Homage to Vancouver's wildness

It has been more than a month since I've stretched my metaphorical wings, free from bureaucratic chains, and flown from my proverbial nest in Vancouver, BC. But before I move on to the horizons that greet me daily in my new homeland, I send this post as a thanksgiving to the natural spaces that inspired me during my time in Coast Salish territory.

Homage to Maplewood Flats

A Redcedar sprouting from a nursery stump overlooks the salt marshes

The canal at high tide, home to some river otters

The big pond, home to a lone beaver and a cackle of redwing blackbirds

A gift of delicious salmonberries

This relic of the Flats' industrial history, finally reclaimed by the area's original occupants (and some relative newcomers), is a special treat for the more exploratory among human visitors

Homage to Lynn Canyon

Decaying skid road passes by a Redcedar stump, legacies of the area's logging history

The roots of this huge hemlock now fully cover the nursery log that nurtured it

The deep, winding canyon

Lynn Creek coming out of the mouth of the canyon

Homage to Deer Lake

A huge bifurcated Black Cottonwood holds me

Skunk cabbage patch, a great spring moment

Crows coming in to roost, a congregation of all the area's crows seen from miles as they come together for the night

Coot showing awesomely styling feet

To all these places I send my deepest greetings and thanks.

Deer's News

COTW endeavours to bring you news from those who don't tend to make their way into conventional media. Today, news from Deer, whom I met while striding through the light forest of Maplewood Flats. Since she wasn't going anywhere for a while, I sat down too and had a chat. 

COTW: I'm grateful for your time and welcome, Deer. Blessings to you and yours.

Deer: Thanks for being quiet, also thanks for your interest. Blessings to all your relations.

COTW: What's been going on around here lately?

Deer: As you see, the grass has been growing. That's good.

COTW: Tasty?

Deer: Comfortable, actually. I'll stick to brambles and shrubs when I'm hungry. The shoots are still nice and tender. Try some!

COTW: Indeed, it's pleasant to chew on young bramble leaves! (Note: at this point I actually did chew some bramble leaves, to be agreeable at first, then because they actually taste good).

Deer: Also have you noticed? The Twinberry is flowering. It's amusing to Towhee. The Bigleaf Maple is in flower too; good hunting ground for warblers looking for insects: Wilson's Warbler, Yellow-Rumped Warbler and their congeners.

The Twinberry mentioned by Deer

Bidleaf Maple flowers

COTW: You seem pretty relaxed. Haven't met any predators lately?

Deer: Cougar came through recently [as reported by COTW], but it's not a regular phenomenon. You never know, so I listen to the rustles in the thicket. Also Bobcat is around a lot. I need to look out for them too, seeing as I'm pretty weak.

COTW: Why's that?

Deer: Let me show you [gets up]. I have what's been called "deer hair loss syndrome". Appropriate. Also, an understatement. I've been scratching and rubbing a lot, it's these european deer lice. They're terrible. We black-tailed deer and other mule deer are most affected. We're hypersensitive, see. White-tailed deer not so much. Bummer. My mom has it too.

Deer scratching, showing symptoms of "deer hair loss syndrome"

Deer: Dude you make me nervous when you sit so still. At this time when the light is fading I can't see you when you're still, you know? My sight isn't as good as yours, so knowing you're there but not seeing you is freaky.
COTW: OK sorry about that. I'll have some more blackberry leaves.

Deer: You do that, I'll be on my way. Been resting for a while before you got here.

COTW: Thanks for sharing the news of the forest! I wish you the best with your lice problem. See you around!

Deer: Alright. Keep your ears sharp. 

***Translation from Deer language by COTW***