Jessica Gabriel inspired me the other day with her fabulous painting of a Madrona Tree.   Their more scientific name is Arbutus and she used that in the title by calling it “art beaut us” .  Here is the link so you can go admire her work too.    http://jessicagabriel.wordpress.com/2013/11/04/artbeautus/

Several years ago I wrote a post about these trees with some good facts about them.  They have a rather delicate disposition and are fond of salt water coast lines in temperate climates.   If they are planted in a domesticated yard scenario they can suffer and not flourish.   So, go enjoy them in nature by visiting my older post.

http://wp.me/p1d1cX-6H

That brings me to my rainy walk down to the beach which traverses a madrona forest.   In my world this is a double wonderful place because a family of crows have lived in it for years.  I have watched them raise several babies and even used it as a backdrop for my short story Edgar the Baby Crow.

My crow family did not disappoint and they posed for me in different trees for their 2014 spring pictures.