There is nothing better for me than a tromp in the woods. I love both the moist Evergreen forest and the dry gnarly juniper high desert. I also love collecting things with the idea that maybe I can photograph it. This blog is about the Evergreen forest. I love challenging myself or accepting challenges from friends on making photos for this blog. This specific idea came from another idea that evolved yesterday into nothing close to what I started with. I blame the trolls for that. They can lead me astray from an idea with just a giggle and a suggestion.
Their suggestion this time was we needed my hiking boots and warm fuzzy socks.
Put some of the sticks and branches with berries in the crocks. Add some sparkly mini lights
Put in a cup of coffee and a couple of those vintage thermos’s I have. Don’t forget the hand clippers.
Yes, I think we have the photo now shoot it…
There is nothing like the good memories of a good tromp in the woods
After our trip to the Camp Sherman Metolius river area, I came home with some good nature to use in flower arrangements. Thinking about what greenery and other natural items I had gotten and wanting to use them in several different arrangements to photograph, I searched in my own cupboards and photo prop areas for accessories that fit my vision. The initial idea to use more natural fauna from mother nature came from a couple books written by Ariella Chezar. I had read two of them and bought a third to inspire me. But I never got back to that book. The ideas though still hung out in my mind. This first photo is all of my supply for this personal challenge. I could not use more than this, but I could use less…
I asked my 3 assistants to help me with this challenge, and they were all in. They love a good challenge. Poppa T keeps our schedule on track, Pinx really get’s into the project and our little Blew, well he is pretty shy but soon warms up.
We start with a few pieces of greenery.
after a while Blew really got into the project
Soon we were able to add the fake poinsettias and the matching swans
a little more tweaking and arranging and they decided that the arrangement was done
Except for…. Well the final portrait shot with all three of them
I would have loved to use real flowers. I really could see this with bright red Dahlias… but those are really hard to find in December….
Last week my Friend Robin asked me to go with her and another friend to collect greenery for wreaths. I did my last blog on that trip the with her and her husband. It inspired me to think about going out and picking some greenery for photographs. I don’t need much and don’t want to get too much because I would not be able to use it before it faded. Plus, I would not be able to go out again to another place and get something different. As life goes though thinking about an idea and going out and doing that idea, doesn’t always happen. So Monday, Robin asked me if I liked challenges. I love photo challenges…. Her challenge was for me to go out with the dogs and take 5 photos. I modified it to taking the trolls and the dogs. Especially since the German Shepherds are too busy checking things out to be good photo subjects. Then she said “Oh and no Juniper.” Well Shoot…. I guess I have to go back to Camp Sherman / Metolius river Area. I decided that we would start as far out as we could go at Candle Ck Campground. Normally we cannot get there this time of year because of snow. This year no problem good dry road all the way… I love worn out picnic tables in the national forest and this table had a lot of character. So Robin…. Challenge photo #1
Poppa T, Pinx, Aqua and their little brother Blew brought several of their pet lizards to play in the forest. We wandered around the campground a bit then headed back towards the main road. Collecting nature and greenery on the way back.
We stopped at Abbot Ck bridge because the kids wanted to check things out.
And then we hear a squawk from the car…. Thomas Turkey thought this might be a good place to find some of his family
Challenge photo #2 We did a search but didn’t find anything not even a feather. So, we continued back to the main road and lower bridge campground Bridge 99. Where there was this beautiful reflection on the river.
The trolls wanted to get out and take photos of the river from the bridge
Challenge photo #3 It wasn’t long before they moved along the bridge railing to a better view
Challenge shot #4 Just after this shot was taken Aqua, (on the right) decided that he wanted to go swimming and dove off the bridge into the freezing Metolius river. I hoped that he would catch the swirl and end up against the shore at the campground but no he went for the rapids and around the bend. After that the photo session was over for the day. I do hope that if he decides to swim with the fishies he has a good time. However we still have Poppa T, Pinx, and little Blew. I convinced them that we needed to set up the photo area and use the greenery and branches we collected.
Challenge shot #5
And so, another personal challenge begins, Making floral arrangements with Christmas in mind. We love a good challenge….. and maybe Aqua will figure out how to join us again….
