Whatcom County,
Pacific Northwest
Spring has sprung in my favorite walking woods. On these “hunker-down days” I have to move or go buggy so I head out to the woods for an hour of serenity to “commune “ with nature. This past month I have frequented four of our local city and county parks and a couple of nature preserves all of which I have written about previously: here, here, here and here.
These urban woods are well maintained with good trails and many alternative paths that allow one to stay to one’s self. Although these parks are generally well used, they are rarely crowded. But in these times, they are largely vacant. On a 50 to 60 minute walk, I see maybe a couple of trail runners and a couple of dog walkers – occasionally, someone on a mountain bike. Most days I see only about 4 people, all with masks or bandanas. They are universally courteous and ready to step off the trail as you come into sight. It is almost a contest to see who can get off trail first and let the other pass by. We all say “good morning.”
THE DAILY BUCKET IS A NATURE REFUGE. WE AMICABLY DISCUSS ANIMALS, WEATHER, CLIMATE, WATER AND PLANTS AND NOTE LIFE’S PATTERNS.
WE INVITE YOU TO NOTE WHAT YOU ARE SEEING AROUND YOU AND SHARE YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND COMMENTS BELOW. EACH NOTE IS A RECORD THAT WE CAN REFER TO IN THE FUTURE AS WE TRY TO UNDERSTAND THEIR PHENOLOGICAL PATTERNS THAT ARE QUIETLY UNWINDING AROUND US.
TO HAVE THE DAILY BUCKET IN YOUR ACTIVITY STREAM, GO TO BACKYARD SCIENCE AND CLICK ON FOLLOW.
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The following photos were taken over the last last month on my walks at the four parks.
My favorite flower this time of year is always the Trillium as seen in lead photo. I love seeing it sprouting up in large groups as below. The lead trillium and this one below are from different parks. Fortunately for us, they are all around us.
Also a harbinger of spring around here in swampy places, AKA wetlands, is the skunk Cabbage.
Salmonberry shows its pretty pinkish red blossoms.
Pacific Bleeding Heart is also just starting and not fully bloomed yet, but very close.
Sword ferns are pushing up their little fiddleheads that unfold and straighten out into sword-like fronds. This is a staple of our PNW forests.
Moss!
This is moss time. Early spring after much moisture and it is thick and just everywhere. We love it and so do the licorice ferns. Here are a few moss shots:
The down side of Spring in the woods:
Although Spring is a wonderful time of colorful rebirth, like everything else in life, there is no free lunch. With the favorites also comes the spring pains:
The various trees, conifers and deciduous alike are spewing their pollens to create their next generation. These pollens waft in drifts down from the canopy. Below is a photo that appears to be over-exposed but the apparent haze is actually light reflecting from the billions of pollen spores floating in the air. I could see the pollens like it were snow. A serious pollen allergic person would be hard hit in this lush forest. Maybe that’s why no one is around!
Finally we have a local favorite ground cover, Periwinkle. While attractive, this garden escapee is an invasive species that forms tight mats on the ground and crowds out native species in the forests.
With the early spring rains mostly past, the water of Whatcom Creek is clear at Whatcom Falls Park.
Thanks for coming along on my Spring woodsy walks around Bellingham’s Park system. And we did not even have to wear masks.
What are you all doing for exercise and sanity these days? Tell us how you are keeping your head straight.