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!
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| First through grassy fields... |
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| Then through a deciduous forest. |
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I was very impressed with the Snowberries, (Symphoricarpos albus)
When I grew this plant, the berries looked more like parking lot, melting snow. |
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| These were pristine. |
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| I was surprised to see Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis). |
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There was quite a little clump of it.
I didn't know it was growing here in Oregon. |
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We (I) quickly decided we needed to come back next spring.
The flowers on this clover must have been stunning. |
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Here's another reason to come back in the spring.
What was this flower?
Kind of looks like Columbine seedpods, (Aquilegia canadensis) |
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| We saw lots of Twinberry (Lonicera involucrata) |
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| And lots of Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) |
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| Such pretty flowers... |
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| Mostly in white... |
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| And a few in pink. |
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Before my wits returned, I was actually thinking of digging a clump of this one.
You know me and pink flowers! |
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| One lone clump of Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis) |
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| A type of indigenous Aster |
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| Chicory (Cichorium intybus) |
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| The sky-blue flowers belie this plant's tough demeanor |
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| A sprinkling of yellow California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) |
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| And a little party of two |
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I've never seen Virgin's Bower or Wild Clematis growing here in Oregon
(Clematis virginiana) |
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Lots of seed heads to guarantee more plants next year.
No, I didn't collect any. |
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| And, no, we didn't get near this monstrosity either. |
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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. |
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| Nearby, was another one! This one was still up high. |
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| Ultra-creepy! |
Finally, our destination!
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| The beautiful Willamette River! |
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And a stately resident!
Do you see him? |
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| So regal! |
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| Downstream (looking north) |
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| Upstream (looking south) |
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| A boat of speedy passersby... the only people we saw here. |
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| And their wake |
A few more wild plantings...
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| A nice clump of Wild or Roman Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis) |
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| Common Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) |
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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. |
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| This might be Carex hystericina. I'm not sure. |
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| Anyone know which grass this might be? |
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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.
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| This plant looks suspiciously like Bowle's Golden Grass. (Milium effusum 'Aureum') |
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I had it for several years in my garden--in several places.
It's a prolific self-seeder. |
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Don't know what this curiosity is but I thought the red spots
on the leaves were kind of sweet. |
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| I found this rare Aviana featheriosis! |
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| What I think is Hairy Goldaster (Hetherotheca villosa) |
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| After collecting a few interesting rocks... |
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| We decided to head back. |
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| Another reason to visit in the spring... |
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Bush after bush of lovely rose hips.
I want to see the roses! |
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On the way back, I was mesmerized by these gorgeous, glowing
White Pine trees. (Pinus strobus, I think.) |
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| There was an entire row of them lining the side of the pathway! |
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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. |
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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! |
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| It's Prostrate Spurge, (Euphorbia maculata)... |
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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. |
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| 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.
