Oooo how I love visiting the redwoods - I think those trees are to me the epitome of what a forest should be - green and overflowing with interesting flora and fauna.
As a treat for us, Inez hosted us on Friday, driving us up hill and over dale in her pet car, 'Ivy'. That meant I didn't have to drive and Barbara and I could shout, 'STOP THE CAR!' as we saw some lovely sight we wanted to stare at or photograph.
Barb & Inez together is like Olympic level talk-a-thon. I sat lolling in the back of the car, diving in and out of their conversation as I felt inclined. I photographed loads of flowers with interesting names like Snow Queens, Red Fringe Cups, Vanilla Leaf, Western Lily of the Valley and on and on, one brilliant blossom after another.
I had thought the Trilliums, which happily balance their flowers atop 3-leaves, were several different species, but they start out white, like the flower above & aging, they fade into shades of lavender and then finally turn a deep wine color, like the beautiful flower below.
How strange that so far this spring I seem to only have eyes for wildflowers. I could bore you with shot after shot of various well-petaled specimens, but I'm keeping it to a few here. The flowers were sometimes ensy weensie, like these Milk Maids, that Inez identified for me.
The largest of the flowers I found were the humongous yellow Skunk Cabbage. You should be able to guess how these w these fragrant giants got their name. Inez says she loves the scent, which can at times can fill the air under the redwoods. For myself, on this day at least, I couldn't smell a thing.
Oh! Here's a droopy, white flower that I would love to find in my garden.
We didn't spend all our time in the Redwoods. Barbara and I spent one afternoon checking out the views from the coast. From this overlook on a clear day all of Crescent City rides the horizon.
On our last full day in Crescent City, Inez volunteered to take me out to the tide pools on Sunday morning. I was really in slub mode by then, and might have stayed in bed, but then, how often does a land locked lass get a chance to walk on the beach? I was glad I went, because once there - Auntie Barbara skipped the adventure all together - I had a great time. Inez and I no sooner rambled down the cliffs onto the sand than a surf-hunting Osprey twirled though the air overhead, looking for its breakfast.
One amazing thing about the walk was that I was able to get a better look at the 'saddleback' rocks just off shore in the distance. I thought they were empty, but closer examination showed they were literally covered with nesting Common Murres, Cormorants and other seabirds.
Tomorrow, Barb and I have to head back to civilization - I think I'm bummed.
