12 July
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.
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.
Coast Salish and other northwest people have stripped bark for cedar trees to use in weaving and other traditional practices since time immemorial. Done competently, it doesn't damage the tree. This is NOT an example of their work--we asked the Chief of the Qualicum Nation, on whose territory this is and who is respected and trusted by local residents, if anyone from his people would have been gathering cedar. His reply was definite: a. it's the wrong season to gather cedar; b. they wouldn't leave bark strewn about like this; c. they don't take cedar from parks and public lands; d. they wouldn't strip in a way that faced a path. Some of the stripped trees also looked too small for this assault.
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 though there is more hemlock in the Marsh this year than in the past.
After a brief lunch break at the dock, I made my way back through the Forest. The light softly invited a return visit.
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.
At least four cedars have been recent victims of what we regard as the work of "pretendians."
Coast Salish and other northwest people have stripped bark for cedar trees to use in weaving and other traditional practices since time immemorial. Done competently, it doesn't damage the tree. This is NOT an example of their work--we asked the Chief of the Qualicum Nation, on whose territory this is and who is respected and trusted by local residents, if anyone from his people would have been gathering cedar. His reply was definite: a. it's the wrong season to gather cedar; b. they wouldn't leave bark strewn about like this; c. they don't take cedar from parks and public lands; d. they wouldn't strip in a way that faced a path. Some of the stripped trees also looked too small for this assault.
I have to admit that finding this left me with elevated blood pressure--an unusual condition during a walk in the Forest.
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 though there is more hemlock in the Marsh this year than in the past.
After a brief lunch break at the dock, I made my way back through the Forest. The light softly invited a return visit.
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