Serene Sunday Walks - Part II

After walking the "soft" trail, especially soft after 2.5 inches of rain, we continued onto the paved Springbrook Trail. This trail runs along a small stream which over a hundred years ago was formed as a drainage canal. This area used to be swamp. Now the wild green belt is an oasis between freeways, shopping centers and business parks.

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While the "spring" in the name is most likely the bubbling water kind, we were in search of seasonal "spring". The calendar says spring has officially begun, but the weather has not yet acknowledged it is so. However, nature has it's own timeline, and the signs of the season were abundant. Indian Plum is always the first to leaf out and open its white racemes. Oregon Grape is showing color. It will soon open to fragrant yellow blooms to which the bees will flock. Willows of various species are opening their flower buds.

Pussy willows are fully opened into the bloom stage.

Wild Red Currant is a real beauty. This one is ahead of the natives we have in our yard. Red Alder trees are in full bloom, their catkins filling the air with pollen. For those who are allergic, this is a difficult time of the year.

Just as nature renews in spring, it also recycles the old. Here bracket fungus is slowing devouring a dead trunk.

This mallard drake seemed to be taking a cat nap while the little woman was searching out a nesting site.

The green winged teal was much more attentive to his mate.

Thank goodness nature has its own calendar. Today it is 42 and stormy, and yet spring is still happening.