Vine Maple

I love Vine Maple trees. Most people chose the Japanese Maple or Big Leaf Maple for the landscaping around their homes.

But I never see the Vine Maple in an urban setting. They seem to thrive only in the wild in a forest.

I have seen Vine Maple trees in the many different forests I've hiked in, primarily in Oregon and Washington. Vine Maples are sturdy despite their delicate appearance.

Wherever you find forests filled with towering Douglas and Grand fir trees, you will also find the Vine Maple.

If you are unfamiliar with Douglas firs and Grand firs, they are found in the Pacific Northwest. (Many people mistakenly call them pine trees. They grow rather tall and, if left alone, can live thousands of years.)

The vine maple and fir trees live together harmoniously in forests along with the other flowers and shrubs found in a Pacific forest. The vine maple fills those open spaces under the fir canopy. Even at their full height, they are dwarfed by the fir trees.

I recently read that forests containing Vine Maple trees were healthier than those forests containing no Vine Maple trees.

Moss on trees

I love moss, especially on trees. I recently saw these wonderful mosses growing on some trees and just had to take some photos.
Isn’t the moss and lichen growth amazing?

This tree looks like someone decorated it for Christmas...

Most people think of moss as bad, but it's not. Ok, it's not something you want on your walkways to your front door as wet moss can cause you to slip and fall. And you don't want a lot of moss growth on your roof shingles otherwise you can get a leaky roof.

But moss in the right places is beautiful, especially in a garden or dripping from tree branches or rocks. And mosses help trees in our forests by helping to keep the ground moisture from evaporating. Basically, moss is like a mulch. And moss is a beautiful green color when moisture is abundant.

I encourage moss to grow in my flower pots instead of using mulch to keep my flowers from drying out between waterings.

Ever seen a stream or waterfall in the woods? Moss clings to surrounding rocks and trees...moss really likes moisture. The more moisture, the better they grow.

Did you know that moss is an indicator of air quality? Moss doesn’t grow well in polluted areas. But it grows like crazy in areas with clean air and water.

And contrary to common belief, mosses and lichens do not kill other plants. Mosses and lichens derive their nutrients and moisture from the air. So when you see moss on a tree, don't worry. Moss and lichens won't kill it.

So look around and admire the beauty of mosses wherever you are.

More desert photos

A farm along Hwy 97 in the valleys north of the Columbia River. Beautiful dark-green forests climb the steep hills above the verdant crops growing in this fertile valley.

Modern windmills turn in the ever-present winds of the desert. The Columbia Gorge funnels the winds coming from the Pacific, pushing clouds heavy with rain.

Picture taken in Washington near the Columbia River.





Built by Sam Hill 1918-1929, this replica of Stonehenge overlooks the Columbia Gorge near Maryhill, Washington.

Across the Columbia River, more windmills

can be seen on the green hills in Oregon.

Desert Green

As promised in my last post, here are some photos from Memorial Day weekend.

I took this picture in Washington State along Hwy 97 in late May. I've never seen the sagebrush so green this late in May. Even the grass was green although it looks rather brown here.

Along Hwy 97 is a stand of now-dead trees that grew along a meandering creek.

In the high-desert you don't find wild trees this large without a nearby water source.

These trees survived for many years before being ravaged by fire several years ago. Every year since the fire, the trees bleach whiter and whiter, but you can still see the charred tops and trucks.

I wonder if the fire was a result of a careless smoker or a result of a lightning strike.

Even in death, the trees are full of life. Insects are now boring into the tree trucks and branches to feed. And birds are attracted to the trees to feed - the birds will dig holes into the trucks in their quest for succulent insects. Other birds will eventually nest in the holes left by others. And in time, the tree will become one with the earth and will provide much needed soil nutrients for new seedlings struggling to thrive in the harsh desert conditions.

Mother Nature always renews herself when left alone to do so.

Desert Green

I just returned from visiting relatives in Eastern Washington.
The high deserts of Oregon & Washington are so very green this year!
What a contrast to the barren landscapes baked brown by the hot sun of summers of years past!

Everywhere I looked I saw many shades of green.
It contrasted nicely with the deep umber of columnar basalt rock and the white fluffy clouds bouncing across the blue sky.

Green sagebrush; green grass, moss and lichens.
It's amazing what a good rainstorm will do for the desert.
The cows and horses on the range are having a field day with so much green grass.

I guess it's not too surprising that the native plants are green and flowers are still blooming in Eastern Washington.
We've had so much rain in the Pacific Northwest. We've been doused - or should I say, mostly drowned in rain showers?

Much of the rain that has doused the western side of the Cascade mountain range made it over the mountains and into the desert.
Even so, I was surprised to see so much green everywhere.

I really had no idea that sagebrush is such an interesting shade of green.
I'll post some photos so you can see it too!