Saturday, March 26, 2016

Daffodils, Tulips and Snow Geese


Tuesday, March 22, we managed to get a way for a few hours in the afternoon and evening and went down to the Skagit Valley to see the daffodils, the tulips, which were just starting to bloom, and the Snow Geese.  The weather was not great but it was good to be out.  After stopping in various areas along the roads we stopped at on the tulip farms in the area, but it was only a few minutes from closing and we did not want to pay the entrance fee for those few minutes.  We took a few pictures from the parking lot and then went on for something to eat.  I do not know why the tulips at the farm were so much further along than the others, but assume it was some kind of forcing that brought them out so early and in such abundance.

daffodils
















tulips










 Snow Geese







tulip farm











Spring Wildflowers and Orchids


We managed to get out to look for wildflowers and orchids last week and found both.  We visited a number of favorite places on Fidalgo Island and found the spring wildflowers well along and the first of the native orchids beginning to bloom.

Deception Pass

we spent most of our time on Pass Island under the bridge



the Douglas Firs were producing both their male and female cones
while some of the older cones still hung on






the Pacific Madrones were in full flower


we were surprised at the number of wildflowers already in bloom
Prairie Stars, Gold Stars, Beach Strawberries, Common Camas, Naked Broomrape,
  Northern Bedstraw, Oregon Sunshine, and a few Grass Widows still hanging on










  we also hiked the Bowman Beach trails and found wildflowers there also,
though not so many

Giant Kelp


driftwood



Oyster shell


Pixie Cup Lichens


more Douglas Fir male cones


Pacific Madrone bark and leaves




lichens


Flowering Red Currant


 Red Huckleberry


Blue-eyed Mary


last of all we went to Washington Park near Anacortes
and found more wildflowers, including
Early Saxifrage, Fawn Lilies and Sea Blush








and Columbia Black-tailed Deer, eating everything in sight




at several other locations we found the first Fairy Slippers of the year,
including one white flower