Every Day in September 2016 - Habitats and Environments in WASHINGTON STATE!!

This is "Every Day in September" for 2016. I found it a GREAT opportunity to explore and re-discover my birth-state, since moving back here to live from Michigan six years ago. Washington, interestingly enough, has the unique distinction of having examples of all of the world's natural Biomes except one - Tropical.

Here are the instructions and guidelines for EDiS2016 from our moderator:

Below you’ll find this years prompt list. The theme is habitat/environment and the flora and fauna thereof. This will include anything that lives (but not humans ), that are indigenous to the habitat/environment in question. From the smallest microbe to the biggest whale....and anything inbetween, plus plant, trees etc. This is a chance to discover a little more about the world we live in. So power up Google and let your creative juices flow.....

Every Day in September 2016, #30 - Environments and Habitats - WASHINGTON STATE

Well, here it is - my last post in 2016's Every Day in September. 

The very last painting of the very last day of September. And I did it! Thirty 7”x10” paintings, one for each day. This last one is just a map of the places I have visited. I have learned, remembered and rediscovered so much in the process of doing them. I am going to post-bind them and put them between nice hardboard covers with their little narratives – a lovely chapbook love letter to my birth state, to which I have come home. And where, it appears, I am blooming where I am planted.

Every Day in September 2016, #30 - Environments/Habitats - WINTER Where you live

EDiS #30 - The last of my old Whidbey Island Mandalas. This is Winter where I live. Here winter can be kind of grey, but when it is not, it is spectacular. The mountains stand in crisp, white relief against the deep, blue sky; the tall evergreen trees sometimes (but not often, here on our temperate, little island!) wear capelets of snow; the cold, night skies let us (finally!) see the stars, holly berries provide us with color, the rivers freeze, the glaciers thicken, and we might get a yearly return visit from ghostly snow owls. 

Every Day in September 2016, #29 - Environments and Habitats - ALPINE

EDiS – Environments/Habitats - #29 - “Alpine”
Here, on alert, is one of my favorite Washingtonian critters, the Olympic Marmot, in one of my favorite Washington locations, Hurricane Ridge on the Olympic Peninsula. This is where the Marmot, the official state mammal, lives burrowed in colonies all over the rolling mountain meadows, whistling. There is not a lot to do up on Hurricane Ridge, unless you LIKE climbing up grassy, wildflower covered slopes to stand on top of a peak among peaks, breathing in sweet, clear mountain air and waiting to hear an eagle's cry or a marmots whistle. Or maybe listening to the soughing wind through forest or watching Olympic mountain mists gathering at the tree line below you. Not much to do up there, but, I'll tell you, I'd drive all day up the hairpin, winding two-lane just to get to the top and have a picnic lunch, take it all in, and drive back down. And I have. Many times.

Every Day in September 2016, #28 - Environments and Habitats - TIDE POOL

EDiS – Environments/Habitats - #28 - “Rock/Tide Pool”
In 1972 I was wrestling with a choice. After getting out of the military, I could go back to Washington state, enroll in the community of Dale Chihuly's Pilchuck School in the foothills of the Cascades and become an artist in the burgeoning Seattle glassblowing community. Or I could continue with my plans to marry the man I'd met in the Marine Corps. In retrospect, the life with the gypsys and crazies blowing glass in the woods at Pilchuck may have been the wiser choice. But then, I wouldn't have Genna (and Gracie and Charlie), nor would I have the remaining family, and dear friends, my time living in Michigan, and teaching art in Rockford, gave me. But, had I joined the merry band of glassblowers, I would have learned to make art which creates the beauty of nature using only brilliant hot glass, a confident touch and the breath of the body, such as this representation of the colorful creatures floating in a Puget Sound tidepool.

Every Day in September 2016, #27 - Environments and Habitats - SWAMP

EDiS – Environments/Habitats - #27 - “Swamp”
I was raised by a compulsive fly fisherman. No family activity, vacation, or travel was undertaken unless it somehow culminated in, or involved, fly fishing. I have some pretty bad childhood memories resulting from my father's obsession. But, I also have a few good ones – like a rustic log cabin on the shore of a high mountain lake in British Columbia –outhouse, wood stove, bears, coyotes, loons, and moose swimming the lake at sunset. Pan fried fresh steelhead. The milky way and northern lights so close you could hear them singing.
That was a big one. A little one was tiny Lake Hannan, in the woods above Duvall, and me, maybe 12 or 13, laying tummy down on warm summer planks, dropping no-see-ems and skeeters into flytraps to get them to slam their jaws in satisfaction, surrounded by the funky aroma of skunk cabbage and swamp moss, and the songs of tiny green peeper's. Sometimes I was joined in the lazy warm by a silent green and yellow garter snake, or by noisy blue and red dragonflies.
These are all good memories. The fishing wasn't.
And do it, I still will not.

