For fucking real. I don’t qualify but can also barley afford to have a part time sitter. Can’t afford full-time.

Heck yeah! If I'm not hanging with my chickens I'm sitting in the moss looking at tiny mushrooms.

Exactly! I am on Kitsap peninsula too and pick mushrooms. Great to find somebody else out there appreciating nature!

I'm always trying to explain to people that every kind of parasite is important and is fulfilling an ecological niche and wasn't just put on earth to make life harder. I mean, ticks, fleas, and mosquitos suck but they're important!

Mushrooms are one of my special interests and I see that a lot when talking to people who don't know much about them. Granted some mushrooms do attack trees but even that is important, fallen trees and snags provide important habitat to so many other species and recycle nutrients back into the forest.

It is awesome to learn we have a type of mistletoe in these parts though, I'll have to keep an eye out for it so I can get a closer look.

While it is parasitic, I don't think it's necessarily bad or hurt the tree. Doesn't make good timber but they are actually quite good for habit:) birds and other species (like the ferns here) are taking advantage of the platform being created. More common in older trees for sure

Given that it sounds like it was written by a child, yeah, probably a safe bet to assume he's a republican, and it's not worth anyone's time.

Yes! I grew up outside and my family has always been outdoorspeople so I've gotten to see a lot of different habitats in WA and learn about them. I wish that I wasn't terrified of climbing things so I could go up there and see them (of course that would damage the moss and plants anyways so it's for the best)

Fun fact: Out on the Olympic coast the moss and ferns on the tops of branches are their very own micro-ecosystem with unique flora and fauna.
Same with the ledges on cliffs in the mountains. The falcon nests, mosses, plants, and insects are all very unique. They’re up high and relatively safe compared to being on the ground.

Oh wow TIL. I knew mistletoe was a parasite but I didn't know there was one that effects hemlocks and that's what makes those funky branches. I should check the hemlock in my yard and see if it has mistletoe.. Thank you!

Driftwood

Western Hemlock! They are prone to get mistletoe infection on their branches which creates the funky witch's broom growth. Beautiful pic

Update when done please

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Wow, 5.5% of the population in WA gets this credit while 100% of the legislators get to have a “we gave you a tax credit” circle jerk.

Oh yeah there were spruces everywhere, I assumed it was a spruce because it had funky shaped branches, something I see a lot in spruce trees, but hemlocks can be funky too if they want.

Yeah the bark looks like hemlock but there's probably sitka spruces all over in that grove.

😮 This is really beautiful. My wife and I love Leavenworth area.

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People with no kids can qualify? That’s just stupid. They should rename it.

You're probably right, thank you!

One of the most beautiful pictures I might have ever seen

$300, literally useless, while they are trying to pass the start of a mileage tax.

“A single individual with no children making less than $16,480 may receive a $300 credit”

LOL. My ship finally came in!

No middle class relief in sight.