Three Mile Lake Hike

Three Mile Lake on a sunny windy summer day.

Mary W. and I hiked out to Three Mile Lake yesterday. Looking towards the ocean from the lake.

Mystery plant on the return. I think it might be a fruiting Gnome Plant.

Blooming Chinese Witch Hazel

It never fails to take me by surprise when I look out to see the Witch Hazel in bloom!

A blue sky day today to fully appreciate the flowers.

Highlights 2011

click on the photo then click on the arrow to start slideshow

Grand Teton hiking

Mt. Moran of the Teton Range

Trail to Inspiration Point

A couple of Moose browsing on streamside willows

Hidden Falls

Paintbrush and Harebells still blooming

Summer Heather

The summer heather is in full bloom.

Japanese Blood Grass surrounds Longneck.

Dwarf conifers in the foreground.

Our new lantern near the pond.

Tuesday Lunch Bunch visit

                                   Pat, Esther, Mariam, and Helen toured the garden after lunch today.

Metolius Wildflowers

                                           Ninebark  was growing everywhere along the river.

Scarlet Gilia was quite prevalent.

Here are three clumps of Pinedrops just coming up. 

Wild Rose

Monkey Flower and Indian Paintbrush.

Rhododendron season

Our native Rhododendron macrophyllum has been in bloom for months now it seems.

I do not remember a season when the blossoms lasted so long.

I think the cool rainy spring has a lot to do with it.

I took these photos along the Sutton trails on wednesday after a morning shower. 

Each plant is so different from the next.

Makauwahi Cave

Makauwahi Cave holds treasures from the past. A natural amphitheater carved by groundwater and eroded by the elements, the Makauwahi cave sinkhole is a collapsed room of this unusual limestone cave, formed from Pleistocene sand dunes.

Ray, Julie, Jan and I explored  the 17 acre reserve that is being restored with native plants.

Since 1999 invasive plants have been removed and native plants restored based on fossil records found in the cave. Now nearly 5000 native and Polynesian plants have been reintroduced to this landscape.

To learn more check out the book Back to the Future in the Caves of Kaua'i : A Scientists Adventures in the Dark by Dr. David Burney

Pihea Trail at Kokee State Park

The Ohia Lehua was in full bloom along the Pihea trail.

I saw many Apapane, a native honeycreeper that feeds on Ohia blossoms.

First sign of Spring

It takes me by surprise every January, I look out the window and see the yellow flowers on the Chinese Witchazel.

The heather Wickwar Flame is in full winter color.

Sun at last!

Darlingtonia californica grows along one of my favorite hikes this time of year. For more info click here

There is a small island out in the lake that I walk alongside.  It was a glorious sunny day and very welcome.

Florence Pocket Saltmarsh

Florence Veteran's Park just west of the 

Siuslaw River Bridge hosts a pocket saltmarsh

Gumweed Grindelia integrifolia

Pickleweed or Glasswort  Salicornia virginica

is a common estuary plant.

Seaside Plantain Plantago maritima is also 

found on sea bluffs.

Jaumea  Jaumea carnosa is common in tidal areas 

Owl Clover  Castilleja ambigua is found in salt

marshes, unlike it's orange-red cousin

Coast Paintbrush which is found on sea cliffs

Tuesday Birders at Heceta Head

Checking for Common Murre chicks on Pinnacle Rock

on the way up to the lighthouse

The purple flower behind us is fireweed.

 

Indian Pipe

Indian Pipe or Ghost Flower in Washburne CG

Monotropa uniflora takes sustenance from

nearby trees with the aid of a fungus

It has no chlorophyll and cannot make it's own food.

Gnome Plant re-appears

Marilyn came over yesterday for a hike......

and after dinner ride to the harbor

We had just started up the Waxmyrtle Trail

when Marilyn spotted a cluster of Gnome Plants,

(Hemitomes congestum)

same as I found on the China Creek trail last year!

Wow! What a find, a new place to see them.

Azalea Occidentale, the Oregon native in the garden

just coming into bloom and very fragrant