Views of Sequim, the Olympic Peninsula. . .and beyond
I’ve driven past this sweet little flower stand before but not at the height of summer when it’s been filled with beautiful bouquets. It’s a delight.
Everything was fresh and beautiful, including vases full of vibrant dahlias. I was taken with this mixed bouquet.
The stand is next to a sweet house with spectacular, well-tended gardens. And a sweet, friendly dog named Tucker.
Part of this tree was still standing when you last saw it last week. A big branch from it that had fallen across the adjacent trail was removed on Friday but the reduced tree remained standing.
It was a different picture on Saturday morning. The remaining branches that made up the bulk of the tree splayed outward and fell in several directions, above.
This is the base of the tree. The golden colored wood is so rotted it has the weight and consistency of balsa wood and fluttered away on the breeze when we rubbed it.
And you may have noticed: there don’t appear to be any roots attached.
I’m very sorry to see this tree gone. At the same time it’s a blessing no one was injured as it went down.
I was close enough yesterday that I heard a “crunch.” When I investigated I discovered that one of my favorite trees at the Dungeness Recreation Area had suffered a devastating failure.
Fully half the tree collapsed. No great wind did it. When I looked through the shrubbery that surrounded it I saw massive rot around its base. Time had taken a toll.
This is one of our native willows — there are three types around here. They are relatively short-lived. Two types, the Pacific or red willow and the Sitka, live in moist soils as this one does. The Scouler or fire willow is a third that is common and also given to wet sites.
The recreation area staff expects to start clearing these branches away today. I hope the remaining upright portions of the tree can remain…if it’s safe. I’m glad no one was nearby when this occurred.
This is one of my favorite trees. I have featured it before. This link will take you to a series that featured it in several seasons. And here it was last January during a snowstorm with a link to other shots.
This is a view from the bluff area of Dungeness Recreation Area, looking just east of Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
The pandemic has halted travel into Canada until at least July 21st. As Covid cases continue to break records in the U.S. it’s not likely that our northern border will reopen anytime soon.
Hope to be back soon.
A contemplative moment at Dungeness Landing.
When we emerged from our “seclusion” last week and were able to walk again at the Dungeness Recreation Area I noticed that the sky looked different from how it often looks on a clear day. There weren’t any contrails, the long clouds you see above. This photo was taken in March. There are far fewer jets flying these days. Have you noticed this?