This is another shot from the recent trip up to Hurricane Ridge (in Olympic National Park). It’s nice to get out and see the mountains and the trees up at the high altitude at about 1 mile (1515 m) elevation — and a special treat with a waxing moon.
I recently read that the Lombardy Poplar that were planted extensively in the ’60’s and before are all male clones. Huh. Who would have thought?
I found this row of them at Fort Worden in Port Townsend … but they are spread widely. There is a long row of them along the main road into downtown PT.
This was taken out canoeing on Lake Quinault, just outside the Olympic National Park. I was so lucky to have this trip scheduled ahead of time and get a nice sunny day with no wind in the middle of winter in the rainforest. The mountains in the background are in the Colonel Bob Wilderness. The deciduous trees are alder, cottonwood and willow.
I thought this was interesting algae that had grown on one of the beaver ponds at the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Reserve (just east of Olympia). I like the bare branches of the alder and cottonwood in the background … a nice contrast. Sorry I don’t have a name for the Algae for those of you interested in such details.
This wet winter weather gets me longing for the warm days of summer. And here we are, not yet even officially winter, yet. I bet there are some others out there feeling the same way. I hope this image helps you get through the day. It was taken in the North Fork Skokomish valley of the Olympic National Park.