"Wahkeena....A Day in the Life"

Posted by Tom

Hello to all the Wahkeena blog followers out there in cyberville. Today marks the start of a new blog feature that will appear under the title- "A Day in the Life". I will attempt to take you through a year in the life of Wahkeena Nature Preserve. This will not be a daily diary, but more of a weekly journal. I will share observations and happenings as they unfolded. Thus we begin..................

Today is January 2, 2015. It's been a beautiful sunny day with reasonably mild temperatures. I spotted two wildflowers in bloom today, The ever present yellow dandelion and the purple pinwheel-shaped myrtle- also know as periwinkle or vinca. Both are non-natives that were introduced long ago and are now a common sight in the landscape. No sign of the first true native wildflower- skunk cabbage. The woods was very peaceful today with only the ever present chattering of the gray squirrels- which seem to be everywhere- including seven at the bird feeder! The pond is finally completely frozen, locking the beavers in their lodge for the time being. I can hear the trees breathing a sigh a relief!

Frozen Lake Odonata with beaver lodge at rear left



I also found this wildlife sign near the nature center. Can you guess what it is?



Well, that's it for now, but stay tuned. And try to get outside and enjoy something natural!