“Have you ever touched the rainbow? Delighted by wildflowers in the spring. Have you ever climbed a mountain? Witnessing majestic birds. Have you ever crossed the sea? Sunset beyond magical islands. Take a look around the corner and listen to your heartbeat. It takes one step to start a journey. It’s up to you to make it real. This is the time for you to be free. You gotta follow your heart. This is the time in your life; it’s never too late to see the light in the dark. You gotta follow your heart. Walking far away horizons. You will never walk alone. You’ll be at home where your heart is. Life brings me down, it takes me up. Only heaven knows.”
Song. Follow Your Heart
Musician. Scorpions
Unplugged in Athens 2013
.
April is Native Plant Appreciation Month! Kudos to Governor Jay Inslee for recognizing the intrinsic, ecological, and cultural value of native plants. I became enamored with native plants growing up the PNW spending time exploring the backwoods surrounding our property. I took an ethnobotany class in college and learned how Native American people used plants for medicine, food, fiber, dye, and shelter. I’m grateful for the magnificent plants of the PNW such as skunk cabbage (photo #2). It has waxy leaves that grow 3 feet long. The leaves were used by natives to line berry baskets, drying racks, and steaming pits. Tribes ate the cooked rhizomes of skunk cabbage in early spring, before the salmon arrived. It’s important to protect and restore native plant habitat. They are uniquely adapted to our region, requiring less maintenance and water. They support pollinators, wildlife and prevent flooding and erosion. Happy trails!
Taryn Rehn 