Almost all of the island has been logged at some time in the past 100 years, but much of the second growth is very imposing. The predominant trees are Douglas Fir, Red Cedar, Madrona, Bigleaf Maple, and Alder. The most dramatic of these is the Madrona, which is a broadleaf evergreen. It has an inner bark, revealed as the older bark sloughs off, which is a rich red color. In autumn, Madronas are filled with bright red berries.

Much of the understory is also evergreen...mainly salal and oregon grape, so there is surprisingly little visual difference between winter and summer. One thing that seems odd to us, as displaced northeasterners, is that lawns tend to turn brown in the dry summers, and then revive to a lush green with the fall rains, staying that way until summer returns.

We have a tremendous variety of birds, both "land-based" and seabirds. The greatest variety of land birds occurs in summer, but the huge and varied flocks of seabirds are a winter phenomenon. Bald eagles are seen almost every day.

Our most common mammal is deer...we also have raccoons,coyotes, and authenticated sightings of cougars. We are blessed by the absence of skunks!