Mount Rainier: Cedar Roots, Petals, Beargrass

 My visit to Mt. Rainier in Washington a few months back was the inspiration  for my newest carved painting titled "Mt. Rainier: Cedar Roots, Petals, and Beargrass." This piece, like the "Avalanche Lilies" mentioned in a previous blog, was based on a hike up to Comet Falls. Many parts of the trail to the falls were in shade, covered by giant cedars and fir trees. The path was made highly uneven in spots because of the tree roots exposed by the passing hikers. This was the source for the left section of this panel - the criss-cross nature of these roots, which also resemble aerial photos of marshes and tide flats.
The middle section uses as its motif the same type of pattern found in "Avalanche Lilies:" I excerpted the petal shapes from that flower, enlarged them slightly, and placed them so that they would appear to be falling gracefully.
The right section features Bear Grass, which is blooming at this time of year. It is found in many parks at the sub-alpine elevation, and I have also seen it in Yosemite and at Glacier National Park in previous years.The bulbous flower is composed of many smaller blossoms, while the long, sturdy stalk appears almost hairy. The base has many thin grassy leaves that curve delicately, and intersect one another to form busy flowing lines.
What a memorable hike, and what lovely things to see!