My favourite part of Leavenworth is Blackbird Island, right on the edge of town. The loop trail around it is a flat, easy walk, and is especially nice in the morning or evening on a hot day.
The island appeared in the 1930's when a mill pond was drained, so it's a fairly new island for plant growth. Fast-growing Black Cottonwoods are the largest plants on the island and since they live only about 80 years, some are declining now. Signs along the path describe other plants growing here such as: Nootka Rose, Blue Elderberry and Horsetail.
The place is so alive with chattering and singing birds that it is easy to forget you're not in a jungle in the tropics. In fact, Glenn would sometimes catch himself calling it Lahaina.
Above, top and bottom left: path on the town side. The island, out of view to the right, is linked by a bridge.Top right: Blackbird Inn (centre, top of hill) where we stayed last time.
Bottom right: The island sits in the Wenatchee River as far as I can tell. We saw several rafters floating downstream in the evening.
The river takes on a different appearance in the morning.
Not the same view but Glenn did a watercolour painting of this area after our first visit. (Photo of the painting was taken through glass so colours are not exactly true.)
I'm not sure if the plant above is a Blue Elderberry or not.
I'll always think of this island for the Horsetail or Scouring Rush that grows here. This evergreen plant seems to remain sticklike, unlike the fluffy type I'm used to seeing around here. The silica in it made it useful for settlers to use as scouring pads.
There area also signs about the early residents.
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