#CowParsnip is the ONLY #Heracleum species that's native to #NorthAmerica. There's many look-a-likes including the very toxic giant hogweed. I don't recommend trying to #forage & harvest them unless you're very experienced with identifying differences because it's dangerous to do so.
I just discovered that my home is right near the site of the ancient Native American ‘capitol’ of the Chemakum people named Tsetsibus, meaning ‘place where the sun rises.’
I took advantage of the sunny weather to walk through the pathless forest above the shore that once hosted hundreds of people. The protected cove now hosts an oyster farm and a few other modern developments.
The Chemakum inhabited this spot for ~12,000 years, but no visible traces remain.
So I just saw this beetle for the first time ever and learned via #SeekApp that it is called a Rustic Sailor Beetle and I just may have never been so charmed in my whole bug watching life. #beetles#insects#bugstodon#PNW#OlympiaWA
Spent some time hanging out with some blue #damselflies at the lake before coming back home 😊
Damselflies have existed since the Late #Jurassic period & found on every continent except Antarctica. Presence of damselflies & the larger dragonflies, indicates a healthy #ecosystem.
It's looking fantastic! One of a few that I grew from last year's seeds 😊 We grow a few types of basil, year round. My purple basil hasn't sprouted yet. These are Genova basil plants.
#Borage cutting #PlantPropagation success.
Last month, I took 6 borage cuttings to propagate. 4 out of the 6 were successful. This one developed very quickly, after developing roots. First flower buds have emerged 🙂
#YellowRattle is used proactively to create & restore wildflower meadows, where it aids #biodiversity by suppressing dominant grasses & recycling of #soil nutrients. This improves chances of other species of wildflowers becoming established.
Oregon sunshine(Eriophyllum lanatum) sparkling among the grasses: this is one of the natives volunteers assiduously planted in their park restoration efforts. Last year I only spotted one, this year it looks like they are spreading nicely. The wild bees are having a ball among all the new flowers. #Photography#PNW#SeattleWashington#Restoration#Rewilding#NativePlants
We have a viola refuge in our garden. It is next to the south side of our woodshed. The ground is covered with rocks we picked out of the garden and tossed over here. This spot gets zero care from us and is hot with sun radiating off the woodshed wall. The viola have self-seeded and are claiming this spot for their own. #BloomScrolling#PNW
A solitary balloon drifting over forest where very very few people ever go. This seriously spooked me, as there is no reason for anyone to be there, let alone with a balloon. For context, this is 7km into a river valley you can only reach by #hiking or #cycling, or potentially another 5km from the workers at a dam. (old photo) #weird#pnw#forest#scary
Switching to - showing y'all this wonderful volunteer #buttercrunch#lettuce plant that decided to grow out of rocks in our front yard! What a lovely #edible surprise 😊
On Memorial Day, I took a day off from the garden to visit one of the most famous spots in the Cascade range (Washington State) for plant geeks. It's called Perry Creek, about 90 minutes NE of Seattle. A unique coincidence of topography and weather patterns allows about 250 species of native plants to thrive in a small valley. It has a special protected status under the National Forest Service. A meandering plant photo thread.
1/n #nativeplants #bloomScrolling #gardening #PNW #hiking
Perry Creek plant safari cont'd. Now for some plants I can't identify....Photo 1 & 2: this is obviously a fern but as it's barely unfurling I can't tell which. Lovely nonetheless. Lady fern perhaps? Photos 3 & 4: This flower is a real stumper. Notice the variegated foliage. At first I thought it was foam flower but that little yellow flower is not right for that. Anyone recognize it?
11/n #nativeplants#bloomScrolling#gardening#PNW#hiking