Sedges

“I would like to go into perfectly new and wild country. I wish to lose myself amid reeds and sedges and wild grasses that have not been touched.”
—Henry David Thoreau

Out in the wetlands along the pond lily trail, this magical creature was swaying in the breeze. As it danced in the dappled sunlight, its white, fuzzy hairs were illuminated and dust clouds billowed forth from a golden, shaggy mane. Its leaves were long, green blades that were sturdy with a nice edge. Some plants had already matured and developed husky seed clusters.

Reading about sedges instantly sent me spiraling into a whole new realm of plant identification, ecology, etc. I quickly realized how little I knew about them.

I found this book while poking around online that would be a cool read: Field Guide to the Sedges of the Pacific Northwest. It is an illustrated guide to all 169 species, subspecies, and varieties in the genus Carex that grow in the wild in Oregon and Washington.

Check this plant out!

Larkspur in Full Bloom

As soon as you start down the river bank trail, you will encounter Larkspur at the bridge. If you continue your walk out to the wetlands, you will be treated to a dazzling display.

Flowers are a deep blue to violet. There are 5 sepals that are petal-like. The upper one with a long nectar-bearing spur behind that creates a shape that resembles the hat of a wizard.

I feel this plant casts a humid aroma into the air that awakens my awareness and conjures up feelings of an ancient past, one of untamed beauty.

Larkspur (Delphinium menziesii)

Bushtits Building Nest

Over the past week or two, I have been watching a pair of bushtits building their nest. The process of building the nest can go on for a month or more. I have often thought that they abandoned a nest site because I hadn’t observed them there for days, and the nest hadn’t taken on much of a form. They take their time and build a sturdy nest. One winter I found a nest on the ground that had fallen during a storm. I tried to open it up to look at the nest inside and found it tricky to tear with my hands. I had to use my pocket knife.

The nest is an intricately woven nest of moss, lichen, spider webs, spider cocoons, etc. The completed nest is a well-camouflaged, enclosed sock that has a small hole on the side at the top. The nest is at the bottom of the sock.

Bushtits are social birds that pal around together in little flocks. I’ve counted up to around 40 in one. “Within these flocks, several pairs may nest simultaneously, and additional Bushtits beyond the mated pair often attend the nest and help raise the young. These helpers are usually adult males, a pattern that is rare in cooperatively nesting birds (Website: All About Birds - The Cornell Lab).”

Pacific Tree Frog

In the lower part of the parking lot you will find water seeping out of the hillside and filling a small ditch. As I approached this small furrow, I saw tadpoles swimming around. When I sat down to watch them, a tree frog sitting nearby hopped down to the water. After observing for only a few minutes, I realized that this puddle was a micro, wetland habitat full of life. In addition to tadpoles, there were water striders, mosquito larvae, snails, worms, a red creature that resembled a mite and other aquatic plant and animal life.

The small wetland in the parking lot used to be bigger, but it shrank over the years as the lot has become more developed. On a micro level it is an example of how wetlands are disappearing through development. One of the biggest threats to life and its diversity is habitat loss. I feel we have to start setting aside more areas on the land and the ocean for the survival of the amazing diversity of life on the planet.

The Pacific tree frog is also known as the Pacific chorus frog.

Pacific Tree Frog (Hyla regalia)

Pacific Hound's Tongue

This plant shot out of the ground this spring with arrow-shaped leaves. Soon after its leaves unfolded, it sent up a flower stalk and revealed these dainty blossoms. The petals are a watercolor wash of blues, violets and pinks. In the center is a circle of white hearts that resemble miniature lockets. What magical keepsakes are held inside? The flower sepals are covered in white hairs that resembles the stubble of an old man’s unshaven face. The underside of the leaves are also quite fuzzy.

Curious as to why so many plants are hairy, I decided to investigate. These hair-like outgrowths from the epidermis are called trichomes, and they serve various functions. They protect against harsh weather conditions, such as frost. They help reduce moisture loss. They can protect against animals by emitting unpleasant aromas or causing skin irritation like stinging nettles. This is a fascinating part of a plant’s biology.

If you take a walk along the path that follows the river, you will surely encounter this plant on your journey.

