Windswept

My attempt at photographing the wind.
Balsam Root and Lupine whipping around in the 30mph wind gusts at Dalles Mountain Ranch.

The Early Bird

 Guess it's true what they say about the early bird getting the worm.

This little bird perched on a fence post just before sunrise at Dallas Mountain Ranch yesterday.

Which makes me an early bird too, although it was so very windy, windy at the ranch that I had to wonder if my early morning efforts were worth it. I drove into the gorge to photograph wildflowers. Not so easy in the wind. Reminding myself that getting up early and watching a beautiful sunrise is its own reward. 

Avalanche Lily

 Avalanche Lily (Erthronium montanum), such a delicate little flower blooming 

deep in the woods at Lacamas Regional Park in Camas. 

Good Girl

Clover on a hike, ready for her closeup.
She's been on enough photo shoot hikes to know to wait while I'm photographing.
So she gets a great sense of 'Mission Accomplished' standing guard for me.

Paper Pulse

Hybrid Cottonwoods leafing out at a tree farm in Clatskanie.  

It's a six year cycle from seedling to paper pulp.  

Trees as a renewable resource are big business in the Pacific Northwest.

Shaking Off the Rain

 as the day warms up.

Razor Clam Season

A Beautiful Spring Day

We've got some perfect spring weather today.  Our forecast calls for showers throughout the day.  That means sunglasses, and an umbrella, and probably a few rainbows. 

 A great day to celebrate the 7th Anniversary of 45 Journal!

Linking to Weekend Reflections.

In Balance

Won't be long until these woods are covered in leaves,

but for now they look like an early spring barcode.