Photo Blog X

As Hidden Valley begins the transition to fall the paths through the grass are even more visible.

Work Continues on the apple tree.

Beavers aren't the only ones using the slides. If you look closely you can see the garter snake hurrying to escape my presence.

The dam continues to grow.

The water bugs appreciate all the beavers' hard work since it makes ideal places for them.

The beaver pond is still as glass.

Non-native bamboo grass and native stinging nettles grow along the water's edge

Even though more and more things are going to seed there are still plenty of blooms to be found,

Horse tail ferns continue to provide a fluffy green to the changing valley colors. 

Seeds are everywhere in the valley.  

Many kinds of grass seed and dandelion abound.

It looks as though the beavers may be adding a dam across Lost Creek. 

I leave you today with this charming photo of the shadows creeping over the valley. Until next time.

Collecting all the Photo Blog Links and Looking at How the Dam has Grown

Since the Hidden Valley Photo Blog spent some time wandering around the internet before reaching its permanent home here I thought a collection of links to all the blogs would be in order. 

The very first photo blog can be found here http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.212409612130882.52549.104782249560286&type=1

At that point the dam was still small and didn't even stretch all the way across the creek.

The next one is located at http://www.flickr.com/photos/33350160@N02/sets/72157627033556608/

Photo Blog III appeared as a YouTube video. Number IV is another Facebook album http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.223736167664893.54721.104782249560286&type=1

It's surprising to see how much the dam had grown in just a month. 

There was still a lot of water spilling through at that point.

Photo Blog V appeared in my other blog  http://rangerandhiskat.blogspot.com/2011/07/hidden-valley-photo-blog-v.html and number VI was once again a Flickr set http://www.flickr.com/photos/33350160@N02/sets/72157627141476047/ It's easy to see how much taller the dam has gotten.

Photo Blog VII still hasn't been posted because the laptop where all the photos are is still being repaired. Blogs VIII and IX are here. 

Until next time. 

Hidden Valley Photo Blog IX

We're privileged to have a special guest blogger this time. My 12 year old son accompanied me on my last visit and provides the photographs and text for this week's blog.

Hidden Valley is a very cool place. I enjoy going there with my mom. You can see beaver slides

You can also look at the beaver dam. Here is a view from above. 

And this view is from in front of the dam.

Mom is standing in front of the dam so you can see the size of the dam compared to a 5'6" person.

Here are a couple of close up pictures of the dam. Beavers use lots of things for building material.

It's an amazing structure.

Beavers have very sharp teeth for chewing on trees.

I like exploring the creeks and looking at the interesting patterns of water on rocks.

This Daisy is one of the flowers you can find in the valley. You can see that it is almost done blooming. 

 The foxgloves are going to seed.

There are lots of things still blooming in Hidden Valley 

This is one of the buildings that is in the valley.

I always learn something new when I go with Mom. This time I learned to identify Tansy

Wild Carrot

And Yarrow.

Until next time. 

Hidden Valley Photo Blog VIII

Those of you who have been following the migration of Hidden Valley Photo Blogs around the web may notice that Photo Blog VII was skipped. Rest assured, as soon as the computer that is currently undergoing repairs comes home I'll post VII.

Hidden Valley played host to some unusual visitors recently. The Mountaineers Kitsap Branch was holding their Youth Theater Camp in the Forest Theater which is very near Hidden Valley. Campers and staff were given a special guided tour to Hidden Valley to view the beaver activity. Visit this link to see photos of the campers and staff as they view all the work the beavers have done. Hidden Valley Photo Blog VIII on Flickr

It was a remarkable experience for everyone. At least one camper reported that it was the best part of camp. Campers come expecting lots of physical activity, acting, singing, and dancing as they prepare for their end of week showcase but they didn't expect a chance to see a beaver dam and to learn about beavers. With the added bonus of two adults knowledgeable about woodland first aid the kids learned that maidenhair fern or slug slime are good remedies for stinging nettles and that apple leaves have antiseptic properties as well as lots lots more.

Until next time.

Work party Saturday, March 12, 10:00 am

The purpose will be to attack the foreign invasive plants (weeds) growing there. Primarily we will be hand pulling roberts geranium. This will entail hands and knees work pulling weeds with thumb amd forefinger. For those who prefer or for those who need to take a break, we will have some himalayan blackberry to grub out by hand using picks or steel digging bars.

Meet at the Lodge parking lot at Ten and we will walk down the driveway to the valley. For those arriving later, walk down the drive or take the Theater trail, turn right at the backstage and walk along the trail to the Valley.

Bring work gloves, lunch, beverage, kneeling pad if you need it, optional pick or pruning snips.
Questions? Call Gardner at 425-226-6267 or zap @ gabionbucketworth@gmail.com.

Wildlife in Hidden Valley

John Klemesrud (john@klemport.net) installed a motion-activated camera in Hidden Valley last November and captured some really fun images-- not only was there an eagle grabbing a salmon, but beavers passed by several times as well as a bear (complete with fogged-up lens). Enjoy!

Info about the Video
http://home.comcast.net/~klemport/movies/wildcatcreek_info.jpg

Wildcat Creek Video - November 2010(5:37 wmv 640x480 high quality version, 86mb)http://home.comcast.net/~jkvideos/WMV-640/WildcatCreek-Nov2010_640.wmv

Wildcat Creek Video - November 2010(5:37 wmv 320x240 medium quality version, 32mb)http://home.comcast.net/~jkvideos/WMV-320/WildcatCreek-Nov2010_320.wmv/

Salmon Walk at Rhododendron Preserve Sunday, November 21

The salmon are spawning in the Chico Creek watershed! Meet at the parking lot at the Rhododendron Preserve/Forest Theater/Kitsap Cabin at 1:30 pm for a walk or wander.

We'll walk the Big Tree Trail to the bridge over Wildcat Creek, your first glimpse of the forest and the salmon, then continue up Lost Creek to the Big Tree, the 11-foot diameter Douglas fir that is the biggest publicly accessible tree in our area. Lost Creek is also home to thousands of spawning salmon.

On the way back, we'll also walk into Hidden Valley, where you can spend some more time watching the salmon then wander back up the hill at your leisure.

For more information on the Rhododendron Preserve, including a map: http://www.mountaineersfoundation.org/rhododendron-preserve

For directions to the parking area, see: http://foresttheater.com/driving-directions