Wildwood Recreation Area

From the bitterbrush and sage of Terrebonne, we traveled northwest through a thunderstorm into the lovely temperate rain forest in the shade of Mt Hood.  I was enchanted by the alder catkins, the blooming rhododendrons, the maples, and the mixed conifers.  The cedars have such soft needles and hard wood. The tips of the Douglas firs light up bright chartreuse.  The vine maples, service berries, and hazelnuts in the understory are fully leafed out now. We spent time watching the wetlands along the salmon river, listening to the birds. Then I took the USFS challenge to tell a baby trout from a baby salmon.  At the underground Cascade Stream Watch exhibit we watched the fry feed on insect larvae the creek sent their way.  The informative plaques told me something about fish life and I learned what anadromous means. But I could have used a touch more information about identifying the nature around me and a touch less Native American lore. My imagination is not fired by Coyote stories.  But I love the gorgeous natural arrangements of water, plant, and rock.