White-breasted Nuthatches Nesting

A pair of white-breasted nuthatches have paired up and have selected a natural cavity in an Oregon ash. I read that females build the nest, but I watched both male and female collecting nesting material. So I guess he is allowed to bring in material, but she puts it together. I have observed them collecting tufts of moss and small pieces of bark to line the nest cavity. She will then build a small nest cup of fine grass, feathers, bark fibers, hair, etc. She will lay 5-9 eggs. The eggs are white to pinkish-white, speckled with reddish brown, gray, or purple. Maybe I’ll get lucky and find part of a discarded shell on the ground somewhere. The incubation period is around two weeks and the male will feed her while she is on the nest. Both parents will feed the young when they are born. The nesting period is around 26 days. Good luck and happy parenting.

Wood Ducks Look For Nest Cavity

On Sunday evening there were two pairs of wood ducks flying around through the trees looking for possible cavities for nesting. I could hear the flapping of their wings and calls as I approached. I stood back a little ways and watched them. They were flying up to holes in the trees and looking in to investigate. The ducks were notably adept at maneuvering among the branches and landing at the entrances of the cavities.

They usually chose natural cavities where a tree limb has broken off and a small hollow space has been created where the tree’s heartwood has rotted out. They will also use woodpecker cavities. I saw them investigating both types.

All seemed to be going well until one of the ravens nesting nearby suddenly swooped in, apparently trying to capture one of the wood ducks. The wood ducks successfully avoided the raven and to my surprise, stayed in the area.

Coincidentally, as the raven was watching the wood ducks, a hawk was watching the raven. The hawk flew in and narrowly missed taking out the raven. This sent the raven and its mate into frenzy of trying to chase off the hawk. For now, the ravens decided to leave the wood ducks alone and did not return to the scene. I decided to move on too. I wished the wood ducks a peaceful evening and good luck on their journey of a successful nesting season.

Here’s a link to Audubon to hear the wood duck’s calls:
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/wood-duck

Pacific Bleeding Heart

Bleeding hearts spread through rhizomes and form small patches as they become established. The leaves are compound and have leaf margins that appear irregularly and sharply indented (incised). The flowers are a pink hue shaped like an elongate heart made of two fused petals, hiding a smaller pair of fused petals inside. I read that hummingbirds are attracted to them. I have been checking on small patches of bleeding heart to see if I can watch hummingbirds getting the nectar.

Bleeding heart like to live in moist forests or along river banks. Look for them out in the wetlands area at the arboretum.

Dicentra means two-spurred which refers to the two small spurs on the outer two petals. Formosa means beautiful.

Pacific Bleeding Heart (Dicentra formosa)

Beetle

I saw this beetle yesterday and thought of this poem by Pablo Neruda.

Beetle

I went to the beetle
with my question about life:
the rites of his autumn,
his linear armor.

I hunted him down in the lost lakes
of the black south of my country.
I found him in the volcano’s
malevolent ash,
or followed the fall of his roots
into innermost darkness.

How did you work those hard things?
Your zinc eyes and your necktie?
Your cast-iron trousers?
Your contradictory scissors?
Your gold ridges, the tongs of your claws?
What resins could ripen
the incandescence of your kind?

For myself I ask only
a scarab’s heart
to push past the densities
and sign my name’s secret
in the death of the wood.
(Who knows? My name might take on
new life, turn to the light
new channels in midnight,
come out at the opposite end of the tunnel
with the other wings waiting their turn?)

What is prettier than you,
beetle, inscrutably mute,
priest of the roots,
rhinoceros of dew,
I said. He said nothing.

I asked. He said nothing.

There’s a beetle for you.

— Pablo Neruda

(Translated by Ben Belitt)

Bracken Fern Sprouting

Raising its periscopic appendage to the world above, another subterranean creature emerges from a long, winter’s nap. Its furry antenna unfolds to behold the wonder of spring.

Sprouting from spreading rhizomes, these solitary fronds can grow from 24 to 80 inches in a season. They are deciduous and often form a mat when they die off in the winter. A rabbit lived near this small forest of ferns last year, and would often use it for cover when someone walked by on the path.

The diversity of life is undeniably true — I experience it with all my senses, and yet, at the same time it all seems unbelievable.

Western Sword Fern Sprouting

Sword fern sprouts are emerging as if from an underground creature that is sending forth a proboscis to investigate the world above.

Violet-green Swallows Return

They have been in the sky circling around the vicinty of the White Oak Pavilion for the past week or so. Yesterday I watched them trying to claim and defend the boxes and other nesting cavities. They were chasing each other and making twittering sounds as they wove invisible, swooping tapestries through the air. Occasionally two would have a tussling embrace that would flutter to the ground where they would release each other. This all seemed pretty harmless as they worked it out between them who was going to nest where.

