Happy World Wetlands Day!

Here at Teddy Forest, the bears and I love wetlands...bogs, lakes, streams, you name it! Wetlands are some of the most biodiverse places on earth and are home to thousands of unique species. Support your local wetlands by putting litter in its place, adding organic food items to your meals, leaving the car at home, and leashing your dog.

frog, by smallgirl
(I think it might be an invasive European green frog, but beautiful nonetheless)

Snowy Owl overwintering on local flats by smallgirl

Great Blue Herons in summer by smallgirl

Raccoons by smallgirl

Love your wetlands today!!

West Coast Creature Feature-The Terrifying Carnivorous Round-leaved Sundew

It looks as though Teddy Forest is fast evolving into a nature blog, but fear not! The bears still live in Teddy Forest and will be reporting soon. It's just that now that nice weather is finally upon us, I'm spending more time outside exploring than inside making. So, here is an amazing plant I want to share with you...



Round-leaved sundew, by smallgirl

Strictly, the round-leaved sundew is not a West Coast "creature," as it is a plant and a widespread species in Northern Europe, Asia and North America. Here, it lives in the Pacific Northwest and southern Alaska. It is fascinating to observe as it devours mosquitoes and damselflies. Like our friends the bats and birds, this plant is beneficial to humans in its control of insects. In my area, it is considered locally rare as urban development has destroyed much of its wetland habitat. Lately, I have been involved in restoring a bog, one of only two remaining bog habitats in my city, and home to the round-leaved sundew.
PS: I am absolutely loving West Coast bogs and wetlands lately. I've been reading David M. Carrol's Swampwalker Journal, about wetlands in the Eastern States, but we have our share on the West Coast too, so get out there to respect and enjoy them and all that lives there!!

Happy bogging!

Spring means Swamp Lanterns

Bears all over the westcoast rainforest are waking up to delicious swamp lanterns, also know as skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanus). These beautiful yellow flowered plants help black bears clear out their digestive tracts after a long hibernation. Here, Blackie and Blacky are enjoying an afternoon snack.

Blacky by Unipak, who also doubles as a cute purse, was a dumpster dive rescue. He's much happier munching swamp lanterns in Teddy Forest.

Blackie, a very vintage make by littlebluebirdcrafts has been a fixture in Teddy Forest for a long time. She's a little on the shy side but loves to get out into the woods in spring time.

Have a swampy-sweet day!