Aha - caution tape and a sign. Did it stop the intrepid hikers? Not a chance. Luckily Tim spotted the nest before we blindly trod on it, and we made it past without a single sting, although I not only saw the insects dive-bombing Tim's legs, I also heard them hitting the back of my hood.

Nesting - Rosie Sandifer

Here are the Kirkland statues. If it weren't for the bronze, you might think this was real. Mother and daughter sat on a bench near the sidewalk.

"Well established as a painter and sculptor, Rosie Sandifer struggled for many years to balance her time between being a professional artist and mother ...Eventually she began to draw from the world around her for subject matter children playing, reading and dancing. Some of her most successful works have been studies of her own children and their friends."

One of America’s foremost wildlife sculptors, Dan Ostermiller works in a realist style and is admired for his extensive knowledge of animal anatomy, high level of craftsmanship, and compassionate treatment of his subjects.

"The bronze bunnies are a symbol for some critics who complain that Kirkland is using art as a commercial marketing device. The result is art that is pretentious, cute, safe and predictable."

They were mighty cute ;-)

This is the first sculpture that caught my eye. It came to Kirkland from Pioneer Square in Seattle.

"Patricia Rovzar, owner of another nearby art gallery, recalls some antics inspired by the sculpture. "People decorate it all the time," she said. "I remember once the coyote had a tutu on. It was really funny; it just stuck out. During Halloween, it had a witch's hat and cobwebs draped over it."

A well-loved landmark, the cow's bronze nose and ears have been rubbed shiny by people."

A mother Blue-Winged Teal was watching over her babies very carefully at O.O. Denny Park. She seemed more concerned about the dogs than she did about us.