One day, three short hikes, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

The beginning of the Taylor River trail is the remains of an old logging road.  It is fairly wide but extremely rocky as can be seen in the picture.  The trailhead is a short, rough drive with lots of pot holes, from the large Garfield Ledges trailhead.

 

One day, three short hikes:  Taylor River, Quartz Creek, and the Taylor River Connector to Middle Fork Snoqualmie.  The Forest Service Pass is required.  All three of these trails are close to one another.  We parked at the Taylor River trailhead for the first two and moved the car down to the Garfield Ledges trailhead parking area for the Connector trail.  There is a newer double outhouse privy at Garfield Ledges trailhead and a newer single outhouse at the Taylor River trailhead. 

 

Note:  Young children could easily do the short, level Connector trail which goes through woods and also has areas near the river with benches here and there that were carved out of downed trees.  The Quartz Creek trail is through woods but perhaps not as interesting.  Since it is a continuous up it might be tiring for young kids.  The Taylor River trail is extremely rocky and has creek crossings that might pose problems for younger children. 

 

This day started out with a plan to hike along the Taylor River for a couple of hours for a 4.5 or 5-mile RT with very little elevation gain, cross a few creeks, and see waterfalls.  We started out with hope but ended up only going part way, stopped by a creek that was too deep for us to cross without gators, fishing boots or water socks.  Younger hikers could and did cross, either by wading, or hoping rock to rock.  The water was running fast and cold over the rocks.  Our balance and rock hopping skills are not as they once were.   

 

 

Our turn around point on the Taylor River Trail.  It doesn't look too bad at first glance.  Bob walked out a little way and tested the depth with his foot and a trekking pole.  The water at the edge of the other side was deeper than the tops of our boots.  There were no good stable rocks to use as stepping stones.  

 

 

After much agonizing and analyzing the situation, we made the decision to backtrack and try the adjacent trail, Quartz Creek.   

 

 

 

The Quartz Creek trail is a steady climb up, and up, eventually reaching Blethen Lake.  The second half of the trail is a dotted line on the map = unimproved.  The lake was much farther than we wanted to go but we gained about 400 ft elevation before turning around and heading back.   

 

 

     

Quartz Creek trail is also an old logging road; however, it started out like this, broad and easy walking instead of rough and rocky. 

 

 

One small, pretty waterfall on the Quartz Creek trail

 

That did not seem like quite enough for one day so we took the Middle Fork connector trail from Garfield Ledges trailhead to the Middle Fork trailhead and back to Garfield where we had left the car.  

 

 

 

     Near the Taylor River trailhead, Bob standing by trees covered in moss

Trillium

Bleeding heart

Salmon berry

 

 

Yellow Stream Violets
 

 

Service berry aka Saskatoon

 

Bench and chair cut from downed trees along Taylor River Connector trail
 

 

Along the Taylor River Connector trail

 

The day ended with lunch in the car and a stop at Boehm’s Candy in Issaquah for much needed chocolate.  Total hiking distance for the day about 4 miles.

 

Count for the day, 5 hikers and two 12-year old Bassett hounds wearing GPS collars with antennae. 

 

I talked with the owner of the dogs and asked about the collars.  He had leashes but he was letting them walk leash free. He told me the dogs were old, slow, and sometimes would wander off.  Usually they would go together but once, before he had the collars, they separated and he couldn't find one of them.  He took the other dog back to the last place he had seen the dogs together and told her to find her sister.  Sure enough she sniffed around and trotted off successfully finding the other dog after a while.  To avoid a potential lost dog scenario the owner had found and read an article about the collars, ordered two, and now they both wear the collars whenever they are out walking.  The dogs were very well behaved nice dogs and that equals a good owner in my opinion. 

