Living in Season

And the Pain was Tremendous

   I’ve given my body three months after Sam’s birth to see where it stands. It appears the weight has hit a plateau so I decided to help it along by starting a running regime. Granted, as a former powerlifter running is not my forte, but it’s done a bang up job in the past of toning up my body.

   Thankfully, we have the gorgeous River’s Edge Trail in Great Falls that offers a number of routes to keep it interesting, as well as providing different levels of difficulty. Of course, now I need as flat as possible more than anything so I chose a section I like to take with Sam that isn’t very heavily hilled or difficult.

   Melvin was my unwitting lackey who is up for anything as long as it’s outside and with one of us. He’s definitely a “people dog.” After his initial pit stops, he trotted right along with his tongue hanging out and his tail held high.

   The plan is to alternate jogging and walking over a two-mile course until I’m able to run the entire way. Then I’ll mix it up by either increasing the length or adding hills. The best way for me to run is to plug in the headphones into music with a heavy beat that can take my mind off of the pain that racks my body. I plod along, preferably along the edge of the grass because pavement kills my legs, scanning for rattlesnakes and concentrating on the music.

   The beauty of running out here is enjoying the abundance of wildflowers. The yellow clover is in full bloom and perfumes the entire area. It’s heavenly! I also noticed the prickly pear cactus are blooming as well as the scarlet globe mallow.  Plus, the yucca aren’t far off. Yet another benefit of exercising outside!

Golden Currant

   Part of the delight of living in a new area is the plethora of new plants I need to know. Fortunately, I met the right person to minimize the learning curve. H. Wayne Phillips is the author of Northern

Rocky Mountain Wildflowers, Central Rocky Mountain Wildflowers and Plants of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. He’s a walking encyclopedia of the region’s native plants, and his enthusiasm is contagious.

   As a result, I’m starting this notebook on the native plants I find in the area including bloom times, descriptions, habitat and uses. It should be a handy resource to have on hand for anyone interested in the topic.

   Yesterday, I went to Gibson Park and was taken by a heavy, sweet fragrance in certain areas. The golden currant (Ribes aureum) was blooming. Wayne told me it grows along the Missouri River, and is an early blooming shrub. I had no idea it smelled so wonderful, though! It will grow 3 to 10-feet tall and produce berries, which I’m anxious to try.

   When I arrived home from my walk there was an email note from Wayne telling me the golden currant and the American plum were blooming at his place. Even though I took pictures at the park, I ran up with my macro lens to take better ones. The American plum bloomed profusely with dainty white flowers. It produces a small, sweet fruit.