Expressing gratitude is important in a world filled with bad news. This is especially true when it comes to the environment, where we are often faced with a sense of loss. We need to take note of success stories, where people armed with scientific data have acted boldly to save […]
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The day after Veteran’s Day found us driving back to Phoenix to fly home after a splendid five-day family gathering primarily spent hiking around Sedona and Grand Canyon. We thought at this point that the most spectacular natural and cultural wonders were behind us. We were wrong. Our […]
Chief Sealth, arguably the most famous member of the Duwamish Tribe, was namesake for the City of Seattle. Txwxudaw was one of the largest Duwamish villages. Recently, Lori and I were in the vicinity of the former village site near the Cedar River delta on the south shore of Lake […]
Here we go again. An 18-acre site formerly used as a conference center is slated for development in a style that is oblivious to nature and the need for low-income housing. We can and should do better. Located across NE 41st from Union Bay Natural Area in northeast Seattle, the […]
New Mexico’s state nickname is land of enchantment, which is fitting for a ruggedly beautiful, culturally rich state. With all due respect to the great state of New Mexico, all of our public lands should be considered lands of enchantment. On a recent trip to Yellowstone National Park and Craters […]
Without warning, a Barred Owl flew from the forested ravine to a branch next to the pedestrian bridge upon which we were standing. It stared fiercely, leaning forward in a stalking pose, then swooped below to snatch an Eastern Gray Squirrel from a […]
What bird heralds the arrival of Spring for you? The song of an American Robin signaled the arrival of spring back in Illinois where I grew up. Here in the Pacific NW, Robins are residents that sometimes sing in late winter. The arrival of swallows and vultures marks the change […]
Flashback: March 17, 1985 On this stormy St. Patrick’s Day, Lori and I set out for a sea kayaking adventure. We paddled into Puget Sound, across the estuary and up the Nisqually River against a strong current as a Bald Eagle flew directly overhead heading downstream as if warning us […]
Amid the gloom of January in Western Washington, one can find welcome splashes of vibrant green in coastal forests. The evergreen Licorice Fern emerges from its dormancy to produce bright green fronds throughout the winter. This cheering trait has earned Licorice Fern the nickname “winter delight.” Often found in tree […]
“Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you’ve got ‘till it’s gone. Pave paradise, put up a parking lot.” – Joni Mitchell, Big Yellow Taxi Although this famous song told a sad tale; here is happy story, that remarkably, also features a parking lot. Union Bay […]