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 557

 

 

 

 

 

Edison Winter Home, Fort Meyers, Florida, Moreton Bay Fig Tree

 

Last week the postcard featured the Edison Winter Estate in Fort Meyers, Florida.  The card this week has a photograph taken by Ken Raveill of Terrell Publishing Co., and distributed by Edison-Ford Winter Estates Fort Meyers, Florida 33901.  The picture shows a giant Moreton Bay Fig tree with its monstrous roots.  On the card reverse at the lower left corner is 111.  At the upper left corner on the reverse is the blurb:  “Moreton Bay Fig Tree on the property line between Henry Ford’s home and Edison Winter Home…”  This card also was among those shared by K & J.

 

This large evergreen tree is commonly known as the Moreton Bay Fig or Australian banyan.  The Latin name is ficus macrophylla.  It is native to eastern Australia with its common name coming from Moreton Bay in Queensland, Australia.  It is best known for its imposing buttress roots.  Also called a strangler fig because the seeds germinate in the canopy of a host tree.  The seedlings are not parasitic but grow on the host tree until the roots contact the ground.  Once rooted in the soil it enlarges and strangles the host to become a free-standing tree.  They can reach 200 ft or 60 m in height.  The figs are exclusively pollinated by fig wasps.  Many different birds eat the fruit.  The aggressive root system and the eventual size of the tree make it unsuitable for most gardens.   

 

This tree has been cultivated in Hawaii and northern New Zealand where it has become naturalized.  It has also been used in frost free area public parks.  Because of its size and lack of natural enemies it is potentially an invasive species.

 

Thanks again to K & J for sharing the card.

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficus_macrophylla

 

Middle Fork Snoqualmie, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

Trailhead, Middle Fork Snoqualmie

 

We have hiked here several times.  It is a short walk from the trailhead to the bridge.  Once across the bridge the trail branches right and left.   

 

 

 

There was slide activity on the left hand, #1003 Middle Fork, trail beginning in 2019 and the next few times we came that side was closed and we went on the right hand, 1035 Pratt River Connector, trail instead.  This time the trail work on the Middle Fork side had been completed and the slide area had been stabilized.  It was open again and we decided to see what, if any, changes or improvement had been made.  This trail is open to bikes, hikers, and horses. 

 

 

 

We did not have a specific scenic view point or destination in mind but planned to hike for about 2 hours, find a nice place to take a break and then return to the car.  The original plan was about 4.5 miles RT.  Part of the new section of the trail is posted as narrow and steep. 

 

 

 

 When we got to the top of the posted steep section it was obvious that the trail led down in with an equally steep slope.  Nearing our 2-hour time and realizing that we would have to go steeply down and then back steeply up and steeply down again we decided to stop and make the crest our turn around place.  Going down can sometimes be more taxing than going up for legs and knees.  It was the correct choice for us as senior hikers.

 

 

 

Bleeding Heart

Fiddlehead fern

Salmon berry

 

 

Trillium

Indian Plum

 

 

Yellow stream violet

Coltsfoot

Skunk Cabbage

It is still colder than usual for this time of year, hence not too many things in bloom.  We saw skunk cabbage, salmon berry, Indian plum, trillium, bleeding heart, yellow violets, fiddlehead fern, star flower, and coltsfoot.  A fair number of trees had come down but had been cleared off the trail.  Lots of muddy spots, a little patch of snow, rocks and roots in places.  We both used trekking poles for part of the way.  Unfortunately, the cool weather did not deter the bugs.  I ended up with two applications of bug spray and even Bob, who is not usually bothered as much as I am, got a dose of repellent spray too.

 

 

Cairn

 

Once back at the trailhead we took a side branch trail toward the river, found a picnic table with a view, and had our lunch.  Some of the kids and adults we saw as we were returning also ended up at the riverside.  The kids built a couple of cairns.  This one was pretty impressive. 

 

 

Small patch of snow

 

 Mud

 

A daily fee of $10 or the Forest Service Pass is required.  It was not raining the day we were here but it had been raining off and on for several days.  The trail was quite muddy in several places.  In addition to the section posted as narrow and steep it is rocky and narrow near the beginning of the route alongside the river. 

