“Brainz!”

Actually a false morel mushroom​

“Shooting Stars”

One of our prettiest wildflowers, in this case with a dusting of early morning snow near Waldo Lake.

small purplish flowers

“Bleak”

Yesterday I hiked much of the old Black Creek trail through the 2022 Cedar Creek fire scar. This is one of the worst spots: high-intensity burn killed all the trees and went clear down to the mineral soil. Bear grass and moss are starting to recolonize. In another couple of years all those trees will come down and the old trailbed will be invisible.

burned trees and a sandy trailbed

The upper 3 cascades of Lillian Falls. This was a tough one to get to: the closest open trailhead is about 7 miles off, and half of that is on trail the burned and hasn't been maintained in years. Still worth it. #dailyphoto #oregon #waterfall

The upper 3 cascades of Lillian Falls. This was a tough one to get to: the closest open trailhead is about 7 miles off, and half of that is on trail the burned and hasn't been maintained in years. Still worth it.

#dailyphoto #oregon #waterfall

“Let There Be Sky”

In Oregon weather reports, we call this a “sun break.”

a bit of blue sky peeking through dark clouds

I would call this a Hi Drant!

#dailyphoto #oregon #eugeneoregon

“Nebraska Gateway”

That’s the name of this sculpture at one of Nebraska’s I-80 rest stops. Looks more like “Hammer and Stapler” to me, but what do I know?

blocky sculpture surrounded by trees and grass

“Crab Spider”

Another tiny friend in the woods

small spider on the bottom of a flower

“I Spy a Tiny Fly”

Hanging out on a western columbine flower