22 March 2010

Aunt Kristin & Nature Walks (March)

Caveat: forgive fingerprints on camera lens that looked suspiciously the size of a 3 year old's finger.

My honorary-daughter-young-friend-mentee came to visit (armed with fingerpaints). Kristen is currently working on her PhD in Botany/Ecology at University of Colorado at Fort Collins. Of course, we took her on a winter stroll along our favorite trail, winding our way down to the river. The soils are "sweet", producing lush ephemeral wildflowers in the spring. Many of the plants are ginseng indicators, but I haven't found a ginseng plant yet (likely poached out years ago). Still hunting, though-it's so much fun. Obviously, all plants were hiding until next spring.

We did find an amazing snag that was deliciously-pecked by a Pileated Woodpecker beak or two. Willow enjoyed looking in the holes; since that time, we have been fortunate enough to attract one to our backyard birdfeeder loaded with peanuts and suet (yeah! this has been a lifetime ambition).









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