The Orcas Idylls portfolio is a diverse collection observations made on my daily walks around Orcas Island between 1983 and 1992.
A spectacular grove of madrona trees glows in the warmth of sunset (Madrona Grove at Sunset). A herd of cows, a beautiful, white, French breed known as Charolais (bred by my neighbor, Hollywood character actor Charley Arnt, when he owned Driftwood Ranch) pose for a portrait (Charolais).
The image Norske Cabin shows a cabin I vacationed in when I was younger. It was built in the 1880s, in a Norwegian style, from hand-hewn logs.
Frost adorns a cattail in a wetland at dawn (Frosty Cattail). A rusty screen on an old farmhouse door is backlit in iridescent yellows, and subtle reds and greens (Screen Door). Snow adds a dramatic element of white to a madrona tree standing against a blue, winter sky (Snowy Madrona Tree). Fog shrouds the stream feeding into Cayou Slough which supported three indigenous salmon runs. At the time this photo was taken old, abandoned Lummi reef net canoes were still visible on the left bank (Fog at Cayou Slough).
Next to a pond I found Douglas spirea, better known as hard-hack, a native plant with a beautiful pink flower (Douglas Spirea). I was roused from my reading by the piercing sound of a bald eagle calling from its nearby perch (Eagle Calling). Seeking out tasty native salmon berries, thimbleberries, purple-blue gooseberries, along the trail, I instead found a tiny wild strawberry (Wild Strawberry).
In the twilight at Buckhorn Beach, I placed a single firework on a floating log and gave it a push (Fireworks After Sunset). The time-lapse exposure captured every individual firing as the drifting display traced an arc toward the fading light, making for a beautiful, island-style July 4th celebration!
Warm, late-afternoon light bathes one of the most stunning madrona groves on the island.
Out for a morning walk, I stopped to chat with some friends. “May I take your portrait?” I asked. “Would you mind if we stay right where we are?” they asked.
The remains of two junipers shelter a patch of bright pink shooting stars.
This century-old cabin was built in a Norwegian style, out of hand-hewn timbers.
While out for a walk on a cold, winter morning, I spotted this fluffy cattail wearing a fresh coat of frost.
While the old, rusty screen door on this farmhouse no longer keeps the bugs out, it beautifully captures the glowing iridescent-gold and green of the setting sun.
This madrona, with its many related trunks and branches, is what we call a “Family Tree.”
The light, trees, and fog in this magical scene appear as if woven from a dream. This dreamy scene blends sky and water with trees receding into the fog.
A flowering Douglas spirea greets the new day from the bank of a misty-morning pond. Misty morning pond and flowering Douglas Spirea
Reading a book by the window, I was distracted by this bald eagle calling out repeatedly. So I grabbed my camera, walked out onto the porch and got this shot! How nice when a once-in-a-lifetime moment happens when your camera is nearby!
Orcas Island is home to a number of native, wild berries. One of my favorites are these tiny, wild strawberries that absolutely burst with flavor. They’re such an early-summer treat!
This time exposure captures the magical journey of a single firework as it drifts on a floating log after sunset.