Vibrant Journey » Nature/Garden http://blog.vibrantjourney.com life with a little pizzazz Fri, 09 Jul 2010 06:17:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 en hourly 1 Mulch Perspectives http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/2010/03/05/mulch-perspectives/ http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/2010/03/05/mulch-perspectives/#comments Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:51:16 +0000 Luis Menchu http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/?p=615 Walked past newly spread mulch twice in one day with two different people. Both noted the widespread aroma but differed on the cause before being made aware of the fresh mulch. One noted the stink and equated it with manure; the second enjoyed the delicious scent of brown sugar. “Brown sugar” led to talk of gardens and the sweet, textured fragrance of a rich garden soil.

While I have nothing against manure and actually enjoy its scent in reasonable exposures, I much prefer the brown sugar reference and am now looking forward to getting my hands into our garden.

]]> http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/2010/03/05/mulch-perspectives/feed/ 0 Chicken Soup for a Fall Day http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/2009/11/15/chicken-soup-for-a-fall-day/ http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/2009/11/15/chicken-soup-for-a-fall-day/#comments Sun, 15 Nov 2009 07:19:46 +0000 Luis Menchu http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/?p=593 There is nothing like homemade chicken soup for a cold fall day and it is even better with carrots from the garden and baby bok choy from the farmer’s market.

Chicken Soup

Chicken Soup

]]> http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/2009/11/15/chicken-soup-for-a-fall-day/feed/ 0 Fall Colors in the Garden http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/2009/10/18/fall-colors-in-the-garden/ http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/2009/10/18/fall-colors-in-the-garden/#comments Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:05:06 +0000 Luis Menchu http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/?p=550 Some shots of fall color in the garden. The blueberry leaves are always amazing and on this day of rain and sunshine everything was spectacular.

]]> http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/2009/10/18/fall-colors-in-the-garden/feed/ 0 Evening Paddle in Scappoose Bay http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/2009/09/05/evening-paddle-scappoose-bay/ http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/2009/09/05/evening-paddle-scappoose-bay/#comments Sat, 05 Sep 2009 07:12:07 +0000 Luis Menchu http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/?p=510 Enjoyed a nice evening paddle in Scappoose Bay. Wonderful views, a quiet evening, a short soft shower, Great Blue Herons, the splashing of beavers and leaping little fish.

After night fell we followed each others glow-light taillights as we maneuvered our kayaks through fallen trees in a narrow channel.

I did get a few photos before we lost the light of day.

Thanks to Steve and Bonnie at Scappoose Bay Kayaking and to PCC Community Education for a memorable evening.

]]> http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/2009/09/05/evening-paddle-scappoose-bay/feed/ 0 Oregon Coast Trip http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/2009/09/02/oregon-coast-trip/ http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/2009/09/02/oregon-coast-trip/#comments Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:31:07 +0000 Luis Menchu http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/?p=448 Some photos from our recent visit to the Oregon Coast. This summer we focused on the coast starting from Newport and heading south.

We also started collecting lighthouse stamps in our very own Lighthouse passport. Our passport now includes stamps from six Oregon lighthouses.

]]> http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/2009/09/02/oregon-coast-trip/feed/ 2 First Fig Harvest http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/2009/08/06/first-fig-harvest/ http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/2009/08/06/first-fig-harvest/#comments Fri, 07 Aug 2009 06:10:09 +0000 Luis Menchu http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/?p=440 Picked a few of our mini first harvest of figs tonight. These are the teasers for the onslaught of figs we’ll see in October.

First fig harvest

]]> http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/2009/08/06/first-fig-harvest/feed/ 2 Hummingbird Dance http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/2009/07/31/hummingbird-dance/ http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/2009/07/31/hummingbird-dance/#comments Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:08:12 +0000 Luis Menchu http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/?p=430 As I watered the garden hummingbirds danced in the spray catching droplets. A refreshing way for all to start the day.

]]> http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/2009/07/31/hummingbird-dance/feed/ 0 Gutters http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/2009/05/04/gutters/ http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/2009/05/04/gutters/#comments Tue, 05 May 2009 05:00:35 +0000 Luis Menchu http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/?p=412 Just in from cleaning gutters. The rain stopped as I went out to work and I have no ladder stories — a wonderful evening.

I was determined to go out due to the large amount of water pouring out of the clogged gutters. Based on the day we’ve had and the conditions as I went to change into rain gear, I expected to get very wet. Instead the world was kind to me and provided very nice weather for this task. Still not a fun way to spend an evening.

]]> http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/2009/05/04/gutters/feed/ 0 Natural Cycles Art Installation http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/2009/01/13/natural-cycles-art-installation/ http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/2009/01/13/natural-cycles-art-installation/#comments Wed, 14 Jan 2009 06:50:41 +0000 Luis Menchu http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/?p=343 The Natural Cycles art installation (September 2008 – September 2009) featuring works from five artists offers yet another enticing reason to visit Tryon Creek State Park. Each artwork is unique and intriguing in this natural setting.

Fung-US is gorgeous, playful and thought provoking — are we the fungus? Nontrivial Pursuit amazes in scale and message. The Source Series offers a true perspective of where our material lives originate. Forevergreen Tuffet is, well, alien. Invader, just like its real-life counterpart, threatens.

Of course the natural beauty of the park surpasses each of these installations but the art does spark discussion regarding our impact on the natural cycles of our world.

]]> http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/2009/01/13/natural-cycles-art-installation/feed/ 0 Night of the Worms, Again http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/2009/01/13/night-of-the-worms-again/ http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/2009/01/13/night-of-the-worms-again/#comments Wed, 14 Jan 2009 04:59:47 +0000 Luis Menchu http://blog.vibrantjourney.com/?p=336 As I’m sure you recall, I reported on a mass reproductive cycle of worms in my initial Night of the Worms posting in March 2007. Obviously I did not continue my studies of worm reproductive practices, but last night, as I was again out with the dog, I happened upon yet another night of the worms. I do have to admit that the scale was nothing compared to the previous encounter but my observation cycle may be off. Back to cycles, yesterday was another waning gibbous moon just like March 5, 2007.

Not only did I visually encounter this mass mating but would also swear that I could hear rustling in the soil. Could it be that thousands of worms are busily preparing or tidying up after their reproductive cycle? Or, perhaps it was late and I was hearing things.

Here are a few shots from last night. To view more images you can view the gallery from my previous posting.

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