California Poppies

 We got a bit of freedom back today in Washington. Fishing is allowed again, and most state parks are open. Most of the good ones are closed. No beaches, for example. And none of the great wildflower hikes are open yet either. This photo is in the vicinity of Catherine Creek, which is still closed. We drove down through Mosier. Balsam Root and Lupine are in peak at the higher elevations. Lower down things have moved on to California poppies and Bachelor's buttons. I'm definitely looking forward to the day when all trails and beaches are open again!

In the Bluebells

A scene from the NatureScaping demonstration gardens. I'm not sure the variety of bluebells, and I have to admit I'm also not sure on the variety of bee that was visiting. However, NatureScaping has a large structure where they keep and also sell mason bees (Blue Orchard). There was lots of busy bee activity in and out of the shed, and this guy has the dull brown look of a mason bee. I wasn't focusing my attention on him, although I saw him through my  lens. I adjusted my shutter speed to about 1/500 in hopes of catching him in action, but he's still a little blurry. 

On This Day

Ten year ago, I started 45 journal. Time sure flies! For my anniversary post, a beautiful scene at a local park. Thankfully our county parks have not closed, unlike state and federal parks and lands in Washington and Oregon. The trillium is in peak bloom right now,
carpeting the forest floor in this section of the park.

Clearing

This photo is from a walk I took a few weeks ago. I'm slow to post, and already it looks much more like spring here. Less brown, more green. And on this particular day, we were starting a welcome shift in weather pattern from less rain to more sun. I was hoping for a rainbow because it was that kind of day.

Another Beautiful Day

Good morning, first full day of spring! Glad you're back! :)

The Outside World

 Nature continues with its schedule, oblivious to our new, crazy virus life! I was sure glad to get out this morning and take a break from virus news, news, news and walk at the Tom McCall Nature Preserve Point Hike in Oregon. It's a steep hike, with many switch-backs, coming back repeatedly to the hill's edge overlooking the Columbia River. This vantage point was the most picturesque. Consulting my field guide, Wildflowers of the Columbia Gorge (Russ Jolley), I think the foreground flowers are Columbia Desert Parsley (Lomatium columbianum). In the distance, the Rowena Point overlook. I saw a handful of people. We kept our "social" distance, but all so very happy to be out in the fresh air.