Comments on: among giants http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/10/23/among-giants/ a place where nature, photography and writing meet Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:56:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: bev http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/10/23/among-giants/#comment-183120 Tue, 30 Oct 2007 11:29:35 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/10/23/among-giants/#comment-183120 Wayne - That's the thing with the PNW -- some of the ecosystems differ vastly from anything in our experience. I see similarities in some species of insects, but am often confronted with species so different that I have no real idea what they might be -- such as the pseudo-tarantula. I can only imagine what it is like to travel to somewhere with even greater differences such as South America or Africa. It was neat to get an ID for that large spider. Although they seem to have a reputation for aggressiveness, I have to say that this one seemed mainly intent on deterence through its strange rearing up display, so perhaps their bark is worse than their bite. - Gina - Thanks. One day, I hope just about everyone will have a chance to walk in the redwoods. I think it might be good for most people to be among the giants and also to contemplate how mankind managed to decimate the redwoods in less than a century. It's rather instructive. Wayne - That’s the thing with the PNW — some of the ecosystems differ vastly from anything in our experience. I see similarities in some species of insects, but am often confronted with species so different that I have no real idea what they might be — such as the pseudo-tarantula. I can only imagine what it is like to travel to somewhere with even greater differences such as South America or Africa.
It was neat to get an ID for that large spider. Although they seem to have a reputation for aggressiveness, I have to say that this one seemed mainly intent on deterence through its strange rearing up display, so perhaps their bark is worse than their bite.
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Gina - Thanks. One day, I hope just about everyone will have a chance to walk in the redwoods. I think it might be good for most people to be among the giants and also to contemplate how mankind managed to decimate the redwoods in less than a century. It’s rather instructive.

]]> by: Gina http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/10/23/among-giants/#comment-183119 Tue, 30 Oct 2007 10:59:41 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/10/23/among-giants/#comment-183119 Stunning photos. Maybe one day I'll walk through there :O) Stunning photos. Maybe one day I’ll walk through there :O)

]]> by: Wayne http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/10/23/among-giants/#comment-183083 Sun, 28 Oct 2007 13:59:29 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/10/23/among-giants/#comment-183083 Wow. I've had to think about this, and of course I know of it, but everything you've presented in the last few weeks is so alien to my experience. I like to think that we have magnificent trees here but there's really no comparison (not that there should be - we are talking different species). One of the things I've noted from your presentations is that despite the distance between our permanent residences, our ecosystems are very similar visually (although certainly not when viewed to any depth). The western continent is truly different. That would include those wonderful pseudo-tarantulas too. You did a marvelous job ferreting their identity out, and they are beautiful, despite their aggressive nature. Wow. I’ve had to think about this, and of course I know of it, but everything you’ve presented in the last few weeks is so alien to my experience. I like to think that we have magnificent trees here but there’s really no comparison (not that there should be - we are talking different species).

One of the things I’ve noted from your presentations is that despite the distance between our permanent residences, our ecosystems are very similar visually (although certainly not when viewed to any depth). The western continent is truly different.

That would include those wonderful pseudo-tarantulas too. You did a marvelous job ferreting their identity out, and they are beautiful, despite their aggressive nature.

]]> by: bev http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/10/23/among-giants/#comment-183068 Sat, 27 Oct 2007 15:50:56 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/10/23/among-giants/#comment-183068 Dave - Thanks! I got fairly good photos of the redwoods this time -- possibly because it turned out to be a sunny, late autumn day. There were a lot of really neat light effects. - robin - It did seem to be a longer hike than we'd anticipated, or perhaps we just stopped more to photograph trees than we realized. In any case, it was worth the walk. - am - Glad you enjoyed the redwood photos. I love walking among them, although did not meet them for the first time until 2000. I look forward to returning again - hopefully in the not too distant future. - Leslie - Sometimes forest photos seem to work, and sometimes they don't. I think a lot of that has to do with the light you have to work with on a particular day. - barbara - My redwood hiking trail guide states that the tree was discovered by Sheriff Jack Breen many years ago and he also founded the local Boy Scout troop. - Clare - I hope you have a chance to get back to the redwoods some day. It sure is a special place. - Cathy - I believe you would love California. Yes, it's a must do if at all possible sometime in the future. - Mark - The redwoods are certainly very different than any other forests that I can think of. The scale is right off the chart, even including the ferns and other understory plants. You feel a bit as though you have entered some primeval lost world. - pablo - Nope! The seal stayed behind, which was probably just as well as she had a very loud and penetrating cry for food! (-: Dave - Thanks! I got fairly good photos of the redwoods this time — possibly because it turned out to be a sunny, late autumn day. There were a lot of really neat light effects.
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robin - It did seem to be a longer hike than we’d anticipated, or perhaps we just stopped more to photograph trees than we realized. In any case, it was worth the walk.
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am - Glad you enjoyed the redwood photos. I love walking among them, although did not meet them for the first time until 2000. I look forward to returning again - hopefully in the not too distant future.
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Leslie - Sometimes forest photos seem to work, and sometimes they don’t. I think a lot of that has to do with the light you have to work with on a particular day.
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barbara - My redwood hiking trail guide states that the tree was discovered by Sheriff Jack Breen many years ago and he also founded the local Boy Scout troop.
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Clare - I hope you have a chance to get back to the redwoods some day. It sure is a special place.
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Cathy - I believe you would love California. Yes, it’s a must do if at all possible sometime in the future.
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Mark - The redwoods are certainly very different than any other forests that I can think of. The scale is right off the chart, even including the ferns and other understory plants. You feel a bit as though you have entered some primeval lost world.
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pablo - Nope! The seal stayed behind, which was probably just as well as she had a very loud and penetrating cry for food! (-:

]]> by: pablo http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/10/23/among-giants/#comment-183065 Sat, 27 Oct 2007 13:29:09 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/10/23/among-giants/#comment-183065 Did you take your seal with you on the hike? Did you take your seal with you on the hike?

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