Their migration pattern according to the website All About Birds: “Medium to long-distance migrant. Most individuals migrate to Mexico and Central America during the nonbreeding season, heading as far south as Costa Rica. Some individuals spend winters in California’s Imperial Valley, the lower Colorado River Valley, and coastal California.”

Bigleaf Maple Blooming

Bigleaf maple has small yellow-green flowers in clusters that will hang like pendants as they emerge. These flowers are a great nectar and pollen source for insects. As I took these photos, the blossoms were buzzing with activity. I’m sure this sugary food source is fueling the whirring, murmuring “hum” of hummingbirds as well.

Beekeepers in the area are always happy to see good weather accompany the bigleaf maple bloom, because of the nectar-flow these flowers provide in early spring. Occasionally I will see honey made from this nectar for sale. I think it has a peach flavor which I find quite tasty.

Bigleaf Maple Flowers (Acer Macrophyllum)

Hoary Bat

Hanging upside down in a Douglas-fir tree, this little creature looks like a cone or a clump of moss at first glance. The fir on its back and tail membrane is tipped with white which gives its coat a frosted appearance. Usually hanging from one foot, it wraps its tail membrane around its body like a cozy blanket. They primarily roost in trees where the canopy is denser where I imagine it keeps them protected from the weather and from predators. Perhaps this one picked this spot in the sun to help keep warm on these cool spring days. Like many animals they are migratory. Obviously moving throughout the continent seeking hospitable geographical regions as the seasons change. So here it is at Mt Pisgah which provides habitat for its needs of shelter, food, etc. Welcome my furry, little friend. May your time here be happy and peaceful. Stay as long as you like, and I hope to see you around.

Cool fact:
A subspecies, the Hawaiian Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus) is the only terrestrial mammal native to Hawaii.

Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinerus)

Coastal Wood Fern

The fronds of the coastal wood fern are uncoiling as they emerge from underneath the leaf litter. How and when does this button of wrapped vegetation form? It is so fascinating to visualize this frond slowly forming this tight spiral throughout the winter. Then at some cosmic moment, it decides to awaken and open up to spring.

I imagine that inside its balled up fist it is holding the dreams of ancient cultures - living in harmony with all life on earth. As it gently unfurls and releases its beauty, I am called to remember to be a caretaker of nature to protect it for now and future generations.

Coastal Wood Fern (Dryopteris arguta)

Coastal Wood Fern (Dryopteris arguta)

Pink Fawn Lily

The pink fawn lily is a vibrant star on the landscape during the cloudy skies of early spring. May it guide you to the wonders of nature.

Pink Fawn Lily (Erythronium revolutum)

Pink Fawn Lily (Erythronium revolutum)

First Day of Spring

“No mortal is alert enough to be present at the first dawn of spring — but he will presently discover some evidence that vegetation had awaked some days at least before.”

Henry David Thoreau
March 17, 1857

Thoreau, Henry David. Thoreau’s Wildflowers. Edited by Goeff Wisner, Yale University Press, 2016.

Camas

Sweet Fragrant Cottonwood

As I walked along the river on this warm, sunny day, I was overtaken by the sweet smell of the black cottonwood. The buds are covered in a aromatic resin that permeates the air. As the leaves and catkins emerge, the casings of the buds are scattered on the ground beneath the tree. Check out these sticky and fragrant casts.

The female and male catkins are on different trees. The male catkin is a beautiful, red tassel and many of them were strewn around the ground as well.

As life abounds during this time of year, there is so much to experience and explore.

Bumble Bees

In the mid afternoon light, I was attracted to the radiant blooms of the red-flowering currant. As I walked over, I noticed that I wasn't the only one drawn to them. A bumble bee was merrily foraging and enjoying the cool, warm spring weather.

Bumble bee colonies are annual. Each year a colony will produce queens that will then mate and find a place spend the winter, usually underground. All of the other bumble bees die. Thus, the first bumble bees of spring are the mated queens that overwintered from last year. When they emerge, they will find a suitable nest site and begin a new colony. Old rodent borrows are a popular nest site.

Bumble bees are amazing pollinators. They are out in early spring, are able to fly in cooler weather and are generalist foragers. In addition, they are buzz pollinators. Here is a PBS video that explains buzz pollination that is worth watching. It’s only 3 minutes and 32 seconds. https://www.pbs.org/video/deep-look-bumblebee/

Another interesting tidbit is that, unlike honeybees, bumble bee stingers lack a barb. So they are uninjured when they sting you, which also means they can sting multiple times. That said, bumble bees are generally not aggressive except when defending their nests or if they are being harmed.