Five More Names

A ceremony Friday honored Oregonians who have died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Unfortunately five names have been added to the 99 already on the granite wall of the Afghan-Iraqi Freedom Memorial, located north of the Oregon Dept. of Veterans Affairs building on Summer Street NE along with memorials of other wars.

On the run

This sculpture graces the entrance to the Salmon Run condomiums on High Street. The building is adjacent to Pringle Creek which is a spawning ground for the Chinook Salmon. As many as 1000 adult Chinook make their way here each fall where each female will deposit an average of 5000 eggs. The eggs hatch in 2-4 months and in the spring the young make their way down to the Willamette, then the Columbia River, then to the Pacific Ocean. They are known to migrate as far north as the Bearing Sea.

Watchful Eyes

I've often wondered what these cameras at Wal-Mart are intended to observe. At least if a thief syphons my expensive gasoline while I shop, the dirty deed should be caught on video.

Iris Display Gardens

Even under cloudy skies, the Memorial Day Chicken BBQ and Wine Tasting, along with music of the Capital City Jazz Band at Schreiner's Iris Gardens is a hit.

Remember.

Hidden Color

Found this little spot of color underneath the Liberty Street bridge over Pringle Creek, just north of City Hall.

Berry Bloom

I found these Salmonberries growing along Mill Creek. Native to the west coast of North America, they can be found along streambanks and in moist forests. Related to the raspberry (and very tasty), they can range in color from yellow to red.

Octopus Tree

I am not certain what kind of tree this is, but I found a similar-looking tree (same bark, trunks and needles) on State Street in front of the State Department of Forestry building. A gentlemen in the office there said that one was a Cedar of Lebanon. This one is located at the corner of D and Church Sts.

Mama and Babies

Just beautiful.

May 18

Mount St. Helens had a powerful eruption 28 years ago today. Though Salem is approx 140 miles south as the crow flies, we did receive a light covering of ash from the plume that rose over 80,000 feet in the air.

Wood Sculpture

This beautifully carved buck stands outside the Sportsmans Warehouse just east of I-5 at Hwy 22.

Iris Gardens

Enjoying the Irises at Schreiner's Gardens.

Camera-Shy

It seems to be saying "I'm outta here!" Isn't it amazing that it can move that huge body with those tiny wings?! Daphne has the most heavenly fragrance.

Church Street Bridge

The Church Street Bridge has character. Built in 1929, it obviously was designed with the philosophy of Oregon's famed bridge engineer, Conde McCullough, who said that "bridges should be built efficiently, economically, and aesthetically." McCullough designed many of the beautiful bridges along Highway 101 on the Oregon coast (ODOT brochure in pdf). This bridge is above the Shelton Ditch featured yesterday. Standing between the lampposts looking west, you will see the confluence of Shelton Ditch and Pringle Creek.

Shelton Ditch at Pringle Park

The Shelton Ditch as it runs along the north side of Pringle Park, just west of Salem Hospital. It is man-made and was constructed as a drainage channel in the mid 1930’s to help relieve flooding in the lower reaches of Mill Creek. A pedestrian walkway runs along the north berm from Winter Street to High Street. The Church Street bridge seen here was built in 1929.

While at the Coast,

It's a good thing for visitors to pay attention to the signs showing escape routes. Regular drills are held in local schools which are in the zone.

Iris Month

May is Iris month at Schreiner's Gardens. Their 10-acre display gardens are open to the public (free of charge). Schreiner's is the largest retail grower of Iris in the U.S.

and Happy Mother's Day

to those in the U.S.

It IS Spring

Headed to the water at Pringle Park Plaza, downtown.

Wildflowers

This flower was only 6" off the ground. I never saw this bee until after I downloaded the photo. Not sure if it was curious or about to strike.

Any day spent fishing is a good day

A nice way to fish. Wirth Lake at Gateway Park @ I-5 and Mission.

Guard Cat?

Walking along Winter Street NE, I spied this sweety spying me.

At the Coast

Kite surfing at Lincoln City on the Pacific Coast, an hour west.

Gentlemen

With berets and goatees. Found by Carl Jr's. on Lancaster Drive SE.

Skybridge

I've always appreciated the utility and comfort provided by the various skybridges linking downtown buildings. I just never realized how ugly some of them are. This one connects J.C. Penney's and the Liberty Plaza at Liberty and Chemeketa Sts. downtown.

Along the Tracks

A nice tree-lined walkway along the tracks. These are behind the Amtrak station on 12th street. Tokyo University is just to the left across the tracks..

Another bit of history

Another wheel, this one found in the countryside just west of town.

May Theme Day

City Daily Photo theme for May is 'Numbers'. There are 181 members posting today from cities around the world -- see them HERE. I was going to post a photo of a local gasoline pump, but it is too depressing.

This is the main post office on 25th St. SE and the zip code for a large area of town.