Fall Colors

Just for the record, we are having the most memorable October weather here in western Oregon I can remember - and it's not just me saying that - even the weather professionals are saying it as well! So many sunny, dry days in a row I wake up every morning and think I'm in California. Yow! Not only that, but we seem to have had the ideal setup for maximum color on our local deciduous leaves: a cool, wet end to September and then warm sunny weather returns in October.

In addition, it's also a banner year for mushrooms. Those buggers are popping up everywhere now. Will have to do a separate post on those!

Sure, you've all seen those calendar pictures with the amped-up saturated Fall colors of idealistic postcard scenes. Well I don't have any of those to share, but now that I'm RGWC (Retired Guy With Camera), I can catch more fall colors than I would if I was stuck in a cube at work.

So why post these in a wildflower blog? Good question...

The answer circles back to RGWC. And the cold hard truth that there just aren't that many wildflowers blooming around here now - go figure! So my apologies to followers who only want to hear about wildflowers. I'll try to get in a few trips before Spring to add some flowers... maybe Brookings?!

Meanwhile, here's a few non-calendar photos to commemorate this wonderful October...

Poplars in Cornelius on TV Highway.

Non-native maples at Hillsboro airport.

Native Oregon Ash at Champoeg State Park.

Beautiful old maple on SW 229th, Hillsboro

Gingko at Tuality Healthcare parking

Tall red maples at the Reserve golf course.

Pinot Noir grapevines in Laurel.

Red maple on River Road, Hillsboro.

Toxic Bittersweet Nightshade berries.

Native Big Leaf Maple in Laurel.

Wild Geraniums

There are more than 400 species of wild geraniums (genus: Geranium), growing in temperate regions of the world. These are not to be confused with the bedding plants at your local garden shop. Those are in the genus Pelargonium, which has another 200 species. However, both are in the Geraniaceae family. 

Back in June, we added a post on the Wild Oregon Geranium, which is native to Oregon and somewhat rare. http://clarksoregonwildflowers.blogspot.com/2013/06/wild-oregon-geranium.html

All wild geraniums have the distinctive palmately-lobed leaves and single flower stems bearing a variety of colored and shaped blossoms, although all have five petals. The common name cranesbill, as well as the genus name, from the Greek "geranos" (a crane), relate to the bill-like seed capsule on some of the species. A number of species are naturalized from Europe. All the species I have seen, have flowers that are about 1.5 inches wide, when fully open. See photo below with bee for reference.

Over the summer and more recently, I found a couple of other wild geraniums in local parks. I believe these were probably planted, since they both appear in dedicated "wildflower" gardens. Nonetheless, the attractive flowers make for good photo ops! 

With all the subtle variations in the geranium flowers, it is difficult to identify the exact species.

At Dairy Creek Park, October 2013. Possibly, Geranium pratense.

Note the palmately lobed leaves.

Even the honeybees are hard at work this October!

At Jenkins Estate in June 2013. Possibly, Geranium Platypetalum.

Mexican Water Fern

As I was researching this odd plant, two obvious facts emerged: this is not a wildflower because it is a fern and ferns don't have flowers; and it is an aquatic fern, which I did not know existed. However, because the Mexican Water Fern (Azolla mexicana) is a common wetland plant in our area, but unique, I thought it deserves a post in the blog!

You may have seen area wetlands or large ponds covered with tiny green floating plants. These ferns are a darker green than algae and is top side only, unlike algae which can grow underwater as well. The tiny green leaves turn to a brownish red this time of year (10/17/2013), making more of a contrast in the water. Several of the ponds at Jackson Bottom are awash in this fern, where they seem to thrive.

Because they are ferns, reproduction is by spores. There are no flowers, fruits, or seeds. Blue-green algae in the leaves can absorb (fix) nitrogen from the air, something plants cannot do. This provides nutrients for the plant, while the plant provides shelter and minerals for the blue-green algae. Water-fern is used as green fertilizer in rice paddies because of its nitrogen fixing ability. It also provides food for waterfowl and cover for small invertebrates. Water-fern is considered a threatened species in British Columbia.

