Today I followed a scented trail through the Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle. My eyes lifted up to branches filled with soft petals of pink and white. The trees seemed to be emerging from a dark and wet winter. Moist mossy branches stretched sunward, up to the sky. They seemed to say ‘we have endured an endless winter, but have now broken through a dark … Continue reading Cherries
The leaves of Arrowleaf balsamroot in the Spring are just delicious. They look so fresh and alive as compared to the leaves in the summer when they are dusty and desiccated. The color is such a contrast to the surrounding plants, softly glaucescent and covered in fine hairs. This pubescence gives the plant a slight advantage and protection from heat and drought. I like the … Continue reading Arrowleaf Balsamroot
This is the start of a plant list for a popular recreation trail near Swan Valley, Idaho. As a new resident in the area, I’m looking forward to learning the native flora and plan on adding to this on a regular basis. If there are any corrections or additions, please contact me. elainesalal@gmail.com May 2023 Perennials Actaea rubra, Baneberry Astragulus alpinus, Alpine Milkvetch Balsamorhiza sagittata, … Continue reading Palisades Creek Trail Plant List
I was delighted to see this delicate Spring flower in abundance at the onset of the Palisades creek trail. The small nodding white flowers with extended yellow stamens looked like tiny bells for a woodland fairy. This perennial often hides its flowers with the terminal leaves, but they were highly visible on these plants. They were a most welcome sight after a very long, white … Continue reading Fairybells
The first moose I saw this year was a thriller. We were hiking near Jenny Lake at Grand Teton National Park and spotted a solitary Moose grazing languidly in the water. We watched and listened, entranced as it submerged its head to grab the nutritious plants at the bottom of the pond, munching and dripping and squishing. We actually heard this large animal before we … Continue reading Moose
Rainyleaf 