Douglas Fir Embroidery Decorates My Sabbatical Story Quilt That sound, an other-worldly whushhh filtering from the tops of the pines—it stopped me in my tracks. A flood of memories took me back in time to other winds, other trees, mountain trails. I was once again on the trail around a distant Blue Lake hearing […]
The Quilt & the Creation. Pt. 5. Plant Communities: Let Me Introduce You
Embroidered Desert Sun My Sabbatical quilt story continues. We spent the spring months in the Southwest deserts, both high and low. Lots of sunshine, lots of burning sun prompted me to embroider three different versions of the sun on my quilt top. For this one I used overlapping wave stitches that radiate from the center […]
Out Sketching. Mosquito Loop Camp. Part 1. Finding a Campsite
Part 1. Finding a Campsite Scouting for a campsite one day in the Warner Mountains, we take the Mosquito Loop road. We drive slowly along the dirt track that hugs the bottom of a hill. We round the loop, and I holler, “Stop!” Don pulls over and parks the truck. Where the […]
Nature Notes. Marmot Springs. Part 1. Camping in Eden
One springtime we wandered into the Warner Mountains of NE California. Looking for a campsite we parked the truck near a marshy pond just off the main road. We walked the dirt track that followed a small branch of East Creek. Beaver-chewed aspen marked the waterway; early wildflowers nodded; aspen whispered as we passed. […]
Nature Notes. The Mouse That Howled. Part 1. A Mouse at the Campfire.
View from Lava Beds CA Juniper Sagebrush Country From the files of Donald R. Kirk: Part 1. A Mouse at the Campfire No moon tonight. Camped near a creek in an open juniper forest, our fire is a low glow of deep red embers. An infinity of stars sparkles the night sky. The four of […]
Out Sketching. Marmot Springs. Part 2. Indian Paintbrush Drawing Lesson
Part 2. The Drawing Lesson In my previous blog my love of wildflowers leads me to sketch an Indian Paintbrush. I wait until afternoon to sketch so that I can sit in shade. I set my art stool in the grass next to a stand of Ponderosa pine on the edge of the clearing. […]
Out Sketching. Mosquito Loop. Part 3. Puffball Lore
Star Puffball (Calvatia sculpta) Part 3. Puffball Lore In my previous Blog I sketched with pencil the amazing configuration of a geometric marvel in the form of a white puffball. While I take a break I wander across the road and up into the woods. Maybe I can spot another one. I love […]
Out Sketching. Mosquito Loop. Part 1. Discovery on a Dirt Road
Star Puffball (Calvatia sculpta) We follow the Mosquito Loop road around the meadow that’s on our way to Patterson Guard Station. The well-worn dirt track leads through mixed forest, mostly lodgepole pine, a few ponderosa, and aspen. Just past the small cluster of aspen that’s on the uphill side, I spot something white in […]
Nature Notes. A Rare Tree. Part 3. An Uncommon Pine Tree
Photo: Lightning Scar on Ponderosa Pine Tree From the files of Donald R. Kirk: Part 3. An Uncommon Pine Tree In my earlier Blog we find a lightning scarred tree. When I examine the cones, I find it is neither a ponderosa cone, nor a Jeffrey. Suddenly I recognize this tree. I can’t believe […]
Nature Notes. A Rare Tree. Part 2. Lightning Scars
Photo: Lightning Scar on Ponderosa Pine Tree From the files of Donald R. Kirk: Part 2. Lightning Scars In my previous blog I told of a horrendous storm in the night while camped in the Warner Mountains. Next morning we find a tree with a fresh lightning scar that runs from crown to ground. This […]
Nature Notes. A Rare Tree. Part 1. Storm in the Night
Photo: Lightning Scar on Ponderosa Pine Tree From the files of Donald R. Kirk… A Rare Tree Part 1. Storm in the Night An explosive blast of thunder jolts me awake. My wife sits up in bed. I can hear our two kids exclaiming in the tent pitched close beside our small travel trailer. […]
Cherish the Earth. Hurray for Green Plants!
Green growing plants keep us alive. They are our neighbors, our plant communities. Do you know them? The trees, shrubs, grasses, wildflowers, and ground dwellers that form the community of life around you? Can you call your plant neighbors by name? Years ago we camped at Great Basin N.P. The first morning went like this: […]