I went for a walk today.

Today being Mother's Day I spent the morning at mom's. Then did some clean up on her deck, planted a couple of pots for her and a few of my own. Then I decided to take a walk back to the river. I live in a manufactured home park near Pleasant Hill. We have 99 units in an almost rural area. We have common grounds surrounding us that includes several stands of trees and the Coast Fork of the Willamette River. Part of our property is across the river. From my home I have a perfect view of Mt. Pisgah. We all own our lots and it is a very tight knit community. Part of the fun of being here is being able to walk in the woods. I cross a field to get to the paths, there are several and today I picked one of my favorite but not doable in winter. Too muddy. This is the start.

This is a meadow that I like to visit to see if I can see the deer when they come for blackberries later in the year. I cross this to get to the paths.

Of course I have to stop and look at wildflowers.

The meadow is at the edge of our property. The rest of my walk is on county property. Have to be careful back here. Poison oak, gopher holes and the blackberry vines in summer that reach out and grab you. LOL Most of us who walk back here carry clippers to help keep the path clear. I also carry a big walking stick.

This spillway runs along side the river and the path.

I surprised this poor duck. She was really moving fast to get under cover.

Back to the path, always something interesting to look at.

More flowers.

Don't know what these are, but they are really different.

Almost there.

At the river. When you get this far in, it's just you, the birds, the wind in the trees and the sound of the river.

Time to start back. This path is still a bit slippery and the gophers have really been busy.

Still finding interesting things.

More of the path.

Back at the meadow.

Take another path, I want to check the river and look for some rocks for my gnome garden.

River's running fast today, it usually is. Not too high, last winter it was up over the grass at one point.

This isn't looking good, better find my rocks and head home.

One more wildflower.

Across this field is home. Next to the big trees in the middle.

That was how I spent my day. How did you spend yours?

My view of Mt Pisgah. Looks pretty even with rain clouds. It's raining now, so it's good I talk my walk today.

Beautiful pictures, Sally. What a wonderful choice of a place to live. Happy Mother's Day, everybody.

beautiful pictures:) Stayed home and did iris crosses in the AM and then family came over to have a potluck lots of wonderful healthy salads and hamburgers...trying very hard to eat and stay healthy

D

I sooo enjoyed my walk with you, Sally. What a great place!!! So, did you find some perfect rocks!

Jeff and I worked outside all afternoon. Almost forgot to put the pork in the oven for dinner. It needed 2 hrs. to cook. All the kids either called or stopped by. My DIL got mom a gardenia. It scares me, cuz it's not hardy here, which means I will need to keep it inside. I'm terrrible with indoor plants.

My gardenias are hardy in 7b, but maybe they're a different type.

Great photos, Sis! I can hear the river just looking at them. That last wildflower is very pretty - don't remember seeing it before.

oh how lovely ! Makes me miss Oregon !

I think the last flower was camus but I don't know the second one. Nice place to be able to stroll. Calming.

Sally, I really enjoyed the walk, thank you for letting me tag along.

Thanks, Willowwind2! What little I found out about it was that the bulb was used by the local Native Americans as food - similar to a potato. The white form is poisonous, though!

Thanks for letting me share your walk Sally.

Sally, What a wonderful walk in the woods...thank you for bringing us along! Your area is lovely...what a wonderful variety of plants and wildflowers. Such a treat to have just a field away!


Irwells, please tell me that those aren't gardenias in your photo...if they are I am so envious. Just planted a "hardy" one again this weekend...try number two.

I second that the second picture of flowers is Camassia or Quamash. I have read the same, KaperC, that the natives actually planted stands of them to get the tubers and that in nature the edible ones often grow with the "Death Quamash). I often wonder how many people were sacrificed to find out which things are edible and which aren't.

The first flower pictures almost look like a stand of naturalized delphiniums. Could that be it?

Kathy

Sis, I think you should add your photo to Plant Files. I didn't see any with quite that color and a close-up. If I was looking the plant up, your photo would make me want to get it. In fact, I wonder if it would grow here? :-)

Thanks all. Glad you enjoyed it. Sis that blue flower is actually down by the river, in a part that is under water when the river is high. That's where I find the best rocks. I wouldn't be surprized if someone out walking just dumped a packet of seeds back there (in the woods). Besides what just comes natural. This area at one time was a hops farm and they grew onions too. The county part is pretty much ignored by most, I've got bug bites from yesterday and the path can get overgrown if not used often. The deer use though, I could see hoof prints in the soft gohper dirt.

Here's the rocks I chose.

This message was edited May 11, 2009 6:07 PM

Does this help? I took this just before I got to the spillway.

Sounds like everyone else had a good day too. I would love to have a hardy Gardenia, I have a bonsai one that my kids gave me, smells up my whole kitchen when it blooms. Afraid I'm killing it though, doesn't bloom as much as it did.

What a neat walk Sally. I love the rocks you collected too. I love rocks.

Thanks, I love river rocks. Such interesting shapes.

Love the rocks. Are they really blue?

Camus grow all over the roadsides in Shelton.