One of the pool / hiking pals, Robin, invited me to go on a holiday greenery collecting hike in the Camp Sherman area. Today was the day… her husband Marc was our guide. Which is really good because he knows the area much better than I do. Actually, Robin knows the area much better than I do…. I really should go hiking there more often. Not really needing any greenery but willing to help I took my loppers, and we gathered some cedar, some fir, some manzanita… then I spotted one of my favorite things to photograph the Bracken ferns, and back to the truck I went for my camera.
there was just enough snow to coat the trees and brush with a bit of white but not enough to cause any problems driving or hiking.
Maybe a preview of the winter to come?
It didn’t take long, and I had managed to lose my loppers inside the pile of greenery in the back of the pickup. I wasn’t worried though I knew about where they were and that we would unearth them soon enough. I took photos and enjoyed the quietness of the forest.
The vastness of the forest
the greenness of the forest
While we were on the greenery hunt Marc and Robin were also looking for their perfect Christmas tree.
The tree was found and loaded up.
No easy task when the forest is full of perfect trees…. The only thing missing was the troll family, I forgot to bring them, now I am thinking another trip will need to be made to the forest for Photos. More Photos… and maybe some greenery….
I also heard a rumor that the trolls may have another brother showing up. and we would certainly want to show him the sights….
It is that special time of year when family and friends get together and enjoy the harvest of the year. The Troll family has invited their special friend Thomas.
however, there was some concern that he might not have a safe trip here. A plan was hatched, Feathers were ordered.
Much planning, discussions, and giggles were coming from the photo area.
Thomas the Peacock was ready for Thanksgiving Day.
This is my second visit to Shevlin park, Robin and I chose to hike the part of the park that heads up Tumalo creek southwest. I hadn’t been here and also wanted to explore that portion of the park. It was fun going with a guide who had hiked the park several times. Robin said that this park is always different every time you hike it no matter what the weather and season is. I can’t wait to see it in other weather situations. Monday was a nice clear crisp day. A good day to get out before the weather changes.
The trails are well used and free of tripping hazards, making them usable for anyone year around whether they are hiking, biking, or with mobility issues.
Since this was my first trip I really found myself photographing impressions. like the sunlight hitting the yellow leaves of the brush under the Ponderosa Pines
the silver bark of young aspen trees after all of their leaves have fallen.
The early afternoon light on Tumalo Creek from the bridge
the red stems of brush along the creek.
Rose petals tossed into the water, maybe to honor someone lost or to symbolize a happy event.
A tamarack / larch tree glowing against the darker pine trees.
We reached the southern most point of our hike at Fremont meadow then started back to the main parking area. I photographed more impressions on the way back.
A fallen bird’s nest captured by the brush along the trail.
Horse tail rushes glowing in a spot of sunlight.
A memorial for a loved family member.
White Snowberries and red Rose hips. Fruits of the brush along the trail and food for the critters who live here. I also noticed the different light on Tumalo creek, at different times of the day.
Looking up stream and downstream from the bridge at about 12:30 in the early afternoon,
and from the same location at 2:15 in the afternoon.
The deep shadows along Tumalo creek as the sun is lowering for the day.
We ended our trip back at the parking area feeling a bit tired after a 4 mile hike but pleased with the photo opportunities. Like our hiking trip to the east side of Shevlin Park My camera decided to go a bit rogue. However I did catch it pretty quickly and decided to keep the shots.
I am also thinking that I need to budget for another used camera, this next year.
Last week early in the morning I heard what sounded like off road motor bikes ripping through the BLM area I call Sage Ranch Butte and Canyon. I was Angry…. but have over time learned that trying to turn them in is pointless. I can’t get to the trailhead fast enough to find them, and BLM law enforcement can’t get here from Prineville. A good 45 minutes away or more. The next morning, I heard the sound of small engines again at the same time, and this time I realized that it was not motorbikes but chainsaws. My first thought was who is cutting firewood but just as quickly I remembered that I had found a plan by BLM to clear up this large area in the Cline Buttes BLM recreation area, make a new trail head on Fryrear and in general clean out the excess junipers and brush. Improve the trails and build more horse trails. Return the area to a more natural state. Mostly they have been working along Fryrear road. The Cline buttes recreation area is a huge area. The time to work in the sage ranch canyon and butte area has finally arrived. About Damn Time ….. What took you all so long…… and then I did a little dance. But curiosity got to me and that afternoon I went out to my favorite parking area with my housemate Susan and the two German Shepherds. I also took photos, but I wasn’t really happy with them figuring I would go back another day. Saturday was my day. It was supposed to be nice; I had been talking to one of my pool /hiking pals arranging another hike and she said why don’t you go on a hike today. What a good idea, I gathered up my German Shepherds and the camera loaded everything in the car and headed out to my trail head parking area. My goal was to hike up to the top of Sage Ranch Butte, and see what they had cleared, hoping that they had not cut some of my favorite sacred trees…..
