It’s been longer than I thought since I visited Nisqually Wildlife Refuge, and things have changed considerably since the last time I was there. The fuzzy little goslings have grown considerably under mother and dad’s careful watch:

Overall,there didn’t seem to be as many birds as I’d seen before, but perhaps that was because the grass and reeds have grown higher than I’ve ever seen them before. Still, the scarcity of birds was partially compensated for by colorful, berry-laden elderberry bushes:

the blossoming forth of native roses:

raging Fireweed:

and quiet visits with Lorquin’s Admiral: