In Memory of...

On this Memorial Day...I want to first express my thoughts of all the people who fought in the past and the brave souls who continue to fight so we as Americans can be free. To think free and act free on those thoughts. I sit here and remember my grandfather Julius always talking about the war and how he described his willingness to help with the cause. Keith's grandfather Joe who so courageously flew a P38 and helped successfully win WWII. I will always give my gratitude to those who volunteered and those who will continue to volunteer their lives for our freedom.

Today, I didn't go to a BBQ or do anything traditional that I've done in the past. I took this day to soak in the very forest I work in. This may sound dorky but in the last 5 years I've never gone out and enjoyed the Elliott State Forest like others do who don't work there. I'm usually on my way to a harvest unit thinking of my strategy to do the best job I can that day. Don't get me wrong I do stop to smell the roses when I'm at work but today was different. Normally, I look out my window in the work truck and gaze at the beauty as I pass by but I haven't stopped to really enjoy this place on my own time. So this is what I set out today to do. The most beautiful place in this vast forest (to me) is along the West Fork Millicoma River in the heart of the Elliott. So this was my plan; take the dogs, the camera and stop to enjoy the forest on my own time. We stopped along the river a few times, took a hike on an elk trail and the dogs went swimming. In a sense I wanted a memory of my own, in this forest. I may not work here forever so I wanted to take this day to remember the best part of this forest, the river.....

Happy Memorial Day!

In the Garden: Spring Collection

Spring things are poping up around here and I'm having the most fun taking pictures! Here's a few I've taken recently, in the garden:)

Puzzle Points

(Monkey Puzzle tree from Chile)

Blue Bells

A new photo of an Echeveria lilancina (Hens and Chicks) succulent.

More flowers to come from a garden near you:)

Tulips

My tulips are starting to shot up green blooms which will turn to bright colors in the next couple of weeks. I so excited, this is the start of gardening season. Which is my favorite time of the year. Beautiful flowers and lots of sunshine:)

Here's my first tulip of the year!

Tulips have a special meaning for me. They were my grandfathers favorite flower. When he passed away 4 years ago. The family tried to find tulips for his funeral and during that time of the year the tulips were finished blooming. We could only find a few. So to make up for it, I bought tulips for my garden so every year he would have tulips to see.

Here's a few pics of my tulips from years past. Enjoy!!

Gardening in the Late Winter

I live in the southwestern end of the Pacific Northwest. We receive between 60-90 inches a year of precipitation. It's warm ans wet in the fall, cold, wet and sometimes snow in January and then things begin to change. Late winter is an interesting part of of the season. It still hasn't decided what to do yet, progress towards spring or stay as winter. Lately though, the sun is trying to share her warmth and I'll get the opportunity to start doing some late winter/I want it to be spring gardening. From pruning trees to transplanting strawberries, I'm busy while the weather is good.

This last Tuesday I drove down to Humboldt State University in Arcata,CA. Winding through forest and ocean views I managed to take some shots whenever there was a pocket of sunlight bursting through the fog. Here's a nice shot I got heading out to the beach in Ophir for a driving break.