 

Count for the day:  23 hikers including 12 kids, 1 dog

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 556

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas Edison Winter Home, Fort Meyers, Florida

 

Pictured is the winter home of Thomas Edison.  The photograph is by Ken Raveill of Terrell Publishing Co., and distributed by Edison-Ford Winter Estates, Fort Meyers, FL 33901.  The number 113 appears at the lower left corner on the reverse.  A blurb at the upper left corner reads:  “Some of the first prefabricated homes in America.  Built in Maine in 1885 and shipped to Florida on 4 sailing schooners.”  This card was included in the batch shared by K & J.

 

Thomas Edison first visited Southwest Florida in 1885 where he purchased property to build a vacation home.  The home shown on the card was completed in 1886 and named “Seminole Lodge.”  It was a place of relaxation and a winter retreat used by Edison until the time of his death in 1931.  Edison’s good friend, Henry Ford, purchased neighboring property, called “The Mangoes” from Robert Smith in 1916.   The Ford home was a craftsman style bungalow built in 1911. 

 

In 1947 Edison’s widow, Mina, deeded the Edison property to the City of Fort Meyers in memory of her husband for the enjoyment of the public.  In 1988 the adjacent Ford property was purchased and open for public tours in 1990.  Together these two estates now form the Edison and Ford Winter Estates.  In addition to Edison’s house is his botanical garden with more than 1,000 varieties of plants from around the world.  The garden features plants grown for industrial use, like bamboo used in light bulbs; and beauty, including roses, orchids, and bromeliads.  There is a moonlight garden designed by Ellen Biddle Shipman.  Edison did most of his research and work with exotic trees and plants while in Fort Meyers, Florida.  The rubber laboratory created in 1928, and the Edison Ford Museum are open to the public and offer a variety of programs and tours.  The Ford Estate was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 and the Edison Estate was added to the list in 1991.

 

Ellen Biddle Shipman (1869-1950) was an American landscape architect known for formal gardens.  Her gardens often appeared in magazines such as House Beautiful and House & Garde.  She was among one of the very few woman landscape architects of her time. 

 

Thanks to K & J for sharing the card.

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edison_and_Ford_Winter_Estates

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_Biddle_Shipman

Skookum Falls, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

White River as seen from the Skookum Falls trail

 

Skookum Falls are just outside the boundary of the Mt. Rainier National Park.  The Forest Service/National Park Pass is required.  We have been on this hike a couple of times previously.  This time we noticed a lot more downed trees along the trail.  Many of the trees had broken off about 20 ft up and others had wedged into adjacent trees.

 

 

 

The trail runs along the White River before entering the forest.  Although the trail goes beyond the falls we stopped at the falls for a snack before heading back to the car.  It was 4.5 miles RT with an elevation gain of about 300 ft.  The rangers or trail crews had been busy cutting and removing things that were obstructing the trail.  Only in one place did we have to walk around a downed tree.

 

 

Trillium

 

 

Conk

 

Skunk Cabbage

 

 

Yellow Stream Violet

  

The weather has still been cooler than usual and there were not as many things blooming as we had hoped for.  

 

 

 

 

 Elk watching me

 

Elk crossing the river

 

The most exciting event of the day was an encounter with a small herd of elk.  We heard a branch snap and looked around to see if one was falling close by.  Then through the bare branches we saw elk near the river’s edge.  They were most likely aware of us before we saw them.  There were 6 females and two males.  The dominant male was wearing a bright green tracking collar.  Hence, a biologist somewhere knows where he is and where his little group is.  Bob wanted to get closer to get pictures without all the branches in the way and inched carefully forward while I stayed quiet behind the bushes.  The elk were wary but not overly worried until he got too close for their comfort.  They started walking out into the river.  When Bob got closer, they quickly went the rest of the way over.  The leader stood on the highest spot on the far bank and watched us while the others regrouped.  Finally, he turned and headed into the woods on the other side of the river and the rest of herd turned and followed him. 

