Stitching and Walking and Stitching

I needed a take-along stitch yesterday, so I kitted up "Sampling Easter" by Lizzie Kate.  I love the periwinkle alphabet.

It's Wednesday once again.  Time for a walk.  Let's head back to Buford Park. 

The genesis for Buford Park began back in 1973 when Governor Tom McCall and the Oregon State Legislature approved funds for the purchase of 2300 acres to create Mt Pisgah State Park.  In 1982 the state transferred the title to Lane County and the park was renamed the Howard Buford Recreation Area.  Much of the park (in Eugene) is just across the river from Clearwater Park (in Springfield).     

In October of 2010, the Nature Conservancy purchased 1270 adjacent acres from the Wildish family. The new property will be managed by the Nature Conservancy for the next several years.  It includes over six miles of river and stream banks as well as extensive wetlands, floodplain forest, upland oak woodlands and native prairie. More than 30 species of fish and wildlife considered at-risk (such as Chinook salmon, northern red-legged frog and western meadowlark) will benefit from habitat protection and restoration efforts on the property.

While the acreage is under Conservancy stewardship, the only way to see it is through a Friends of Buford Park walking tour.  Last Saturday my sister and I joined a small group to see the sights along the 'Haul Road'. 

'Haul Road' runs next to the Middle Fork of the Willamette River.  It's about three miles long and was used by Wildish as part of its gravel quarry operations. 

This close to the river, there were Great Blue Herons in flight and skeins of ducks and geese. 

Soon we approached the Middle Fork of the Willamette River.

One of the loveliest features of the new property was this remnant of an Oak Savannah.

The structure of a mature Oak against a gray winter sky - striking! 

These large boulders stood as sentinels at the edge of a small quarry operation.

They've become mossy microcosms.

This one looks like the terrain of a far distant planet I think.

The river flowed along in a business-like fashion.

Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium) was beginning to bloom.

Stay tuned for Part Two of the walk on Thursday's post.