Reason No. 10

Reason No. 10

of 55 Reasons to Take Care of Mother Earth:

Garlic Flower Magic Wands

Over the next few weeks I will be posting photos or artwork of 55 reasons why I think it's a good idea to take care of Mother Earth. If you find any of my 55 reasons compelling, please consider making a small donation if you can: 55 cents, $1.55, 5.50, or $55.00 (you get the drift...) to the Susan Faye Double Nickel Birthday Fund for Mother Nature to benefit the Nature Conservancy.

Your donation will support the many programs of the Nature Conservancy, an efficient and effective organization that has been working around the world for 60 years to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. My goal is to raise $550 to help with their important work.

If you would like to donate, please click here:
Double Nickel Fund

A big thank you to those who have donated so far!!

Reason No. 9

Reason No. 9

of 55 Reasons to Take Care of Mother Earth:

photo copyright 2010 Susan Faye

Bald Eagle Beauty

The handsome creature above was photographed at the Tualatin River National Wildlife Preserve, just a stone's throw away from Highway 99 W in Tualatin Oregon.

Don't live in an area where eagles roam? Then you might enjoy the "Eagle Cam", located on a Nature Conservancy-owned preserve on Santa Cruz Island. This past spring I enjoyed watching the incubation, birth, and flight training of Eaglets A-69 and A-68, all on a live feed from their nest. Most of the activity there is in springtime, but there are archives to enjoy:

Over the next few weeks I will be posting photos or artwork of 55 reasons why I think it's a good idea to take care of Mother Earth. If you find any of my 55 reasons compelling, please consider making a small donation if you can: 55 cents, $1.55, 5.50, or $55.00 (you get the drift...) to the Susan Faye Double Nickel Birthday Fund for Mother Nature to benefit the Nature Conservancy.

Your donation will support the many programs of the Nature Conservancy, an efficient and effective organization that has been working around the world for 60 years to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. My goal is to raise $550 to help with their important work.

If you would like to donate, please click here:
Double Nickel Fund

A big thank you to those who have donated so far!!

Reason No. 8

Reason No. 8

of 55 Reasons to Take Care of Mother Earth:

watercolor painting copyright 20o8 Susan Faye

American Robins

Populations of migratory birds have declined dramatically in the last 30 years. But there is hope - The Nature Conservancy is working to halt these declines by preserving habitats along their entire migratory path, including breeding, wintering and migratory stopover areas. Your donation will help support important projects like the Migratory Bird Program!

Over the next few weeks I will be posting photos or artwork of 55 reasons why I think it's a good idea to take care of Mother Earth. If you find any of my 55 reasons compelling, please consider making a small donation if you can: 55 cents, $1.55, 5.50, or $55.00 (you get the drift...) to the Susan Faye Double Nickel Birthday Fund for Mother Nature to benefit the Nature Conservancy.

Your donation will support the many programs of the Nature Conservancy, an efficient and effective organization that has been working around the world for 60 years to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. My goal is to raise $550 to help with their important work.

If you would like to donate, please click here:
Double Nickel Fund

A big thank you to those who have donated so far!!

Reason No. 7

Reason No. 7

of 55 Reasons to Take Care of Mother Earth:

photo copyright 2010 Susan Faye

Alpine Meadows

This is one of the lower meadows on the Canyon Creek hiking loop near Sisters, Oregon. One of the rewards of this 4.5 mile hike is this spectacular view of the jagged spires of Three Fingered Jack. It's a great place to see wildflowers in the summer!

Over the next few weeks I will be posting photos or artwork of 55 reasons why I think it's a good idea to take care of Mother Earth. If you find any of my 55 reasons compelling, please consider making a small donation if you can: 55 cents, $1.55, 5.50, or $55.00 (you get the drift...) to the Susan Faye Double Nickel Birthday Fund for Mother Nature to benefit the Nature Conservancy.

Your donation will support the many programs of the Nature Conservancy, an efficient and effective organization that has been working around the world for 60 years to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. My goal is to raise $550 to help with their important work.

If you would like to donate, please click here:
Double Nickel Fund

A big thank you to those who have donated so far!!

