A Spring Walk in the Woods

Spring is in full bloom here in the foothills
 of the Cascades.

Everything is growing and blooming, 

the bees are buzzing,

and the air is fragrant with the scent of flowers. 

(And the scent of the local stables,
but only when down-wind)

So come along with me

 and we will take a little walk

 to meet the flowers. 

I have no idea what type of crab-apple this is,

but the blossoms are a lovely mauve,

 and the tiny, sour apples are a favorite of the birds.

As we pass through the gate...

The flowers in my heart shaped rock garden

 want you to come a little closer.....

Rock Cress blooms....

among Forget-Me-Not,

beside Creeping Phlox.

Fringe-cup, a wild relative of Coral Bells,

adds height. 

It is not quite in bloom, 

but will have tiny green bells

fringed with pink.

These grow abundantly along the edges of the forest
and readily reseed themselves.
I have encouraged them along.

As we walk past the garden we see the giant Holly tree.
It is loaded with red berries in winter, much to the bird's delight.

It has reseeded itself everywhere.
They say it is invasive here,
but a lovely invasive that the birds enjoy.

Forget-Me-Not.

Whitey impatiently waits.....

Pink and blue wildflowers, are strewn about like confetti.

Tiny wild Cranesbill (Herb Robert)
grow everywhere.

A leafy bower

Red Elderberry fills the forest clearings
 with their pungent, frothy white blooms.

Soon, clusters of bright red berries will form,
providing an important food source
for migrating birds,

Including the Western Tanager.
Every year we have a nesting pair
that arrives just as the berries ripen.

Their warble is as pretty as their good looks.

Salmon Berry - so named for the color of it's raspberry-like berry,
light up the forest with their rose colored blooms.

These are an important nectar source
 for hummingbirds and insects
 in early spring when few things are blooming.

Western Bleeding Heart carpet the forest floor

 with dainty lavender-rose 'hearts'.

There are Ferns of all types....

Including in the trees!

Pink Current is another hummingbird favorite
 and lovely to encounter in the forest.

We follow Whitey down the woodland path.
Elderberry bloom alongside.

Trillium turn from white to lavender before fading away for another year.

Big Leaf Maple's six inch flower clusters
will form the winged seed heads
that are favorites of native Douglas Squirrels.
One tree can produce hundreds.

In autumn when the winds start to blow,
they spin to the ground in aerial ballets.

Tall Oregon Grape send up yellow, sweet scented racemes,
 which will be followed by blue berries that were dried and eaten by Native Peoples.

Bracken Fern slowly unwind as they reach skywards.

This tall fern is poisonous to livestock,
but the bitter aroma ward off the curious.

Highly scented white Viburnum attract bees by the dozens.

Can you see Mt. Rainier peeking through the foliage?

But with shadows getting long, we should return home.

It's been a beautiful day.

I hope you enjoyed our walk to meet the flowers.

Champ enjoyed it, too!

xoxo

To be overcome by the fragrance of flowers
 is a delectable form of defeat.

-Beverly Nichols-

Today I am linking to:
Floral Friday