nature: Songbirds Tweet Sweeter - Don't Get Twitter-ed Away From Nature
- 01/15/17 01:32 PM
Black Capped Chickadees - Sweet Tweets
One of our favorite backyard birds is the little cheerful-looking, and cheerful sounding, Black-capped Chickadee. Chickadee is the North American name for birds that are called tits (no snickering please) in rest of the world where these birds are found. Tits is actually an old German word meaning something small. It makes sense to us.
We’ve been filling the feeder with their favorite black-oiled sunflower seeds, as well as suet to help them survive our crazy, cold winter this year. They are quite friendly and don’t seem to mind our presence in the yard with them. … (17 comments)
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nature: Winter Hummingbirds - Helping our Tiny Neighbors Survive a Freeze
- 12/15/16 06:35 AM
How to Help Anna's Hummingbirds Survive in Winter
We have four different types of hummingbirds in the Pacific Northwest, and Anna’s is the only one that doesn’t always migrate south to warmer spots for the winter. They used to, but biologists say over the last couple of decades that has changed. Prior to the 1930’s, it nested no farther north than San Francisco. However, a combination of plentiful nectar feeders and urban gardens seem to have lured them to overwinter in the colder climes of our region.
It’s also thought the Anna’s Hummingbirds are able to winter so far north because of their … (37 comments)
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nature: Nature As Neighbors - Frank Got it Right!
- 09/30/16 08:18 AM
"Study Nature, Love Nature, Stay Close To Nature. It Will Never Fail You."
Frank Lloyd Wright
Paul's September Challenge to throw him some inspiration piqued my interest. After all, it's tough to narrow down dharma, or ones true purpose, in one quote. Or, at least I thought it might be difficult. Surprisingly, it came pretty easy once I looked at the list of my favorites quotes.
While a young girl growing up in Alaska, I'm the one who called a tree my best friend. Walks on rocky beaches, hikes in the mountains, or laying under the stars, is where I sought answers to life's biggest challenges, or decisions. Spending time on dad's fishing … (13 comments)
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nature: Our Volunteer Pumpkin Patch
- 09/29/16 01:18 AM
Spontaneous Pumpkin Patch
Last year, we discarded some Halloween pumpkins on our acreage hoping the local birds and wildlife would enjoy a tasty fall treat. They did. However, they didn’t get all of the seeds as this Spring we noticed a volunteer pumpkin patch growing on small hill in the backyard. Loamy, well-drained soil is a perfect environment for gourd growing.
Once the pumpkins reached a certain stage, the critters came calling. We had to create wire caging to protect them from nibbling teeth. The only other assistance from us, a couple of deep waterings during a particularly dry spell. Soon, it will time to … (16 comments)
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nature: Saving the Bees with Nature As Neighbors
- 07/01/16 12:24 AM
Nature As Neighbors - We Love Bees
We recently sent our clients a "Bee Magnet" and a quick reminder to take steps to help save these important pollinators. We were so happy to see many respond and share the ways in which they're helping. This is one of our favorite photos from a Multi-Gen family we worked with last year. We found them a 5-acre estate just outside of Washougal and they have since planted part of the acreage in wildflowers. We think the results are charming. Thanks Genia, Russell, Gary, and Karla - you are all greatly appreciated!
… (12 comments)
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nature: View Homes in Clark County, WA - Specializing in Elbow Room for the Soul
- 05/24/16 12:25 AM
Craving "Nature As Neighbors" with ViewHomes™ of Clark County
We know it's a growing trend in our area. More and more people are craving a connection to Nature. While we know there are still many who enjoy the bright lights, big city lifestyle, our clients have one thing in common - they want to have Nature as their neighbor. To say we "get it," is an understatement, we not only "get it," we live it too.
Our home sits on an acre plus and we enjoy the sights and sounds of nature on a daily basis. This the first year we've had room enough for a large … (18 comments)
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nature: News of Clark County - Camas Garden Gnomes and Plant Fair
- 05/02/16 01:25 AM
Garden Gnomes and Plant Fair in Camas
One of our favorite events in Camas every year is the Annual Plant & Garden Fair held Saturday just before Mother's Day (how convenient)! And to get everyone in the mood, the First Friday event May 6th will be the "Garden Gnome Gala." Featuring a scavenger hunt throughout downtown Camas, the event gives prizes to participants who find the gnomes hidden in various business throughout downtown. Just visiting the locations will enter you in a drawing to win a miniature fairy garden gift basket from Lizzabeth A. Nuestra Mesa restaurant will host the second night of their Cinco De Mayo party (which, … (17 comments)
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nature: The Dogwood Tree - A Simple Reminder
- 04/24/16 06:45 AM
Nature's Beauty - Dogwood Trees Remind Me...
