Spring Wildflowers

Hello Blog World.  Little Fox here with a wrap up of my Spring wildflowers.  Spring started early this year, right around the end of February.

Yep, you are not mistaken.  These  little flowers are about as tall as me.  These are some of our earliest flowers. Always a good sign that spring is coming.

Fast forward a month.  Now it's early April and I am at an old ranch that is now a state park.  The ranch is an old homestead and they planted a few trees along the creek.  Some of the oaks are still around.

I call this place Little Fox's grotto. It's very peaceful here. 

A nice collection of Lupine and Balsam Root. 

Back at the ranch, a few weeks later.  California Poppy have invaded.  They spread pretty fast when they get started....invasive for us but the State flower of California (and illegal to pick in that state).  A certain dog is attempting to photo bomb.

Away from the ranch but still in the same area.  Flowers are slowly dying off...spring is almost over (this Picture from 5/19/21).

Lupine, an oak tree and...what another photobomb by Sequoia.  This is MY blog....not his.

Sequoia is a little confused why someone would not want him in their blog.  I guess I can't blame him for wanting to share the spotlight with me.

Perhaps we can hit DQ for a PupCup (a vanilla sundae, peanut butter, and two milkbones) or Starbucks for a Pupacino (whipped cream in a small cup...and one of the most popular items on the Starbucks secret menu) for Sequoia?  

Spring is nearing an end.....bring on Summer!

Spring has sprung

 Hiya Gang,

Little Fox here.  Patiently waiting for the sekrebearies to start this hike.  

My goal today is to find wildflowers.  The picture below is one of my favorite places to pose, it reminds me of senior pictures kids get when they graduate high school.  Is that a US thing or do they do that around the world? 

I am exploring the Catherine Creek area in Washington State.  This seasonal creek is flowing fast, I wonder if it's Catherine Creek?  Amazing, I have been coming here for 10+  years and never thought about if this is Catherine Creek. 

Flowers!  A fox sized flower, I believe it's a grass widow.  Of course this blog is terribly outdated, it's much more exciting to see these little flowers in February when this hike was taken. 

An old forest of Oregon White Oak (I know, in Washington but go with it). 

The Columbia River looks majestic today. 

Perhaps I can rent a boat and travel to the source of the Columbia in the Canadian Rockies at the aptly named Columbia Lake. 

Bear in charge blog 10. Let's explore

Hi Gang.  Baxter here.  I am out exploring the Columbia River Gorge.  This is an old orchard and unfortunately the trees aren't bearing fruit anymore. 

There are some great views of the Columbia River.  If you follow this river eventually you'll make it to Canada.

Years ago this area was an old ranch.  A few remnants of the old ranch are still in tact.

After a little hiking I ended up in a field of wildflowers.

This is a better photo of me don't you think?

A nice comfy rock.

The cool thing about this hike is that there is a whole open meadow to explore.  Actually, this might be a good place for lunch.

Kettle Chips.  Ever had them?  They are pretty tasty.

Cherry tomatoes to offset the saltynesss of the chips.

Apples.  Good source of vitamins for this guy.

And finally some string cheese.

Enough with lunch.  Sequoia says it's time to get back on the trail.

Let's go!

Bear in Charge Blog #3. Proper introductions.

Hello Blog World,
Good afternoon.  I have to admit I am a little embarrassed as I have not properly introduced myself yet.  My name is Baxter T. Bear.  I come from a long line of stuffies mainly from the Mediterranean.  As you can see my Mediterranean roots are showing as I am about to eat this nice pizza.

Don't worry.  I did some nice hiking today (one of the many tasks I have been tasked with now that Little Fox is on vacation). Today's destination is Catherine Creek to search for wildflowers. 

On board for today's adventure is Sequoia.  

Catherine Creek was originally an old ranch.  It's been out of commission for many years and now the land belongs to the forest service.  You can still see old remnants of the ranch along the route. 

There are a few scattered old oak trees and about 10 miles east there is an old cherry orchard.  The hilltop that Catherine Creek is really windy. 

One of the few surviving oaks around.

The views are expansive.  The Columbia River is in the foreground and the meadow is wide and open.   

A few wildflowers were out today.  I have always called the purple ones "Grass Widows" but I am not botanist so the real name is a mystery to me. 

Ahhhhh this is the life.  Now if this cloud would move I could enjoy a little more sun.

See you next time blog readers - your pal Baxter.