After 20+ years of hiking this whole area I had photographed many of these old snags and burned-out junipers. Some trees I just called my old friends. They had survived fire, wind, heat, drought, and snow, each has it’s own personality. when I got to the parking area there were a couple vans for the cutting crew parked there so I chose to park along the road and just hike up the south and east side of the butte. With a raven flying overhead we started out.
I was glad do see that there had been a lot of cutting around the base of the butte and most of the older snags had been left. The views were better than ever. looking east you could see the southernmost cline buttes
To the West you could see the 3 Sisters mountains
I was impressed that while a lot of the junipers had been cut it was not a clear-cut situation.
Finally after several minutes of hiking up the south side I reached the base of the final rocky summit. I was amazed because I had climbed around this but never saw it because of the heavy growth.
The view looking south towards Bend. Something you could not see before. and there on top was one of my favorite snags that I had photographed many times from the top looking south.
inspired I continued around the butte from the east approach. A lot of much needed work had been done along here.
My quest continued to the top hoping to see the leaning juniper still there. It was
And it was easier to photograph because some of the blocking trees had been removed. From here it was just a few steps to the top
and the view from the top of the 3,300 ft butte always good but now even better
I had planned on going down on the west side of the butte but found there was another hiker coming up that side so I chose to go back down on the southeast side. Photographing along the way. I particularly like these old burned snags. They have survived many years of weather . 30? 40? 50 years…..
It was a really good hike for myself and both of my German Shepherds. My plan was to have this posted on my blog page, but it took all afternoon to go through the photos, so I decided to post it Sunday morning, but… As I was working on which photos to use for the blog I got to thinking about hiking down into the canyon, knowing that the workers would not be there …. I went hiking and took more photos for another blog instead ….
I had wanted to hike the trail from Tumalo State Park upriver to the Reily Ranch park. So when Robin asked me where did I want to hike? I said ” Uh… that park above the Shevlin park trail… You know that uh… Ranch….” Ok a little bit of brain fog there. Lucky for me she knew where I wanted to go. So, the plan was we would meet at Tumalo St. park leave my car there, she would drive us up to the Reily Ranch Park and we would start the trail there, hiking along the Deschutes River down to Tumalo St. Park.
It was a beautiful sunny morning with no wind and Reily Ranch Nature Preserve Park is beautiful. The mountains were playing hide and seek in the clouds. We started on the juniper loop then went on the Sage flat loop, where we stopped and checked out the Canyon Overlook
Moving on we walked to the Robins Run trail head and went down towards the river
It is a bit steep compared to the rest of the trail but not unreasonable.
the views of the river were incredible
Robin and I took our time and enjoyed the conversations, the views and the weather. We came to the confluence of the Tumalo Creek with the Deschutes River and commented on how beautiful it was.
Soon we came to a bridge that went over the boulders along the bank of the river allowing hikers to continue on easily
Robin and I both wondered what it took to build this bridge so that it held. against possible floods or shifting boulders…. After the bridge we stopped and had a lunch, the pace was easy and I had been stopping a lot along the way to take photos.
The one thing about this trail is it does cross private properties, and they have allowed hikers to cross as long as they stay on the trail. So, when hiking along the trails be respectful of their property. Because these views are just too beautiful to miss.
Too soon we ended our hike at Tumalo St park and when we were done, we had hiked 3.1 miles. I had taken 175 photos, and we did it in a little over 2 hours.
Robin asked if I wanted to do it again only maybe hike from Tumelo St. park back up to Richardson Ranch Park? Absolutely!!! Because every view changes when you look at them from a different direction…. and hopefully we can pick a time when the other two members of the hiking group won’t have prior appointments.
Tumalo St. park is only 25 minutes from my home but again it is one of those places that I have not taken the time to explore. I even bought a state park pass so I could park there and other parks in the state but never used it until now. Robin, one of the pool/ hiking pals said “where do you want to hike this week, Tuesday?” I said I have never hiked Reily Ranch preserve or Tumalo St Park. So the plan was put together. Unfortunately, only 2 of the 4 of us could make it Tuesday, but it was the best day for the upcoming weather forecast. The plan was we would meet at Tumalo St. Park, leave my car and then continue up to Reily Ranch Preserve where we would start the hike. I went a little early because I didn’t want to be late and I knew that I could spend the time taking photos. There is something about the morning sunlight on the rocks along the Deschutes river.