Reason No. 6

Reason No. 6
of 55 Reasons to Take Care of Mother Earth:

photo copyright 2010 Susan Faye

Cheeky Little Chickadees

The Nature Conservancy has a great selection of free e-cards to send to friends and family. Click here to see their selection of Bird e-cards

Over the next few weeks I will be posting photos or artwork of 55 reasons why I think it's a good idea to take care of Mother Earth. If you find any of my 55 reasons compelling, please consider making a small donation if you can: 55 cents, $1.55, 5.50, or $55.00 (you get the drift...) to the Susan Faye Double Nickel Birthday Fund for Mother Nature to benefit the Nature Conservancy

Your donation will support the many programs of the Nature Conservancy, an efficient and effective organization that has been working around the world for 60 years to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. My goal is to raise $550 to help with their important work.

If you would like to donate, please click here:
Double Nickel Fund

Thanks for visiting!

Reason No. 5

Reason No. 5
of 55 Reasons to Take Care of Mother Earth:

Very Tall Waterfalls

This is one of dozens of magnificent waterfalls in the Columbia Gorge. The Gorge was formed by the Columbia River between Washington State and Oregon. Just east of this waterfall is the Tom McCall Preserve. The preserve is named for Oregon's late governor, Thomas Lawson McCall, whose commitment to conservation in Oregon remains an inspiration. The preserve is maintained by the Nature Conservancy, Mayer State Park and national forest lands.

Over the next few weeks I will be posting photos or artwork of 55 reasons why I think it's a good idea to take care of Mother Earth. If you find any of my 55 reasons compelling, please consider making a small donation if you can: 55 cents, $1.55, 5.50, or $55.00 (you get the drift...) to the Susan Faye Double Nickel Birthday Fund for Mother Nature to benefit the Nature Conservancy

Your donation will support the many programs of the Nature Conservancy, an efficient and effective organization that has been working around the world for 60 years to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. My goal is to raise $550 to help with their important work.

If you would like to donate, please click here:
Double Nickel Fund

Thanks for visiting!

Reason No. 4

Reason No. 4
of 55 Reasons to Take Care of Mother Earth:

photo copyright 2010 Susan Faye

Duck Moms in Camouflage

(There are two more ducklings hidden somewhere under her wings!)

The Lower Mississippi Valley is the largest wintering ground in the world for mallard ducks. To find out what the Nature Conservancy is doing to preserve this vital ecosystem, click here: Freshwater Conservation

Over the next few weeks I will be posting photos or artwork of 55 reasons why I think it's a good idea to take care of Mother Earth. If you find any of my 55 reasons compelling, please consider making a small donation if you can: 55 cents, $1.55, 5.50, or $55.00 (you get the drift...) to the Susan Faye Double Nickel Birthday Fund for Mother Nature to benefit the Nature Conservancy

Your donation will support the many programs of the Nature Conservancy, an efficient and effective organization that has been working around the world for 60 years to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. My goal is to raise $550 to help with their important work.

If you would like to donate, please click here:
Double Nickel Fund

Thanks for visiting!

Reason No. 3

Reason No. 3
of 55 Reasons to Take Care of Mother Earth:

photo copyright 2010 Susan Faye

~~~Japanese Maple Leaves in Autumn~~~

A wonderful place to enjoy Mother Earth and Japanese Maple leaves in autumn is the Japanese Garden in Portland Oregon. "One of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan, the Portland Japanese Garden is a 5.5-acre haven of tranquil beauty nestled in the scenic west hills of Portland, Oregon". Where is your favorite haven of tranquil beauty?

Over the next few weeks I will be posting photos or artwork of 55 reasons why I think it's a good idea to take care of Mother Earth. If you find any of my 55 reasons compelling, please consider making a small donation if you can: 55 cents, $1.55, 5.50, or $55.00 (you get the drift...) to the Susan Faye Double Nickel Birthday Fund for Mother Nature to benefit the Nature Conservancy

Your donation will support the many programs of the Nature Conservancy, an efficient and effective organization that has been working around the world for 60 years to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. My goal is to raise $550 to help with their important work.

If you would like to donate, please click here:
Double Nickel Fund

Thanks for visiting!

Reason No. 2

Reason No. 2
of 55 Reasons to Take Care of Mother Earth:

~~~Insects That Look Like Space Aliens~~~

photos copyright 2010 Susan Faye

For more informations about mantids, including this Praying Mantis, visit this link: European Mantids

Over the next few weeks I will be posting photos or artwork of 55 reasons why I think it's a good idea to take care of Mother Earth. If you find any of my 55 reasons compelling, please consider making a small donation if you can: 55 cents, $1.55, 5.50, or $55.00 (you get the drift...) to the Susan Faye Double Nickel Birthday Fund for Mother Nature to benefit the Nature Conservancy

Your donation will support the many programs of the Nature Conservancy, an efficient and effective organization that has been working around the world for 60 years to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. My goal is to raise $550 to help with their important work.