Every Day in September 2016, #26 - Environments and Habitats - SUBTROPICAL

EDiS – Environments/Habitats - #26 - (for) “Subtropical"
Today's is the last of the prompts for subject matter in tropical biomes - Subtropical. I have chosen to relate all of September's prompts to where I live now, my birth state of Washington. In my mind, things tropical relate heavily to exotic and beautiful fruits and flowers, like mangoes, papayas and orchids. This, then, is a painting of the "beautiful and exotic" fruits and flowers of Washington state - luscious red apples, jewel-tone cherries, juicysweet wine grapes, nectarines, plums, pears, berries. And, nurtured by our temperate weather, "exotic" flowers everywhere -rhododendrons, azaleas, tulips, daffodils, lilies, camellias, and yes, out in the bogs and marshes, even orchids.
And, yep. This was not one of my two hour sketches. I got caught up in this one and it became a full scale painting. A rarity for me.

 

Every Day in September 2016, #25 - Environments and Habitats -

EDiS – Environments/Habitats - #25 - (for) “Tropical Grasslands"
In the tropics they are called veldts, savannas and pampas. In non-tropical climes, such as here, rolling grasslands are called prairies. At the bottom of Washington state, in a prairie in a bend of the Columbia River Gorge, across from the Dalles, Oregon, there is a ranch where, on their 12,000+ acres, the owners raise buffalo and cattle. And yaks. And emus and ostriches and wallaroos and elk and mules. And a zebra. And a giraffe. Buffalo weren't necessarily native to the state, back in the day. But they are now. Yippee kai yay and wallaroo, too.

Every Day in September 2016, #24 - Environments and Habitats -

EDiS – Environments/Habitats - #24 - (for) “Tropical Dry Forest"
Peek a boo in the forest, PNW style.

Every Day in September 2016, #23 - Environments/Habitats - TROPICAL CONIFEROUS FOREST

EDiS – Environments/Habitats - #23 - “Tropical Coniferous Forest”
Again, no Tropical Biome here. But we do have plentiful coniferous forest – cedars, hemlocks, fir and pine, resulting in miles of driftwood log beaches. Also, from Neah bay in the north down to the Oregon border, we have sea stacks - pillars of rock orphaned from the parent shore by the action of wind, rain and erosion. Because our left side faces west, we also have magnificent tropical-type sunsets out over the ocean. Pacific sunsets – almost tropical . . .

Every Day in September 2016, #22 - Environments and Habitats - TROPICAL

Every Day in September – Environments/Habitats - #22 - “Tropical”
It is a clear, chilly, bright, blue and yellow gold day here on Whidbey Island, proof positive that the one natural biome Washington does not have is “Tropical”. The next five prompts in Every Day in September, then, I am going to have to go WAY off book and just punt to find my state related examples. For “Tropical” I am, instead, showing a wonderful weather anomaly we have over on the Olympic Peninsula - the Lavender Sun Belt. Tucked into the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, the little town of Sequim is the driest spot in the Western half of the state, getting only 18” of rain a year. And lots of sun. It has, in fact, the exact same clime and growing conditions as Provence and Avignon in France, which means farmers can grow the same glorious Lavender. Sequim is the largest producer of Lavender outside France! Check it out - http://www.sequimlavender.org/

Every Day in September 2016, #21 - Environments/Habitats - FALL Where I Live

EDiS #21 - EDiS – Environments/Habitats - #21 - "Autumn/Fall Where I Live" - Fall on Whidbey Island in Washington stateHere is #3 from my old Seasons Mandala series. Of course, nicely timed to coincide with tomorrow's autumnal equinox, when we start living with shorter days and colder weather (except for all of you dear Aussies, who are just heading into spring and summer!) Here the mountains stand out in crisp relief against the still bright turquoise sky, things are turning red and gold, the harvests are in, and there seem to be more crows than usual - EVERYWHERE!! 

Every Day in September 2016, #20 - Environments and Habitats -

EDiS #20 - Wetland - "Ebey's Landing"
Just up Hiway 525 from where I live is Coupeville, and the Ebey's Landing Preserve. It is an amazing place, with miles of trails, a beautiful wetland preserve filled with herons, deer, foxes, coyotes, and marsh birds of all kinds. It is near historic Fort Casey State Park. Right on the beach, it is a beachcomber and birdwatchers delight. Here is what their website says about it:
"...Almost a Paradise of Nature.
This stunning landscape at the gateway to Puget Sound, with its rich farmland and promising seaport, lured the earliest American pioneers north of the Columbia River to Ebey’s Landing. Today Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve preserves the historical, agricultural and cultural traditions of both native and Euro-American – while offering spectacular opportunities for recreation.”

