paulystraps-blog

[paulystraps-blog]

Good things come in small packages and the PNW native violets are a testament to that saying. These tiny beauties sometimes carpet several square feet of the forest floor under the right growing conditions which seem to be a perfect mix of moisture and sunlight. Very Goldilocks lol. Unfortunately, their proud yellow bloom is short lived so you have to enjoy them quickly or else have a fond appreciation for their foliage durning the rest of their perennial cycle. #viola #pnwviola #groundcover #forestfloor #pnwspring #forestfloorflowers (at Duvall, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwdudcClCQ8/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=6v6ufividebj

[paulystraps-blog]

Trillium ovatum were in full bloom this week while I was out and about working in the woods. Here are some of the more photogenic ones I came across. They’re one of my favorite native PNW plants and when you see their white blossoms scattered about the forest floor it’s a good sign that spring is in full swing. #trillium #trilliumovatum #pnw #pnwforest #forestfloor #pnwplants #nativeplants #pnwnativeplants #forest (at Duvall, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwc7ieTlwb6/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=veu00e25td96

[paulystraps-blog]

When your waking through the woods in spring in the PNW and it suddenly smells like you’ve walked into a Phish or Grateful Dead concert, you’re probably close to a wetland. With its vivid yellow foliage and aroma, Skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanus) is a very popular wetland plant which is helpful for anyone out identifying wetlands in the forest. (at Tiger Mountain) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwI5KSBlxiq/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=4v87b42u5cb7

[paulystraps-blog]

I spent a wet but wonderful afternoon geeking out with a botany class from Bellevue College identifying native PNW plants, on Cougar Mt. #cougarmountain #plantid #pnwplantid #trillium (at Cougar Mountain) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv5zDTyF2h3/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1r539z2e28zu0

[paulystraps-blog]

Rain Drops Ripple Meditation. I paused for a few minutes today during a hike on Cougar Mt to slow time down and meditate during a downpour. #slomo #slowmowater #slowmostream #slomoripples #slomowaterdrops #water #slomorain #rain #raindrops #slomoraindrops #meditation #cougarmountain #pnwrain #pnw (at Cougar Mountain) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv5uoHylQgj/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1hm5l643dd7qd

[paulystraps-blog]

Steeltoe is traveling to the south end of town and playing with an awesome lineup at Slims Last Chance on April 12th. Come on down and hear us melt your face off! (at Slims Last Chance Saloon) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvvWFZvFsar/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=s1hd17w0nbbb

[paulystraps-blog]

First bonfire of the spring! Sorry... it’s in slomo... I’m kind of addicted to augmenting time these days... #bonfire #slomofire (at Union Hill-Novelty Hill, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvsxmlzlSdy/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1wm9axhatexzw

[paulystraps-blog]

Taking in the beauty and majesty of some big old Ponderosa pines at the Lazy F ranch during a break from L381 wildfire leadership training. Great course! Learning a ton about the different roles on incident management teams and what makes a good leader. #ponderosapine #pinusponderosa #lazyfranch #ellensburg (at Ellensburg, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/BviFAPQl5ny/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1tbytwgv8bu6b

[paulystraps-blog]

Impressive display of fruiting bodies of what I believe to be angel wing (pleurocybella porrigens) fungi which is not edible but can be easily mistaken for deliciously edible oyster mushrooms (pleurotus ostreatus). #fungi #fungus #anglewingfungus #mushrooms #pleurocybellaporrigens #pleurotusostreatus #anglewingmushroom #oystermushrooms #notoystermushrooms #forestfungi #pnwforest #pnwfungi #forestfun #maytheforestbewithyou #mushroomhunting #fungusforaging #fungiforaging #mushroomforaging (at Duvall, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvX_tm5lD0i/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=t9irja2vvwda

[paulystraps-blog]

Fungus, wetlands, ferny rock, snags and old stumps I saw while working in the forest this week. Great to be back in the woods again after being snowed out of our forests for weeks due to huge snow fall this winter. #marckworthstateforest #fungi #oldgrowthstumps #wetlands #forest #forestworker #forestry #forestferns #ferns #wadnrforester #mutiuseforest #workingforest #stumps (at Duvall, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvXHBuUl-Cy/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1qej6b1krd5xb

[paulystraps-blog]

Moss and steel. A while back I posted these pics of moss growing on steel cable in black and white. Here’s the color version. Color really brings out the hard vs soft and warm vs cold contrasts between these two subjects. #moss #mossonsteel #naturetakesover #greenthings #dichotomy (at Raging River) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvXCtzEltZx/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1wujxav88l84n

[paulystraps-blog]

People are always asking me what it’s like to be a forester, and so I thought I’d use social media to help tell that story. Here’s an example of how fun and, at the same time how dangerous our jobs can be. While surveying streams today a forester on our team discovered what happens when branches get in the way while crossing the stream. Keep in mind we use caulk boots that have spikes on the bottoms which help us grip onto logs which we often use to get around on in the woods. No foresters were injured in the making of this video. #forestry #forestworkers #walkingonlogs #fallingofflogs #funintheforest #marckworthstateforest #caulkboots (at Carnation, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvSxtDhl5IE/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ofok9h70i41j

[paulystraps-blog]

#cornbeef #cabbage #sodabread #irishcooking #irish #potatoes #happysaintpatricksday (at Seattle, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvIN2o0lm8S/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=101gtcqengaqf

[paulystraps-blog]

Enjoy these mesmerizing slomo waterfall captures from a moss covered Irish spring.🍀Happy Saint Patrick’s Day, everybody! #slomo #slomowaterfall #waterfall #irishspring #moss #amescreek #happysaintpatricksday #footenfarms (at Union Hill-Novelty Hill, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvHcbwgFyLy/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=7elah34ioayu

[paulystraps-blog]

Moss growing on steel cable. It’s amazing how quickly the forest will consume the things we leave behind. May the forest be with you. #moss #steel #logging #forests #maytheforestbewithyou #blackandwhitephotography (at Raging River) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvDEWpJlbuf/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=xrbh230xctfl

[paulystraps-blog]

Moss grows on just about everything in the PNW. Here’s moss growing on 1 inch steel cable that was left when this forest was logged the first time nearly 100 years ago. #moss #steel #logging #PNW #forest #blackandwhitephotography (at Raging River) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvDCk7EFtyv/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=10sgzujtg37bd

[paulystraps-blog]

Wood chips flying while cutting through a Douglas-fir log prepping rounds to split for fire wood. Winter was long, cold and snowy in the PNW this year and I burned a lot of wood. Time to get ready for next year! #stihl #chainsaw #firewood #slomochainsaw #slomo (at Union Hill-Novelty Hill, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu-d6tFFNHJ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=152ucho2je636