On a cool late-November grey day we walked around McArthur Island. There are a number of large weeping willows (Salix × sepulcralis) on the island, now with no leaves. Old willow trunks often have distinct trunks and folded bark. Cottonwoods … Continue reading →
On a June day, we hiked into the hills above the end of Uplands Drive for exercise, exploration, and to enjoy Nature’s surprises. We spotted some yellow paintbrush(Castilleja sp.). This variety is usually red but at times we find orange … Continue reading →
We hiked a few trails through the forest on the north side of Maui. Along the way we saw lush growth and a few wildflowers, including two types of orchids in bloom. There are three types of orchids that … Continue reading →
On a windy day, paddling on any open body of water is not easy and less enjoyable, but we can paddle a short loop on smaller protected lakes. Usually I pick MCConnell, Stake, or Inks Lakes and do one or … Continue reading →
In the summer, we took the grandkids into the hills to find some fossils. We found a few, but also enjoyed the wildflowers along the way. Mariposa lilies were in bloom on the open hillsides. I knew where shalebeds are … Continue reading →
We have hiked from the confluence of the Mahood and Clearwater Rivers up to Sylvia and Goodwin Falls and back and we have hiked from the Mahood River down to the falls and back. These trailheads are a day’s travel … Continue reading →
We drove to the summit of Haleakala at 10 000 feet, then hiked down into the crater, a drop of 3000 feet. We continued on a loop route through the crater, then back up to the rim lower on the … Continue reading →
In mid-November I hiked through the edge of the grasslands then over a forested ridge in an off-trail long loop route. There were many aspen groves in the upper grasslands, particularly around drainages or small marshes. In a 2.6 km … Continue reading →
We visited the Mayne Island Japanese Garden in October and we were delighted to walk the site and enjoy the fall colors, flowering plants, and overall design. Many of the trees were types that are featured in gardens Japan, all … Continue reading →
We stayed at UBC for a couple of days and did some walks, enjoying fall colors and many gardens along the walkways. A few photos were taken along the way. Near the UBC Botanical gardens was a border with some … Continue reading →
On a hike up the Tranquille River Trail with the grandkids, we stopped to investigate things we spotted along the way. Poison ivy (Rhus radicans sp.) is abundant in the area. All the leaves had fallen off, but stems had … Continue reading →
On a hike up the canyon, down to the creek, back along the rim on the east side, then down and back up in Peterson Creek Park, only a handful of wildflowers were spotted (the usual suspects), but we also … Continue reading →
