I’ve spent the past week continuing the big studio project, purging what used to be the kids’ closet. Twenty years of kids’ schoolwork…buh-bye. Rock and magnet collections? Gone! The best stuff went to friends’ kids, so that was fun to curate. Now it’s time to get back to work.
But first, a walk in the park…Forest Park. I went on a hike there yesterday with friends. It’s 5,157 acres inside the city of Portland, which makes it the largest urban forest in the United States. I’d never been there before, and I’m a native Portlander!
It’s trillium season in the Pacific Northwest.
These are one of my favorite wildflowers.
Oxalis
Fiddlehead ferns
Salmonberry
I have no idea what these are.
I love these fungi taking over this log.
Now I’m back to my knitting, working on a design to use the leftover yarn from my Aloha Shawl. And planning the Aloha Shawlette and Shawl KAL! Sharon (Stitchjones) and I are excited to be working on this KAL together. You can use her gorgeous Pai Mei Sock yarn in Rainbow Shave Ice and Warm Sand, or you can use your own yarn. The pattern is still $2 off through April 10; use the coupon code ALOHA to purchase. And swing by the KAL thread on Ravelry!
Is it spring in your neck of the woods yet?
PDXKnitterati 
I’ve never been to Forest Park either! What is wrong with us natives?! I’m so sad to see the trillium fading away now…they have been gorgeous! Love that the fern fronds and salmonberries are showing up!! FP is next on my list to visit! Thanks for the inspiration!! 🙂
We took the Maple Trail, off Saltzman Road. You can head up to a washed out bridge, or you can head down, to an intact bridge! We went up, first, turned around at the wash out (there’s a log across, but too precarious with dogs racing us), and went the other way. Would love to explore further down.
>
Aww, thanks for all the lovely pictures of Forest Park. I lived in Beaverton from 83 to 90, and then Cannon Beach for 4 years before marrying and moving to the Bay Area. We used to go to Forest Park all the time. The zoo, the Japanese Garden, the rose garden and all those lovely rhodies in the spring. It is just a jewel. Your post just took me back. I miss Portland.
You should come back and visit! Especially during yarn crawl season. But I do think April is the loveliest month in Portland, with all the flowering trees blooming. We’ve had the cherries, plums, magnolias, and the dogwoods are up next!
>
Lovely! I took my kids to Leach botanical gardens yesterday and saw many of the same flowers. What a lovely time of year.
This is my favorite time of year; everything is full of promise and I haven’t given up on my garden yet! (Although I haven’t even started this year…)
>
I’m also about to cast on the Trillium shawlette, which seems fitting. 🙂 and I’ll be using a skein I bought during the yarn crawl.
Yes! Finally. I even have laundry out on the line today. So happy.
Sunshine makes everything better!
>
Some days are spring. Some days are already SUMMER!
Love that crazy flower that has no name. It’s awesome.
Your summer starts so early! Just glorious spring here. The crazy flower may be angelica…
>
I love the pictures of trillium! How beautiful.