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8, 15 August

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  Even when warm, August can have a hint of the autumn to come.  There were signs in the Forest this visit.  Patches of bracken fern are turning gold. Salal berries are ripe and tasty. The water level in the Marsh continues to sink.   Despite the warm morning, the dock remained a fine place to sit, admire the view, and enjoy a cheese sandwich and coffee.  Arrowsmith is now all but completely bare of snow. Leaving the dock, I took the loop trail, counter-clockwise.  The foliage is often quite different from that along the main trail. Birds will enjoy the fruit that is ripening in the cascara near the Marsh.  Along the trail, foliage is lush and mossy. A relatively uncommon (in this forest) licorice fern has sprouted from an also relatively uncommon sitka spruce. Since the forest was logged about 100 years ago, there are many nurse stumps, nurturing a variety of species. Salal and cedar appear to be a popular pairing. Deer fern appear along the wett...
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2 August

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  The summer has been comparatively mild, but the Forest and Wetlands still show stress.   Yew trees are uncommon in the Forest, and we've been watching this specimen with interest.  Unfortunately it looks as though it's feeling the lack of moisture.   Foam flowers are beginning to go to seed. It had rained during the night, and there was refreshing moisture in patches. A young cascara is flourishing despite the stresses of summer. We were happy to meet up with Ceri Peacey, the leading voice for the preservation of the Wetlands and Forest, and Obi, her sometimes reactive Australian Shepherd.   We had a pleasant chat, and Obi sat calmly throughout our visit.  We all told him he was a Good Dog!  I'm quite certain he needs to hear that. By the Marsh, the twinflower is leafing out--it had diminished in the course of trail maintenance earlier in the season. The sky promised rain, but unfortunately nothing fell where we were. The water level i...
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18 July

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  A visit to the Forest and Marsh after a night of very welcome summer rain.  Although the cloud cover persisted, everything looked refreshed. Even the slugs seemed invigorated.   Three of them formed a loosely organised parade.  Foamflower continues to abound along the path.  A close look at its blossoms shows little stars along the main stem. It had been some time since I visited the side loop trail.  Despite last night's rain, it was easily passable.  The stand of hemlock glowed in a patch of sunlight. It appears that the "Forest Gnome" who maintains trails has set a nice bench along the loop. Although it would have been a fine place to sit and enjoy the fragrance and sounds of the forest, the bench was still quite wet from the night's rain...  Another time. For this visit, I made my way to the dock, and sat on sundried boards, drinking coffee and enjoying the view.  The Marsh was quiet--no bird song.  There was an occasional "ee...
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12 July

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  A return to the Hamilton Marsh after too long an absence--out of town travel, a sprained ankle, assorted other tedious obligations.   The Forest and Marsh now show themselves as  midway through the summer months.  Despite a dry spring and an alarmingly low snowfall, today it  feels almost chilly. The foamflowers and fallen timber glow in the forest light. A pathfinder plant is starting to seed, with its odd flowers. Throughout the Forest, ocean spray is in full bloom. Summer fungi are emerging.  This is one of a generation of turkey tails that have been occupying this downed log for some months. The bracken fern above shows the effect of the dry spring. The water level in the Marsh is down, predictably.   Mount Arrowsmith is very nearly bare of snow--much more than would be expected at this time of year. The skies over the Marsh are often spectacular.  Today was no exception. Spirea is in full bloom along the Marsh fringe. It seems as ...
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