Nature's Garden

This week I thought I'd share photos from a four-mile hike my hubby and I took yesterday. Of course I had my camera and had to stop for photos every two seconds, which tried the patience of my ever-mellow husband, snicker, chortle. 

So let's go hiking! 

First through grassy fields...

Then through a deciduous forest.

I was very impressed with the Snowberries, (Symphoricarpos albus)
When I grew this plant, the berries looked more like parking lot, melting snow.

These were pristine.

I was surprised to see Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis).

There was quite a little clump of it.
I didn't know it was growing here in Oregon.

We (I) quickly decided we needed to come back next spring.
The flowers on this clover must have been stunning.

Here's another reason to come back in the spring.
What was this flower?
Kind of looks like Columbine seedpods, (Aquilegia canadensis)

We saw lots of Twinberry (Lonicera involucrata)

And lots of Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)

Such pretty flowers...

Mostly in white...

And a few in pink.

Before my wits returned, I was actually thinking of digging a clump of this one.
You know me and pink flowers!

One lone clump of Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis)

A type of indigenous Aster

Chicory (Cichorium intybus)

The sky-blue flowers belie this plant's tough demeanor

A sprinkling of yellow California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

And a little party of two

I've never seen Virgin's Bower or Wild Clematis growing here in Oregon
(Clematis virginiana)

Lots of seed heads to guarantee more plants next year.
No, I didn't collect any.

And, no, we didn't get near this monstrosity either.

Such a menacing orb. I think the hornets built it to be terrifying on purpose.
We were surprised to see it on the ground. Maybe the branch it was on had broken off.

Nearby, was another one! This one was still up high.

Ultra-creepy!

Finally, our destination!

The beautiful Willamette River!

And a stately resident!
Do you see him?

So regal!

Downstream (looking north)

Upstream (looking south)

A boat of speedy passersby... the only people we saw here.

And their wake

A few more wild plantings...

A nice clump of Wild or Roman Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis)

Common Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)

This little beauty was a surprise, growing right on the rocks!
(Amaranthus hypochondriacus)
I sure hope it's not going to be on next year's invasive weed list.

This might be Carex hystericina. I'm not sure.

Anyone know which grass this might be?

A Descampsus maybe? Isn't it pretty?
Addendum: Scott Weber, THE Grass Guru says it's
Eragrostis spectabilis 'Purple Love Grass'
Now I wish I would have dug it up. It was small but very cool.

This plant looks suspiciously like Bowle's Golden Grass. (Milium effusum 'Aureum')

I had it for several years in my garden--in several places.
It's a prolific self-seeder.

Don't know what this curiosity is but I thought the red spots
on the leaves were kind of sweet.

I found this rare Aviana featheriosis!

What I think is Hairy Goldaster (Hetherotheca villosa)

After collecting a few interesting rocks...

We decided to head back.

Another reason to visit in the spring...

Bush after bush of lovely rose hips.
I want to see the roses!

On the way back, I was mesmerized by these gorgeous, glowing
White Pine trees. (Pinus strobus, I think.)

There was an entire row of them lining the side of the pathway! 

A tired looking mint. I think it's Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium)
but by now, I was too tired to smell the leaves to be sure.

On the way back, I kept telling Steve that we should grow this ground cover weed instead of a lawn
in our front yard. So little water and yet verdant and healthy!

It's Prostrate Spurge, (Euphorbia maculata)...

And unfortunately it's a summer (warm-season) annual, meaning my "lawn"
albeit lush and green in summer would be a muddy mess in winter.
Dang.

See how lush and pretty it is?

Around the bend and a few more miles ahead, (not really but it was starting to feel like it) we were back at the parking lot and headed back to civilization. It was a well-spent afternoon.

Next week we'll be back in my garden.