Every Day in September 2016, #19 - Environments and Habitats - URBAN

EDiS – Environments/Habitats - #19 - "Urban"
This is as "Urban" as I ever care to get (except for Keith Urban, but that's another story). Anyway, "Urban" around here is Seattle, and I would rather have my fingers eaten by raccoons than drive down there. So urban, for me, is no stoplight, two cross streets, a general store, a tiny movie theatre, a post office, a couple of good coffee houses, a restaurant or two, no gas station or shopping, but a view of the mountains and some whales. Langley by the Sea, Whidbey Island, Puget Sound in the Salish Sea, Washington state, US of A.

Every Day in September 2016, #18 - Environments and Habitats - TUNDRA

EDiS – Environments/Habitats - #18 - “Tundra/Tiaga”
The high slopes of the Cascades Mountains, though cold and snowy, are not Tundra. They are, rather, closer to Tiaga. They are home to some of Washington state's sixteen Grey Wolf packs. As of this week, the eleven members of the Profanity Peak pack, including four pups, are being trapped and killed out of existence. It seems some cattle, which are stupid and follow their stomachs, (and which, incidentally, can be fenced and contained) wandered onto government forest land, home to the Profanity Peak wolves. Wolves, which are opportunistic feeders and cannot be contained, ate some of them. The Colville ranchers who own the cattle have something the wolves do not – money. The deaths of the 3 cows and one calf (which would have been consumed eventually by humans, anyway) are enough for pressure to be brought to bear on the feds, who are now to eliminating an entire pack of re-emergent Grey wolves, in retaliation, and to placate the ranchers.
I have so much anger and shame over this. When will stuff like this ever end? Will we ever learn?

Every Day in September 2016, #17 - Environments and Habitats - STEPPES

    EDiS – Environments/Habitats - #17 - "Steppes"

Like so many other wild spaces, Washington's steppe-scrubland is disappearing. Most of it has been lost to agricultural, mostly apple and fruit orchards in the southeast corner of the state. Some remains, mostly around the Grand Coulee area. The high steppes scrub, purple sage and bunchgrass scene here is around Horse Heaven Hills, near Prosser. Besides the ever popular Pygmy Rabbit, some inhabitants are the Western Meadowlark, with its bright yellow vest and trilling song, the bright blue Lazuli Bunting, and the strutting Greater Sage Grouse. And lizards and coyotes. And rattlesnakes.

Every Day in September 2016, #15 - Environments and Habitats - REEF

EDiS – Environments/Habitats - #15 - “Reef”
Yes, there ARE reefs in the cold ocean waters of Washington State. They're down around Grey's Harbor on the southeast coast. They are not, however, colorful and photogenic. They are quite dull, in fact, by artistic standards. They are built by pedestrian little animals called Glass Sponges who have no interest at all in being picturesque. It is very nice to know they are there, but I am not going to draw them.
Instead my research led me to the San Juan Islands up in the Straits of Juan de Fuca. Here I found Reef Island, and (lucky for me!) it is for sale! According to Private Islands Online (http://www.privateislandsonline.com/islands/reef-island2) for a mere $5 million dollars I can get a “one-of-a-kind private island comprised of over 17 acres with an original hand carved Haida cabin built by renowned artist, Dudley Carter.” I am starting to save my spare change right now!!

Every Day in September 2016, #14 - Environments and Habitats - SUMMER Where I Live

EDiS – Environments/Habitats - #14 - "Summer Where I Live"
Here is Summer from my old Mandala series. Clear skies, sunny days, the mountains in high relief all around us. Fields of blooming lavender (and, sadly, sneeze, sneeze, bright yellow Scotch Broom). Herons on the shore, eagles in the air, orcas in the passage, and seashells, seashells everywhere. Summer on Whidbey Island - short but very, very sweet.

Every Day in September 2016, #13 - Environments and Habitats - MARSH

EDiS – Environments/Habitats - #13 - “Marsh”
Most of the land around the edges of Puget Sound are zero, or nearly sea level, marshes, sloughs and tidal flats. The sloughs look like rivers and creeks, but they are really tidal flows, ebbing and surging with the sea tides. The little town of Bow, in a bend of the Edison Slough in Skagit County on the east side of the Sound, is a perennial favorite day-drive destination for people from Seattle to Canada, often with a side trip to Whidbey Island or Anacortes. Funky little shops, hot loaves of fragrant, fresh bread from the Breadfarm Bakery, a bottle of wine and selection of cheeses from Slough Foods, while watching the sunset from the deck by water's edge, all make a for a memorable day.

Every Day in September 2016, #12- Environments and Habitats - RIVER

EDiS – Environments/Habitats - #12 "River"
The state of Washington is crisscrossed with rivers, from tiny, to the huge Columbia. One of the most beloved and exciting is the Snoqualmie River, which flows down from the snowpack in the Cascades. Just below the west side of the mountain pass the river drops 269 feet down a cliff and gorge in a spectacular waterfall. Snoqualmie falls is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the state. The Salish Inn Lodge at the top of the falls is not only a beautiful getaway spot, it is also the location for the old TV show "Twin Peaks".