This time of year, the Dogwood trees provide a splash of white or pink against the dark evergreens. We see them in wooded areas along our gorgeous trails, lining streets, and in yards throughout the many neighborhoods of Clark County.
Since our home is located at higher elevation, we've been waiting patiently for our Dogwood to bloom. It's our first Spring living here, and the magical arrival of color via bulbs and flowering trees has been a fun adventure.
It's family day at our Multi-gen household and my sis and her husband are still on their road trip, they'll back … (21 comments)
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nature: Nature As Neighbors - Grateful for Simple Things
- 04/18/16 02:25 AM
Nature As Neighbors - Gratitude
This week on Friday, April 22nd, we celebrate the 46th annual Earth Day. Started by local Camas resident Denis Hayes back in 1972, it has become an international movement that has raised our collective environmental consciousness. Coincidentally, while sitting here starting this post, I kept hearing a sweet chirping coming from a nearby meadow. We are surrounded by song birds this time of year, and often can identify different birds based on their sound, but I couldn't quite place this one:
Turns out, it is a Wilson's Warbler, a bright yellow migratory bird that flies over 2,500 miles annually to winter in Central America. As they … (19 comments)
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nature: Views of Clark County - The Camas Lily Fields
- 04/13/16 02:25 AM
The Camas Lily Fields - A Stunning View in Spring
"Timing is everything" is an expression that certainly applies to viewing the blossoming Camas lily field in Lacamas Lake Regional Park. They are in their prime late April through May, when they explode into hues from pale lilac to deep purple. If you hike along the Round Lake Trail, you will note a sign steering you off the path to a field carpeted with lilies. It's another one of Nature's spectacular sights, worth visiting during the height of its blooms.
Surprisingly, this beautiful plant was also a major source of food for Native Americans who lived in the … (14 comments)
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nature: Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree - Look What's blooming in Camas
- 04/11/16 01:06 AM
Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree with Anyone Else But Me.
We have three little apple trees growing on our property located in the hills above Camas. Since this is the first Spring we've spent living here, we are delighted to watch the various deciduous trees come to life. A large flowering cherry is taking center stage in the yard and it's covered with cotton-candy pink blooms.
However, it's the little apple trees that have captured most of our attention. We are hoping the bees start working these trees for pollination purposes, plus we're crossing our fingers that we won't have a heavy frost. We hope we'll be … (21 comments)
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nature: Nature As Neighbors: To Every Thing There is a Season
- 03/14/16 02:23 AM
Spring, Summer, Winter, or Fall...
Yesterday, we observed that dreaded Spring ritual of daylight saving time - moving the clocks forward an hour. Most states observe it, and we comply, but it is not a popular exercise. Seasonal changes will eventually bring more daylight, but this practice jumpstarts that process - often at a cost. Some people grumble about the loss of sleep. Others complain about the disruption of their daily schedule - especially if they forget and end up running an hour behind all day. Polls show that a majority of people feel that Spring and Fall time changes are outdated and unnecessary.
While we may dismiss this change as a mere … (14 comments)
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nature: We Sell Happiness in Clark County, WA - Nature As Neighbors
- 03/01/16 07:05 AM
Wanna be happy for the rest of your life?
"Nature is fuel for the soul. Often, when we feel depleted we reach for a cup of coffee, but research suggests a better way to get energized is to connect with nature." - Dr. Richard Ryan, Professor of Psychology at the University of Rochester.
Living in a home with Nature As Neighbors gives you "elbow room for the soul," and raises your joy level. There are studies backing up what we believe too. A connection to nature is life affirming and renewing. Recently. while on a flight to Denver for our granddaughter's first birthday, we noticed … (7 comments)
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nature: Nature's Natural Pollinators - The Bees are Back in Town!
