The Grass is Always Greener

The ranch is resting. The last two summers the climate has been generous with abundant rain. The number of cattle has been reduced to allow the land to heal and replenish itself. The high mountain valley is getting greener and the grasses are reseeding, reducing the noxious weeds that like to take over in an overgrazed pasture. The old cattle trail scars are disappearing from the hillsides and are being replaced with trails of prairie flowers. A few horses are lucky enough to be able to reach the yellow flowers between the rails of a fence. And the golden seed heads of tall prairie grass rustle and sway in the sweet breeze of a Rocky Mountain dawn.

Sweeter Grass
A dark horse finds the grass greener on the other side of the fence. Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
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Golden Grass
A western fence transects the amber grass heads in the early morning golden light as they gently sway in the breeze. Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
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Wild Rose

The wild rose found in Colorado's mountain woodlands has five pale pink petals. I also find it growing along the dusty road and often think of trying to transplant it to my perennial garden, where only the hardiest plants survive the cold and long winters. This delicate flower of the rose family is very tough. I have seen in growing up in the middle of the road only to be scraped off each winter by the snow plow and emerge in the spring unscathed, albeit a bit shorter. Maybe this year I'll try moving one to the good life of a watered garden and occasional weeding. Enjoy!

Wild Rose
A close up of a wild rose in petal pink with golden yellow stamens catches the light.
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Walk to Marymere Falls - Olympic National Park

I remember the day well. The air was heavy with the scent of trees and ocean. To this mountain girl used to "rare air" it almost seemed as if the air had enough substance that I could just lean back and float away. I was captivated by the fairyland of moss, ferns, and huge old trees. The light was special too. Not harsh, but soft and subtle to my eyes until I caught a glimpse of a golden pool. The color seemed so out of place among the soft shadowy greens that it stopped me in my tracks. I could not imagine what it was until I heard its soft murmur coming through the trees, the voice of a gentle brook flowing over stone and rock. I must be close to the waterfall. And then I heard a deeper rumble. Climbing up the last bit of trail I rounded the bend and the mist from the falls rose up in a cloud settling on my face. There it was, Marymere Falls plummeting 90 feet over hanging gardens and rock.

I hope you have enjoyed our little meandering walk through the forest of Olympic National Park.

Shimmering Gold
This photo of a bubbling brook in Olympic National Park was turned into a pool of shimmering gold by the setting sun.
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Forest Walk
A photo of a dappled in sunlight nature trail lined with towering moss covered trees meanders through Olympic National Park.
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Marymere Falls Trail
A photo of Marymere Falls seen between the trees on the last bit of the waterfall trail in Olympic National Park.
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Marymere Falls
This photo of Marymere Falls in Olympic National Park is surrounded by lush hanging gardens.
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Shambhala Part 2

Part 2 takes place inside The Great Stupa of Dharmakaya. The stupa itself is a representation of the body, speech and mind of the Buddha. As beautiful as the outside was the inside is just as stunning. When I entered the palace I was overwhelmed with the intricate beauty of the lovingly made decorations adorning the walls, ceiling and even the floor. One extraordinary feature in the floor was a mosaic pomegranate that had little burgundy glass marbles representing the seeds. One visitor while looking up scattered the marbles across the floor in aghast. We all smiled and helped her return them to the little concave place in the mosaic. Everywhere you looked it was a handmade, handpainted piece of art. The work is still in progress. Volunteers visit on a regular basis to paint a flower or part of a mandala. If you ever find yourself in the West I highly recommend a visit to this treasure in the beautiful mountains of northern Colorado.