The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge. We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns.
We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below.
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January 2019
Salish Sea, Pacific Northwest
We get sunny days now and then in winter in the Northwest. If I can, I like to get outside to soak in the brief watery sunlight before the next big grey storm system rolls in. On one occasion recently we took a walk out to a rocky bluff we know where the woods meet the sea.
The walk from the road takes us through a soggy stretch of mostly deciduous trees like alders, willows and wild fruit trees. After a while the trail takes us into a conifer forest of mostly Douglas and Grand firs, hemlocks and a few of other kinds.
Out on the bluff the trees are stunted both from the rocky substrate and exposure. The most common trees are Shore Pine and Douglas Fir, with a few Grand firs.
The trees are very Entish out here. Each individual is unique and well known to me. I’ve been walking out on this bluff for 35 years or so. Things look calm and peaceful right now but winter storms blast this bluff with gale winds. It’s in the path of prevailing storms from the southwest.
One of the real pleasures of winter for us is being able to enjoy places like this in peace. In summer there are tons of visitors out here. Mostly nice enough people but there’s a different feeling when it’s quiet and empty. On this day we saw just one other person, a local.
Back in the woods on our walk back to the road we passed a favorite tree, one of the Western Yews that thrive under the fir canopy. This yew is right on the trail, and has been stroked by countless hands over the years. It’s older than anyone walking through these woods.
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Partly cloudy today in the PNW and calm. 39°F, which is about as chilly as it’s gotten this winter. It’s been an unusually warm January this year. We’ve had no freezes this winter at all, just a couple of light frosts.
What’s up in nature in your area today?
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