A Moment in Time

My spouse and I are getting ready for another coastal vacation – most likely our last hiking vacation of 2021. We will be traveling into the Land of Green: moss, ferns, ancient conifers, nurse logs, and seedlings. This time the days will be much cooler, dampness will infuse our surroundings, and soft duff will cushion our steps. We hope for clear nights for more star-gazing but if not, we have a fireplace in the cabin for warm fires and that will suffice. And, as always, I have been prepping for long forest hikes by taking long walks in town.

Autumn color has been spectacular in these early days of the season, but because of last summer’s drought and extreme heat, trees and some shrubs are dropping their leaves at an astonishing rate. Plants are exhausted. It hurts to see such damage – even cloaked in such beauty – and this may become a more common sight in our future. But at this moment, for just an instant in the larger holding of time, we can enjoy what we have been given.

The beauty of my Friday morning walks around Green Lake, North Seattle. This section of Green Lake reminds me of Central Park.

My favorite Full Moon maple greets me as I get close to home.

The unique seed pods of Koelreuteria paniculata, Golden Rain tree

Beautiful combination of Arbutus unedo (Strawberry Tree) and Acer japonica

My Picea pungens, Baby Blue Eyes, and colorful Euonymus japonicus. This euonymus is a humble little tree that gives great rewards year-round!

The explosion of my little prairie bed: Deschampsia caepitosa in the container and Andropogon gerardii (Big Blue Stem) in the foreground, Schizachyrium scoparium, Little Blue Stem behind. Acer palmatum (Ever Red maple) and Cotinus coggygria (Royal Purple Smoke Tree) in the background.

This picture was taken years ago – you can see how much the Big Blue Stem has grown, and a better view of Little Blue Stem next to it. I think I’ll do a similar container planting this Halloween.

I wish you good walking, colorful sights, and time enough to enjoy the season!

2 thoughts on “A Moment in Time”

Walt Bubelis says:

October 2, 2021 at 5:24 pm

Wonderful array of plants – your id skills are still tops.

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1. tagpipspearl says:
  
  October 2, 2021 at 6:42 pm
  
  Thanks very much, Walt! ID has never been easy for me so I test myself every chance I get.
  
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