And this morning was fantastic. Now that we are in fall there was the red willow branches, the yellow of the dried grasses, the green of the junipers and ponderosa pines, the deep blue of the river water against the pink pumice rocks, and the reflections of the rocks on the water.
No matter which way you looked. Down river or upriver.
Those of you who have followed me on Facebook know that over the years I have spent a lot of time photographing the rocks in the canyon I call Sage Ranch rd. Canyon. I see a lot of similarities between these rocks and those except that the river that probably shaped them is gone. The Deschutes is still here.
To me there is a timelessness about the rocks…. They have withstood a lot from weather, winds, and water for thousands of years. Yes, parts of them crumble and land in the river but still they stand a show of earth’s history.
As an armchair geologist who reads every book she can find on Oregon geology, I know the violent forces that created this scene and am at peace with it though I still have questions that no one can answer. Mother nature does not give up her secrets easily, and she is not going to write a book for me to read.
So I turn my camera away from the rocks and the river and look for other delights to photograph.
Thank you, Mother nature, for giving me the morning sun shining through an oak leaf. You are always giving me the hint that there is more to come in this life. Nothing is finite always changing. Robin is here now, and it is time to explore more of your beauty.
I first learned about Shevlin park more than 30 years ago when I would go to Bend on the back roads. But I never stopped. I always meant to. It was the site of a major fire the year we were building our log house here, and always on my radar to go. However, like many close destinations I will go later. Now being a member of the Bend Parks and Rec. system, I am looking at these parks close to home and saying why not? They are close, they are easy to get to, and I have friends through the park system who also like to hike. We all need a little exercise in nature that doesn’t require a major hiking plan with permits and large backpacks filled with food, bedding. and tents. A simple way to enjoy what Mother Nature has given us and the parks and rec. has preserved.
I had shared a post about Shevlin park on Facebook and said I wanted to go hike there one day… Thank You Robin for saying ” Why not Friday or Saturday?” Saturday dawned bright and sunny a perfect day for a little hike. Three of the four of us met at the parking lot where the Aspen Hall is, and we started out. I admit I kind of forgot to take my camera out of the backpack, I as enjoying it so much. but the sight of the yellow Tamarack /Larch tree against the green evergreens and the red willow stems was too much to pass by without the photos. I let my hiking partners get ahead and sure enough they walked through the photo (in the center of the top photo). Then I concentrated on that bright yellow tamarack.
Because I dawdled on this shot, I had to hustle to catch up with both Robin and Susan. Not that difficult for me, but unusual since I usually am ahead. I found them both waiting for me and checking the maps downloaded on their phones.
I couldn’t resist this shot. The hiker in the back actually stopped and asked if we needed any help. We were ok they were just trying to figure out where we were in relation to the end of the trail and a couple other parks that are adjacent to Shevlin but on the other side of Tumalo ck.
A few feet further down we came to this little bridge and Robin said “Photo time” we continued on to the weir.
there was a lot of interesting things to photograph along the way
looking upstream from the dam. There is a nice picnic area there to stop and eat. We sat and rested then decided to continue on to see where the trail ends.
At about this point we were about a mile and a half out and should be thinking about the return trip. This portion of the trail was a bit rougher than the trail below the weir, and we knew that the trail ended a few more feet ahead of us so we turned around.
Susan took this shot of Robin and me, because we all know the photographer never gets in the photos and wasn’t really there….
we crossed several of these little bridges along the trail
I so loved the bright yellow colors against the darker evergreen trees.
As we were coming around the corner towards the weir I spotted this bank of yellow Aspens, I didn’t notice it as we were going up the trail
We stopped and had a little lunch/ snack, chatted and just enjoyed the sun along the creek. then headed back to the Aspen Hall and parking area.
As usual I was stopping and taking photos so got behind a bit. I soon caught up to Susan and Robin who were sitting at one of the picnic tables outside the hall chatting and watching the families fishing on the small pond.
we sat, chatted some more and enjoyed the nice sunny day. All the while making more plans for hiking the parks of Bend Parks and Recreation. I am ready to go again… any time.
Deanne Dements Photography 