Tuesday, March 31, 2009

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.

10 comments:

  1. What a nice walk! I am one of those with allergies, so I have a love/hate relationship with Spring!

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  2. Lovely pictures. All the mosses, and lichen that grown in the Pacific Northwest fascinate me.

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  3. fun walk, I was noticing in our desert area signs of spring...many cactuses are forming blooms. It's a great time of year everywhere.

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  4. I want to be on that path in the 2nd shot, what a beautiful place!

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  5. Beautiful photos! And spring really is coming soon, isn't it???
    I had to get out and take some photos today of blooming things just to reassure myself. Thanks for these!

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  6. Oh wow...a teal pair..How lucky. You have so much more green and colors than we do. But my allergies are getting an early start on the season..

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  7. Nice shots! I would love to visit this place especially with all of that water adding to what you see. And the shot in your header is beautiful!

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  8. Nice seasonal photos Linda. Enjoy! - Dave

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  9. I love it! The ducks are so pretty. I'm enjoying seeing spring take hold of your part of the country.

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  10. Glad you are enjoying some flower/nature day trips and that you are sharing them with us. I'm loving it.

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