Our turn around spot included this splendid view of Skookum Falls
 

Totals for the day:

 

6 adult hikers, one infant, and one toddler, no dogs, 8 elk

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 555

 

 

 

 

 

Eneret postcard, ca 1900

 

Norwegian Constitution Day is next week on the 17^th of May.  Recently I found some cards with reproductions of early 1900 Norwegian postcards at the Scandinavian Specialties shop in Ballard.  Today I am sharing two of the cards.  They show young women wearing the national folk costume, called a bunad, from their area of Norway.  There were 8 cards in the packet.  Unfortunately, none of the areas that the costumes represent were identified on the cards.  

 

The card above has Eneret, J. F. written at the bottom between the dog and the hem of the skirt.  Eneret joined with Mittet to become the Eneret & Mittet, Co., that published postcards from 1905 to 1925.   Since this card is only identified as Eneret it most likely means it was printed before the merge with Mittet.  The card is titled:  "Calling Them Home.” The card below shows two girls and is titled “He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not.” It is not identified as Eneret or Eneret & Mittet but is part of the set; therefore, I have estimated the date as about 1905.

 

 

Two Norwegian girls, ca 1905

 

Traditional rural folk clothing in Norway is mostly dated to the 18^th and 19^th centuries.  The name bunad (singular) and bunader or bunadar (pural) appears in the early 20^th century.  These folk costumes are traditionally worn for special events, such as the 17^th of May celebrations, graduations, confirmation, and weddings. 

 

The earlier folk costumes have been replaced by a more modern bunad that was redesigned for beauty and fashion.  Hulda Garborg (1862-1934) was a Norwegian writer, novelist, playwright, poet, folk dancer and theater instructor.  She is best known today for kindling interest in the bunad tradition.  It is from her that we get the name bunad associated with these updated folk costumes.  There are strict standards for sewing and wearing a bunad.  It can take a year to complete one with the cost for having a bunad made today ranging from $2,000 to $10,000.  Traditionally, a bunad may be gifted to a young person when he or she is confirmed in the Lutheran Church.

 

Hip, Hip Hurra!  Syttende mai 

 

For additional information, see:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunad

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulda_Garborg

https://www.scanspecialties.com/

 

 

Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, 2022

 

 

 

 

This is a garden we have been wanting to visit for a while now.  It is located on the former Weyerhauser property near Federal Way.  Free parking is available in a separate lot about one block away from the entrance into the garden. 

 

A path from the parking lot winds between trees and crosses the main street into the garden area.  There is a modest admission fee with discounts for seniors, students, and free entry for active or retired military, and children under age 12.  Admission fees are collected at the small visitor center/gift shop where one can pick up free pamphlets, a map showing the various trails in the garden, and other items.  There is also a clean, modern restroom with a changing table for infants. 

 

Inside the Bonsai enclosed space

In addition to the outdoor garden there is also an enclosed space with examples of bonsai trees.  The Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection, which we did not visit this time, is adjacent to the indoor bonsai exhibit.  Most of the garden is outdoors; however, the other enclosed area is the Rutherford Conservatory.  It is filled with plants, some with wonderful scents.  An unexpected plus was an area with plant sales.  Next time we will be more prepared with a list of things we might like to add to our own garden.

 

 

 

 Much of the garden looks like a forest with paths and beautiful flowering plants all along the way

 

 

 The pond

 

The outdoor garden is not exclusively Rhododendrons but contains many different plants, some native and some exotic.  Here are some of the things we saw the day we visited the garden.  Not all the plants were labeled but most were Rhododendrons.  This is a garden continually in motion, things moving, new things being planted, and areas evolving.  The day we visited we took one of the lesser used paths and found a gardener busy at work.  He was kind enough to talk with us and answer some questions.

 

 

This plant looked like Snow Bells but ours had finished their bloom a long while ago so we are not sure if this is the same or not.

A Giant White Trillium.  It is native to the Northwest but we have never seen it in the wild.

 

Star Magnolia just beginning the bloom

 

 

Magnolia

Very large, each flower was hand-size, rhododendron plant in the conservatory

For additional information, see:

 

www.RhodyGarden.org