Project in downtown Olympia, Washington State. This project was created in memory of Rachel Corrie, a young woman from Olympia. She was crushed to death in 2003 by […]
