Armchair photo tours

Armchair photo tours: Does the world’s largest egg reside in Winlock, Washington?

~ Cheryl ~ Leave a comment

The World's Largest Egg in Winlock, Washington (photo by Cheryl Landes) In the small town of Winlock, south of Olympia, Washington, a giant egg rests on a pedestal on a 10-foot-tall blue metal pole in the middle of Vern Zander Memorial Park at the corner of Old Highway 603 and Fir Street. The 12-foot-long, 1,200-pound … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: Does the world’s largest egg reside in Winlock, Washington?

Armchair photo tours: Salmon spawning season at Carkeek Park in Seattle

~ Cheryl ~ Leave a comment

Piper's Creek at Carkeek Park in Seattle Photos by Cheryl Landes From November through January, the salmon return to Carkeek Park in northwest Seattle after a long journey at sea. The journey marks the end of their life cycle and the start of a new one as they lay eggs in the creek. By the … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: Salmon spawning season at Carkeek Park in Seattle

Armchair photo tours: The Sediment Retention Structure at Mount St. Helens

~ Cheryl ~ Leave a comment

A view from the Sediment Retention Structure at Mount St. Helens Photos by Cheryl Landes On May 18, 1980, when Mount St. Helens erupted, the blast deposited more than three billion cubic yards of sediment into the Toutle River Basin, covering 32 miles with an average depth of 150 feet. Mudflows filled the Cowlitz River … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: The Sediment Retention Structure at Mount St. Helens

Armchair photo tours: A trip to Mount St. Helens, 40 years post-eruption

~ Cheryl ~ 2 Comments

Photos by Cheryl Landes May 20, 2020 marked the fortieth anniversary of the eruption of Mount St. Helens. I lived in Northeastern Oregon when the volcano erupted and still remember the experience like it was yesterday. The town of La Grande, where I lived, was on the southern fringe of the ash path. Our usual … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: A trip to Mount St. Helens, 40 years post-eruption

Armchair photo tours: A fall stroll in the Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle

~ Cheryl ~ 2 Comments

Photos by Cheryl Landes The 230-acre Washington Park Arboretum is a beautiful place to walk any time of year. Wander trails through forests, marshes, a Japanese garden, rhododendron glen, azalea collection, and winter garden. Look for birds and other wildlife in the trees, shrubs, and along the shoreline, and in the water. Every season brings … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: A fall stroll in the Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle

Armchair photo tours: Fall at the Kubota Garden in Seattle

~ Cheryl ~ 1 Comment

Photos by Cheryl Landes The Kubota Garden in South Seattle is a treat for the eyes in the fall. The colors of the trees and shrubs are breathtaking in the textured landscape. The garden is the work of Fujitaro Kubota, a self-taught gardener who immigrated from Japan to Seattle in 1907. The Kubota Garden's address … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: Fall at the Kubota Garden in Seattle

Armchair photo tours: Fall at the Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve

~ Cheryl ~ Leave a comment

The Mima Mounds Naural Area Preserve in Olympia, Washington Photos by Cheryl Landes The Mima Mounds is a mystery. No one knows for sure how the bumpy landscape originated in these 637 acres of prairie grasslands. Theories are abundant, from pocket gophers excavating nest chambers to permafrost cracking near the end of the Ice Age. … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: Fall at the Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve

Armchair photo tours: Rainbow Falls State Park

~ Cheryl ~ Leave a comment

A view of Rainbow Falls from the viewpoint in Rainbow Falls State Park west of Chehalis, Washington Photos by Cheryl Landes Rainbow Falls State Park is a popular place for camping, picnicking, hiking, cycling, horseback riding, wildlife watching, birdwatching, and fishing. A short trail from the day-use parking lot ends at a viewpoint for a … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: Rainbow Falls State Park

Armchair photo tours: A walk at Naturescaping Wildlife Botanical Gardens

~ Cheryl ~ Leave a comment

Flowers at Naturescaping Wildlife Botanical Gardens in Brush Prairie, Washington Photos by Cheryl Landes Naturescaping Wildlife Botanical Gardens is a series of demonstration gardens that provide ideas for gardeners looking at ways to attract birds, butterflies, and other wildlife to their backyard spaces. The three acres are tended by volunteers. Every time I go for … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: A walk at Naturescaping Wildlife Botanical Gardens