Nature in my Neighborhood - Jun

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My family and I live with our four dogs in one of the only stands of trees in our area. In fact, when my stepmom bought the house, the previous owners stipulated that the woods be protected. The trees of this 7.5 acre wood consist of mostly cedar, douglas fir, cherry, big leaf maple, cottonwood, vine maple, and a few alder, along with 4 apple trees. 

 

 

These woods and the surrounding fields have many vernal pools, and there is a pond just north of us - not technically on the property but connected to it through the trails in the woods. There is no shortage of pacific tree frogs around, but I have never seen any salamanders in the woods or near these ponds. Truthfully, I haven't gone looking for them, but I do spend a fair amount of time walking the dogs in the woods. I like to think the area is healthy and unpolluted, but alas, we live upwind of the Phillips 66 Refinery. I wonder if the refinery is to blame for the lack of salamanders. A quick search on WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife shows no salamanders have been spotted in this area of WA since before 2006.  

 

 

There are so many edibles around our place! We have tons of salmonberries, thimbleberries, and blackcap raspberries, as well as the invasive himalayan blackberries. Of course there are also trailing blackberries, which never seem to make much fruit, and the less palatable oregon grapes and osoberries. There are also a few red elderberries around (caution: all but the berry's flesh is highly toxic! Do NOT eat the seeds!). Then, there are some planted blueberries, salal, grapes, hardy kiwis, and gooseberries. The woods are peppered with at least a couple dozen stands of beaked hazelnut, as well. There are even a couple devil's clubs in one spot, quite strangled by himalayan blackberries. I'm afraid to clear the blackberries because they are really the only source of shade for the shade-loving plant.

 

 

Speaking of invasives, one thing that gets my blood boiling is that our neighbors have outdoor cats who are constantly killing all kinds of birds, mice, larger frogs (rare to spot around here in the first place), shrews, and moles, to name a few species we've found dead. According to The Wildlife Society, domestic cats are responsible for the extinction of at least 63 species that we know of. I'm no cat hater, I just wish people would be responsible and keep these fur babies indoors. They are an invasive species, and we need to take this issue seriously as a society. 

At any rate, I love living here. I started my day hearing the sweet chatter of bald eagles through my bathroom window and end it gratefully, dogs snoring and owls hooting in the trees outside. Aw man, more invasives - the barred owl!  

 





 

All photos taken by me on January 18th, 2026 <3 

I know the assignment said just 5 photos, but I liked too many of them to choose! 


  

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