Wednesday Walk - Looking at Trees and Shrubs

We had well over 2" of rain this weekend, but now the skies of cleared.

Isn't the forest pretty.  I think rain freshens up everything. 

After a couple of rough years, I am pleased to see our Madrones (Arbutus menziesii) are blooming. They have wonderful red peeling bark so are interesting all year long.

Our native Pacific Dogwoods (Cornus nuttallii) are exploding with blooms this spring.

I cannot recall another year with so very many blossoms.

They are as floriferous as any hybrid. 

I love the red flowers of the Vine Maple (Acer circinatum).

The Ash trees are leafing out.

And the White Oaks are following along. 

This is the strong leader of a young Big Leaf Maple.  All that energy!

A Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum) unfurling...

This one is a bit further along.

Wonderful light capturing the Licorice Fern (Polypodium glycyrrhiza) high up in an Oak tree.  

I love old plants that have thrived for millions of years.

This is the Horsetail Scouring Rush (Equisetum hyemale).

And here are two other ancient plants. The brown ones are Common Horsetails (Equisetum arvense). The feathery green ones are Giant Horsetails (Equisetum telmatiea).  All three Horsetails thrive in damp areas.  I find them along side our largest creek. 

Come May the native Nootka Rose (Rosa Nutkana) will be in bloom.

We have lots of Western Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) blooming now.  Some people pronounce it as though it were spelled Sarviceberry.

I'm not sure what this is.  I'll have to go back and take another look.  Spring is advancing so quickly that next week we will have lots of new things to look at and admire.