If you would like to donate, please click here:
Double Nickel Fund

Double Nickel Day

Please join me as I celebrate the completion of 55 orbits around the Sun on this crazy space ship we call Mother Earth!! [Yes, it's my birthday.]

With each passing orbit, it has become increasingly clear to me how important it is to take care of our Mother Ship and our fellow Earthings, including ALL of the incredible life forms we share this planet with (although I'm a little ambivalent about slugs and mosquitoes if you must know...)

With that in mind, I have created the Susan Faye Double Nickel Birthday Fund for Mother Nature to benefit the Nature Conservancy.

Over the next few weeks I will be posting photos or artwork of 55 reasons why I think it's a good idea to take care of Mother Earth. If you find any of my 55 reasons compelling, please consider making a small donation if you can: 55 cents, $1.55, 5.50, or $55.00 (you get the drift...).

Your donation will support the many programs of the Nature Conservancy, an efficient and effective organization that has been working around the world for 60 years to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. My goal is to raise $550 to help with their important work.

Without further ado, here is
Reason No. 1 to Take Care of Mother Earth:

photo copyright 2010 Susan Faye

~~~Rabbits with See-Through Ears~~~

If you would like to donate, please click here: Double Nickel Fund
To find out what the Nature Conservancy is doing for some special rabbits, click here: Pygmy Rabbits

Thanks for visiting!

Bee Inspired

photo copyright Susan Faye 2010 all rights reserved

"In every walk with nature
one receives
far more than he seeks. "

John Muir

Dahlia Bee

photo copyright Susan Faye 2010 all rights reserved

"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread,
places to play in and pray in,
where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul."
John Muir

Star Gazing

Illustration Friday

(theme:"star gazing")

The best kinds of stars to gaze at are the shooting kind, especially those with fancy stardust tail-trails! Happy gazing to you!

Don't miss out on the Go Green Garden Cat Giveaway going on now at my other blog!

Thanks for visiting!

Flora and Fauna on the Canyon Creek Meadows Loop

On Monday I had the pleasure of visiting the lower meadows of Canyon Creek near Sisters, Oregon, thanks to my intrepid personal hiking guide--Globe Trekker Mary.

This moderate 4.5-mile loop takes you on a tour of a high alpine meadow of wildflowers, with bubbling Canyon Creek flowing through it. In addition, there are spectacular views of the jagged spires of Three Fingered Jack.

The wildflowers were a few weeks behind schedule but we still saw plenty of flora and some fauna too:

A fuzzy Cat's Ear flower...

A male Oregon Junco...

Indian Paintbrush...

Mountain Heather...

A tiny Silvery Blue butterfly...

And Bear Grass--something I had never seen before! It was EVERYWHERE and looked like giant fairy wands :

At first we thought this was a female Northern Flicker, but upon closer inspection we think it is a female Williamson's Sapsucker...

There was a merry band of Gray Jays...

And lots of lupine, paired here with manzanita...

Possibly the prettiest of all were the Shooting Star flowers!

At the highest points of the trail there were patches of snow! In July! Can you believe it? Here is my artistic interpretation of a snow shelf melting over a creek:

Thanks for visiting!

Directions to the trail: Drive Highway 20 east of Santiam Pass 8 miles. At a "Wilderness Trailheads" sign near milepost 88 (1 mile east of Suttle Lake or 12 miles west of Sisters), turn north on paved Jack Lake Road 12 for 4.4 miles. Then turn left on one-lane Road 1230 for 1.6 miles to the end of pavement, and finally turn left onto Road 1234, climbing 6 miles to the trailhead at the primitive Jack Lake campground.