Yesterday's news

The fire reported in our last post was under control within a half hour, and the additional crews that had been brought in from neighboring fire districts were released by the Forest Service a couple of hours ago. The Reems Creek people are still working at it, burning off the "unspent fuel" in the now contained area. Norris may get back to the Valley in time to help with the equipment cleanup. The firefighters are probably tired - but someone just let them know how their team is playing in the tournament today via radio.

The lull gives us an opportunity to post some photos Cheryl took of the neighborhood yesterday afternoon.

First, our timid Moki has been interested in a little outdoor exploration, but she was ready to go back in the house after only a few minutes. She does not tolerate a leash like Lu does.


On to signs of spring - Norris is viewing lots of blooms where his class is being held but our season is a little behind due to our elevation, and we have no early bulbs. But here's a healthy crop of day lilies, transplants from a neighbor that are doing well.


We have a small grove of pines growing in the road cut under the tall ones that weathered the snows better this year than last -



We are happy to see them thriving - one of the three tall pines just behind them was ailing when we moved into the house, and is now completely dead - the tall top on the left in this next photo. We'll miss it - the young ones will take a long time before they reach a similar height.

The American Beech understory all around us is fading prettily, and the leaves are starting to litter the forest floor - it really resembles the look of the dogwoods yet to come.
The micro climates in the cove are remarkable - here's a forsythia in full flower in front of the log cabin tucked off the main development road.


The next photo shows Bradford pears in a shaded area along the same road - down near the forsythia where they get sun, these same trees are covered in blooms.


More pears, these up the slope from the ones above, but also not shaded at all.