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Most unusual. A tire appeared in the wetlands below our townhomes. Perhaps it fell off an airplane. Abandoned and so lonesome.
Home at last. It is nice to have friends.
Plants Observed on July 12, 2020
Plants Observed on July 12, 2020
Orange Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) -- Native to North America but thought to be introduced west of the Rocky Mountains. This is a common plant growing near the water.
American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) -- We hear these frogs baying at night. The males form choruses at night. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife says this: The American bullfrog is a non-native invasive frog that survives and reproduces very successfully in Oregon. Bullfrogs aggressively compete for food and living space with our native frogs. They eat many types of native wildlife including other frogs, young pond turtles, and ducklings. Bullfrogs can lay almost 10 times more eggs than native frogs and can quickly out number them.
Western Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) -- It has taken me months to identify this tree. I'm slow.
Needleleaf Navarretia (Navarretia intertexta) -- A small plant with very small flowers.
American Speedwell (Veronica americana) -- Small flowers with four petals, not all the same size. This is a native plant growing next to the water.
Northern Water Plantain (Alisma triviale) -- Very small flowers with three petals, growing in shallow water that may dry out later in the summer. This is a native plant.
Birdfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) -- Not native.
Lady's Thumb (Persicaria maculosa ) -- Not native.
Yellow Glandweed (Parentucellia viscosa) -- Not native. Look for hairs on the top of the flower and the leaves. Each hair contains a small drop of sticky goo. The name "glandweed" comes from having these glands.
- - - - - - - - July 29, 2020 Photos - - - - - - - -
This is Tansy Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris). This is not a native plant and it spreads rapidly in our area. Right now you can find it in disturbed areas and along our roads. The flowers soon turn into gobs of seeds that blow in the wind and make new plants. I have been trying to pull these plants before they get to this stage. Once at this stage the safe thing to do is to put the plant into a plastic bag and send it to a very distant place. Although I was on a photo mission I stopped to remove this plant and the others that I found. Soon, my bag was full. (Below) The caterpillars of the cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae) have been introduced to North America in an attempt to control Tansy Ragwort. I found two of those caterpillars on this plant. The plant is distasteful and poisonous and the caterpillars and moths pick up the poison allowing them to advertise their presence. Unfortunately, the plant seems to grow much faster than the caterpillars.
Moth Mullein (Verbascum blattaria). A non-native plant. So far I have found just one plant in the wetlands.
Two views of Willowherb (Epilobium ciliatum). On the left the flowers are wilting at the ends of long seed pods. On the right the seeds have matured and the pods have split open allowing the seeds to float away on a breeze.
Common Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) I was surprised to see the snowberry fruit looking fully developed. These white globs remain on the plant thru the winter.
European centaury (Centaurium erythraea) The flowers are small. It has been flowering in the wetlands for a while. Until now it had been hiding each time I had a camera.
A Showplace crew came to cut the grass along the wall. They went into the wetland area and cut down the shrubs that Clean Water Services had planted. Their whip cutters were having trouble cutting some of the shrubs so they came back the next day with a hedge trimmer, determined to eliminate the shrubs. After I shouted at them from my deck they left.
Dock (Rumex) seeds stand out because of their color.
The Oregon crabapple (Malus fusca) is loaded with small apples. I ate part of one and it was so-so. They do look wonderful.
Common Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris) is a small plant native to Europe. You can find it in poorly maintained lawns and along paths.
Continue to August, 2020
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