Woodland Pinedrops: Pterospora andromedea

On September 10, 2018September 9, 2018 By Mike and Christy12 Comments

Earlier this summer we ran across a peculiar plant making its way up through the earth in the forest. A strange striped asparagus? No Woodland Pinedrops: Pterospora andromeda.

According to Wikipedia “Like all members of the Monotriopoidiae , Pterospora andromedea lacks chlorophyll (trace amounts have been identified, but not enough to provide energy for the plant or to color it. Plants exist for most of their life as a mass of brittle, but fleshy, roots. They live in a parasitic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi, in which plants derive all their carbon from their associated fungus, but the relationship is not yet well understood.”

This makes it similar to several of the orchids we have encountered along the trail.

Now that summer has passed and fall is in the air the plant looks like this.

Somewhat like a small tree full of small pumpkins decorating the autumn forest.

Passing Storm

On September 9, 2018August 27, 2018 By Mike and Christy18 Comments

With the rain came a quietness that only rain can bring. Looking out into the big Pacific Ocean off the NW coast of Vancouver Island.

Antelope hill

On September 6, 2018September 5, 2018 By Mike and Christy4 Comments

Americas fastest land mammal enjoying a quiet moment at a place we called antelope hill.

Missouri Headwaters

On September 3, 2018September 4, 2018 By Mike and Christy24 Comments

Missouri Headwaters State Park, MT is where the three major tributaries of the Missouri river; the Gallatin, the Jefferson and the Madison come together and form the Missouri river proper. The Missouri Headwaters area is a geographical focal point and was important to early Native Americans trappers, traders and settlers. Coveting the regions bountiful resources, the Flathead, Bannock and Shoshoni Indians competed for control of this area, as did the trappers and settlers who followed.

Lewis and Clark passed by the Missouri headwaters on both ways of their voyage of discovery in 1805 and then again in 1806. In his journal documenting the expedition Meriwether Lewis wrote the country opens suddenly to extensive and beautiful plains and meadows that appear to be surrounded in every direction with distant and lofty mountains.

From the wet river bottom to the dry bluffs above each slightly different ecosystem was bursting with life the day we visited.

A fine way to spend a summers morning.

Wildflower Monochromes: 2

On August 31, 2018August 2, 2018 By Mike and Christy12 Comments

Since our basket of monochrome flowers is essentially overflowing here are just a few more flowers to add to your bouquet from yesterday.

Have a wonderful weekend and welcome to September.

Wildflower Monochromes: 1

On August 30, 2018August 2, 2018 By Mike and Christy11 Comments

A little black and white bouquet of wildflowers seen this past summer.

Lupine after an early summer rain.

Prairie Smoke

Green Gentian

Yellow Salsify

Forest Bathing

On August 28, 2018August 28, 2018 By Mike and Christy20 Comments

Some say there is healing power in a long forest experience, a practice called shirn-yoku in Japan. There certainly are days when you leave a nice walk in the woods with a feeling you can equate with healing. It need not be walking as a long sit on that quiet bench or rock also seems to do the trick.

Although scientific evidence is currently sparse as to the specific mechanism by which a forest walk promotes positive health we can all agree it does no harm at all.

On some days it is what we see and others what we smell. Many days it is what we do not see or smell as we walk away from the hustle and bustle and into the woods.