Sweet taste of spring

In a corner of the grounds of my daughter's school is a patch of miner's lettuce. Today we noticed the first succulent leaves, which are like butter lettuce, only thicker. My kids love them, and they otherwise avoid anything salad-like.

Here's our friend Jane, foraging for greens.

Black bear is still at large in Seattle suburb

Wildlife officers have given up the hunt, saying that it's not dangerous. The bear is in Shoreline, and has crossed I-5, says this report.

Black Bear in Seattle

A black bear surfaced in Seattle's Magnolia neighborhood on Sunday and then swam the Ship Canal to Ballard. It was last spotted in the Greenwood neighborhood. Here's the Seattle P-I story.

Bald Eagles in West Seattle

The West Seattle Blog has a story about the neighborhood's bald eagle population, illustrated with fine photos and a video.

Burke Museum's magical history tour

Watch the glaciers advance and recede. Follow the path of lahars. Watch the city transform from native village to metropolis. The Burke Museum's Waterlines project gives a lively look at the Seattle area's past, and the forces that still shape the present. And if you want more of the same, check out The Puget Sound River History Project.

Photo: Bird's eye view of Seattle, 1878. Drawn by E.S. Glover. Library of Congress Geography and Map Division