The Leach Botanical Garden in Portland, Oregon (photo by Cheryl Landes) A forest bathing experience helps you connect deeply with the natural world and remember how all humans, plants, and creatures are interconnected. It's inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin Yoku. The forest bathing walks at the Leach Botanical Garden in Portland, Oregon, are … Continue reading Forest bathing walks at the Leach Botanical Garden in Portland
It's the lucky seventh anniversary of the Couve Clover Run! Dress up in green for a walk along a three-, seven-, or 10-mile course through some of the most scenic parts of Vancouver, Washington. The routes, which are mostly flat, pass Fort Vancouver, Officer's Row, the Columbia Riverfront, and more. The race is on Sunday, … Continue reading Enjoy a scenic run or walk at the seventh annual Couve Clover Run on March 21
Photo by Cheryl Landes Another popular Portland running event is going virtual this year because of the COVID pandemic. The Rip City for the Roses supports a great cause: The Albertina Kerr's services and programs for kids, teens, and adults with intellectual and/or development disabilities. This year's event runs from Sunday, April 25, through Sunday, … Continue reading 2021 Rip City Race for the Roses goes virtual
Drumlin Farm in Lincoln, Massachusetts (photo by Cheryl Landes) Check out five Mass Audubon sites this week for free. A different property is featured each day. Although admission is free, reservations are required because capacity is limited due to COVID-19 restrictions. The featured properties are: Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary in Lincoln on Monday, February 15Broadmoor … Continue reading Free admission at five Mass Audubon sites this week for Winter Recess
The Lilac Bloomsday Association, organizers of the annual Bloomsday race in Spokane, Washington, is hosting a virtual event for 2021 because of continuing restrictions on large gatherings from the COVID-19 pandemic. The 45th annual event, called Bloomsday Worldwide 2021, is open to runners and walkers from everywhere. Here's how it works: Register on the Bloomsday … Continue reading Spokane’s Bloomsday race a worldwide virtual event in 2021
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
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
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
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
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
Tabby Cat's Pawprints 