A birch grove in a Vermont woods.

Springcherry

A Trillium grove, complete with old growth trees and rich, unkempt understory. Lichen and fungi growing on logs, surrounded by Oregon Grape, salal, mosses and ferns, and every so often along the path, lush skunk cabbage growing undisturbed and free to bloom, along a mountain stream. This is the Pacific Northwest.

For Montana - it is any streambed: where vivid multi-colored stones, including purples, red, gold and green rocks! are seen beneath rushing, sparkling clear water. Dragonflies dart by, and a red-headed woodpecker is hammering somewhere; minnows play and a speckled trout slides by.

Time slows and you breathe deeper, glad to be alive.

In different seasons, wild roses, gangly strawflowers and mullein, or tiny, fragile wildflowers put on a show. While you watch a striped Chipmunk scurry, you become aware that you are patiently observed by one of many large 4-leggeds of the forest. She allow you a share of Huckleberry and Chokecherries - as reward for making a timely return to the valley. Towering pines and purple mountains frame the sunset, and you hope these seasons repeat, forever.