How buggy is my valley ?

The answer to that question is very buggy.

Very, very buggy.

It seems like there was barely a one week or two between the last of the snow drifts and the first clouds of pesky midges.  

What's a girl to do ?

Well this girl went to the Dollar Store and got this very fetching hat with attached bug netting.

I'm hoping that I'm not going to have to wear this all summer in the woods but considering the beauty of "my" new woods, it's a price I am willing to pay.

I've always been a little nutty for Moss.  

And after our long bitter Winter and overly late Spring I am finding these bursting greens intoxicating.

And Wendy and Sooki are always happy to tag along.

BTW I had to discard a lot of images because bugs were flitting in front of the lens.  

How could I forget ?

Back in Portland, the day after I visited the Chinese Garden, Stacey took me to the Japanese Garden.

Where is the post about that visit ?   I was sure I'd told you all about it.

Unlike the Chinese Garden, which covers only a city-block in downtown Portland, the Japanese Garden is much larger, and is located in the lush countryside.

The main entrance.

The Flat Garden is formed from raked sand.

The Natural Garden, which contains ponds, waterfalls, streams and small bridges looks ancient and not man-made.

Strategically placed benches, encourage the visitor to sit a while.

Walk slowly here. To rush, just doesn't feel right.

The Sand and Stone Garden features the simplicity of weathered stones, rising from a bed of "sand" (white gravel) raked to suggest the sea.  This garden style is typically found in Zen monasteries.

The Poetry Stone reads:

"Here, miles from Japan, I stand as if warmed by the 

spring sunshine of home."

Now you can see why I had to rectify my omission.

How could I have forgotten to share this marvellous place with you ?

Scents and Sensibility.

 
From the time I arrived last Tuesday in Portland, I knew I had entered into the land of springtime.  Everything was lush and green and bursting into bloom.
The light rain the next day, added a wonderful, earthy smell to the mix.

As my chums will tell you, I'm nutty about moss.  Love moss.  Love its lush greenness.

Back in Ontario, I'd find a teeny patch of moss and go all giddy with joy.

Moved to Nova Scotia, and was delighted to find that great carpets of moss blanked the woods, still glowing green, even in winter.

But in Oregon, the moss carpets the trees.
Then ferns grow on the moss.

Green, upon green, upon green.

Almost like being in a prehistoric forest.

Hey !  Wait ...

Winter white -- winter green ...

It is wonderful  in the middle of winter to see green things while out walking in my wood.

Green, green, green.  I'm giddy at the sight of it.  Green things defying the winter cold. 

In the midst of a carpet of crinkled dead leaves, snow and bare branches, vibrant moss thumbs its nose at winter.

Soft and pliable and not brittle or dry, moss lives on.   I'm not sure how "awake" it is but it's definitely not sleeping like so many other plants in the hibernating wood.   

And what of the tiny ferns that lurk in sheltered spots ?   Do they defy the cold too ?

Winter green.  Not just a great flavour but a sight for sore eyes.

A spring time walk

There is something intoxicating about a spring time walk in the woods.

 The air smells so fresh and green and earthy. 

It's even better right after a rain.

 ... 'cept for the blackflies that magically appear at this time of year. 

My walks are less like walks and more like rambles. 

I poke along, frequently stooping down to get a bug's eye view of  life closer to the ground.

 There is so much to see.  Little worlds at my feet. 

I take loads of photos, as if I could capture not just the image but the wonderous feeling. 

 

 There is such an amazing variety of species. 

When I look at trees I know maples from elms and birch and so on.  When I look at moss I can see all the varieties but ache to learn their names and a little bit about each one.

My chum, Amy-Lynn, has a marvellous Nova Scotia nature blog called Flandrum Hill.  http://flandrumhill.wordpress.com/ 

Amy-Lynn looks at things in nature and understands the why and how. 

I look at nature and go "Duh and WOW".