hydrangea blossoming

hydrangea blossoming
Hydrangea on the Edge of Blooming

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Impenetrable Forest

THIS is the forest primeval. The murmuring firs and the hemlocks, Bearded with moss, and in garments green, indistinct in the twilight, Stand like Druids of eld, with voices sad and prophetic, Stand like harpers hoar, with beards that rest on their bosoms.

Well, Longfellow actually wrote ‘the murmuring pines’ not ‘firs,’ but he was writing about eastern forests and out here in Point Roberts we don’t have pines much. But we do yet have impenetrable forests, forests primeval, that are likely to stay that way because they have been protected, at least in some cases. Today, we were celebrating the Lily Point Marine Reserve’s first anniversary as a protected park.

Last year, representatives from the Lummi Indian tribe, Governor Gregoire’s office, Whatcom County, the Nature Conservancy, and the Whatcom Land Trust all came out to congratulate one another (and the local residents, as well) on getting this Reserve to happen. This year, though, it was a smaller celebration, pretty much limited to Pt. Roberts’ folks and a rep or two from County Parks and the Whatcom Land Trust. About 70 or 80 of us locals got out there around 10 a.m. on a cold but sunny morning and listened to about ¾ of an hour of talk in advance of getting to go out on guided walks through the woods and the beach. I got so cold during all that talking that I began to think that next year they should hold the event at the Community Center where we could sit and be warm, and they could have a microphone and be heard, and then I guess we could have a slide show.

Anyway, they eventually sent us off on guided and unguided walks. Getting down to the beach involves a somewhat steep and narrow path which I'd never walked down before, but it was easy enough down (despite my uncertain knee) and hard going up because it was going up. As Ed said, ‘just work going up.’ Not recommended (at least for me) if there had been rain because that downhill path is just packed dirt and is likely to be slippery while wet.

We decided we were not feeling like being guided and instead went down to the area of the beach where the old APA cannery had done its business. The ruins of the piers are still there, and far more beautiful as rock holders (if less useful) now than they probably were when the boats tied up to them and unloaded their shiny, silver fish who were destined to be canned in tins with lead solder closures. And to then go out into the world to benefit those who didn’t have enough lead in their diet, I guess.

The woods above on the bluff were truly impenetrable, to my surprise. When I read that phrase last week in the book about the Icelanders, I couldn’t quite imagine what the author was describing. But up at the top of Lily Point, the flat paths are edged by woods that are thick and thicker with trees and bushes and lichen brabcges and other growing things as well as dead branches and other impenetrable objects. And while we were walking down a pathway through them, a bald eagle flew by, about 25 feet over my head. Very impressive.

When we left the house this morning, I was asking why I was going for a walk in the woods when I already live in the woods. It was good to ask the question because I had to see that the woods I live in and the Lily Point woods are really different places. And happy I am that Lilly Point will be able to preserve that difference over the years.

So even though they weren’t all there today, thanks again to the Governor and the County who used peoples’ taxes to buy this land, as well as to the Nature Conservancy and the Whatcom Land Trust who used peoples’ donations to buy this land, and to the Lummi Indians and the Icelandic settlers who preserved the land for so long. It’s a nice place. It has steep trails and flat trails and something for everyone, including naturalized daffodils and lilacs. But, we were advised during the talking parts, no camping, no unleashed dogs, no fires, no bikes, and no memorial benches. At least not now.

There are additional pictures of Lily Point taken during today's event, here.

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