It can become a nuisance and choke out other aquatic plants in some environments. On the other hand, it is also cultivated and harvested in some areas for fertilizer, hence the nickname "green manure."

From a distance, this water looks brackish.
(Jackson Bottom Wetlands)

The wind blows these ferns to the edge of the water.

This clump is starting to go from green to brown.

The tiny leaves are just 3 - 5 mm wide.

In this detail, you can see the scale-like leaf parts.

American Speedwell

To me, this plant's common name sounds like the model name for a bike made in the 1950's. Actually, there was a ship by the name of Speedwell, built in 1577. It was later paired with the famous Mayflower to transport pilgrims to the new land. However, the Speedwell began leaking, so it returned to Plymouth in August 1620. The Mayflower took some of Speedwell's passengers and went on to cross the Atlantic, as we all know. Then in 1656 a ship named Speedwell did actually make it to Boston!

But wait, this blog is about wildflowers, not ships! Well there is a small tie-in here; both ships are flower names, the Mayflower being the state flower of Massachusetts and the Speedwell being the namesake for our little blue flower, as well as about ten other related species in Oregon.

American Speedwell (Veronica americana) was unknown to me until today (10/11/2013). Al-the-Dal, our family dog, was walking me around Rood Bridge Park to take in the fall colors. We did see some good colors on the maples and alders in the park; also saw a few wild cyclamens (see my post on them). It was not until Al got thirsty and pulled me over to a small man-made creek that runs through the park that I noticed these mint-like leaves with tiny blue flowers. By tiny, I mean about the size of the nail on your little finger!

This species is one of nearly 500 Veronicas, that are members of the Plantain family. It is native to Asia and North America and grows in every state in the lower 48, except in the southeast. 

American Speedwell is edible and nutritious and is reported to have a flavor similar to watercress. Native Americans used Veronica species as an expectorant tea to alleviate bronchial congestion associated with asthma and allergies. Historically, the broader family of Speedwells were known as healing aids, hence the common name. 

The tiny blue flowers emerge on opposite stems.

The leaves resemble mints in size and color.

Hip-Hop

Well, I could not resist borrowing a pop culture term for this post. But I should actually call it "Hips-Hops" since that is what this post is about! And, no, we are not talking music here!

Basic summary: these two plants are used in popular drinks!

First the "hips," or more precisely rose hips. Rose hips are the fruit of the wild rose plant and when ripe, turn a bright red, usually in the Fall. Rose hips begin to form after successful pollination of flowers in spring or early summer, and ripen in late summer through autumn. As you probably know, rose hips are used in jams, jellies, syrup, soup, beverages like teas, pies, bread, and wine. They can also be eaten raw, like a berry, if care is used to avoid the hairs inside the fruit. Rose hips are particularly high in vitamin C content, hence are used in many natural food remedies. They are also quite ornamental, kind of a bonus treat after the rose flowers bloom. For more on rose hips, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_hips

Rose Hips at Rood Bridge Park, 10/06/2013

 

Rose Hips at Cooper Mountain Nature Park in July

And for the "hops," I am of course talking about the flower of the common hop Humulus lupulus. It is native to Europe, western Asia and North America. It is a perennial,  climbing plant which sends up new shoots in early spring and dies back to a cold-hardy rhizome in autumn. The fragrant flower cones (hops) impart bitterness and flavor, and also have preservative qualities. Hops, as you know, are one of the main ingredients in beer (mostly in ales). The hops provide that bitterness that some love and some hate. When you pick ripe hops, the bloom has a strong, hardy hops smell and the flower must be preserved in short order to capture that quality for beer making.

The extract is antimicrobial, which makes it useful for making natural deodorant. Hops seem to grow best near the North 48th parallel, so many variants are grown here in Oregon, and I have used several of them for my home brews! A few unfortunate people are allergic to hops and it can cause skin irritation when touched or headaches when consumed. For more on hops see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hops

Hops growing in our back yard, September 2013

Note the intertwined vines

So whatever your brew of choice, next time your take a sip, think hip-hop!