- 02/29/16 12:27 AM
The Bees Have Returned to our Camas Gardens
Living with Nature As Neighbors™, we are sensitive to the many elements that work together to keep this beautiful environment alive. One crucial component of natural plant and tree cultivation is pollination - fertilization spread by bees, butterflies, even hummingbirds. A couple of years ago we discovered the unsung hero of native pollinators, the Mason Bee, and wrote an article about how to attract them to your yard. Last year, we actually tried that by buying a "Bee and Bee" for our suburban backyard. This year, living closer to nature, we have already started seeing the pollinators emerge - our new … (22 comments)
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nature: Nature as Neighbors Can Be A Real Hoot
- 01/24/16 01:09 AM
Hoos Your Neighbor?
When you live with nature as neighbors, you will often hear sounds of the wild - sometimes in the middle of the night. The other night, we were awakened by a great horned owl, with its distinctive haunting "Hoo-Hoo-Hoo Hoo-Hoo". It might be a bit unsettling to some, but they are just calling out for a mate, or staking their territory. This video of a loving pair of owls gives a sweet moment.
The Great Horned Owl from Chris Sgaraglino on Vimeo.
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There are several owls species throughout the Pacific Northwest, the most prominent being the great horned - "horns" being the two tufts sticking out of its … (18 comments)
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nature: Nature As Neighbors - Columbia Springs Connects People to Nature
- 01/18/16 12:52 AM
“in the end, we conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand what we are taught.” – Baba Dioum, Senegalese conservationist and poet.
We both greatly appreciate Columbia Springs Environmental Education Center for its efforts in connecting people to nature. The facility gives visitors 100 acres of urban natural area to explore. It’s located on the north side of the Old Evergreen Highway, just east of the i-205 bridge.
Since its conception in 1997, Columbia Springs has provided over 100,000 children and adults with the opportunity to get outdoors and learn more about the natural world through field … (13 comments)
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nature: Nature As Neighbors - Help Endangered Deer at the Ridgefield Refuge
- 01/14/16 01:16 AM
Nature As Neighbors - Columbian White-tailed Deer Need Our Help
You can plant habitat to help the endangered Columbian white-tailed deer on Saturday, January 23. Organizers at the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge are asking all volunteers to register for the event by calling 360-887-3883. They also remind you to wear waterproof footwear, bring gloves, and dress for the weather.
Columbian white-tailed deer are a subspecies of white-tailed deer and became endangered due to habitat modification by humans, such as logging, farming, and both residential and commercial, development. The lower Columbia River population also suffered heavy losses due to extensive flooding of habitat in 1996.
If your calendar is free … (10 comments)
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nature: Nature As Neighbors - We Sell Ecotherapy in Clark County, WA
- 01/12/16 10:37 PM
Nature As Neighbors in Clark County WA
The wind, the rain, the mountains and rivers, the woodlands and meadows and all their inhabitants; we need these perhaps even more for our psyche than for our physical survival. Thomas Berry
We've both felt a strong connection to nature for years. When my husband lived and worked in downtown Portland, he used to spend his free time on property he owned. Hiking the gentle hills, cutting firewood, and camping in his rustic cabin restored his soul. For me, the same applies. Growing up in Alaska helped foster an appreciation and kinship with the environment. It's simply restorative. Or as some say, " it's … (35 comments)
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nature: Wordless Wednesday - Nature is Not a Place to Visit
- 12/16/15 02:08 AM
Nature is not a place to visit, it is home. Gary Snyder
… (15 comments)
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nature: Sunday, Nature Calls. Duo Caught Bathing in Lacamas Creek.
- 03/16/14 06:25 AM
Sunday, Nature Calls. Duo Caught Bathing in Lacamas Creek.
Today is Sunday, March 16th, 2014. Most of the area runners were in Portland this morning for the annual Shamrock Run. It’s one of the biggest runs on the West Coast, and this runner has always enjoyed the event for fitness, and as a St. Patrick’s Day celebration. However, this morning, I decided to forego the crowds ( 35,000 participants) and enjoy the quiet of my favorite Camas, WA running trail.
The trees and shrubs are beginning to spout tender green buds and a few of the wildflowers are blooming too. A light … (14 comments)
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Black Capped Chickadees - Sweet Tweets
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