Clark's Oregon Wildflower Blog: February 2018

Sunday, February 18, 2018

Out and About

We are always eager to see the early signs of spring and the subtle hints of new growth in the plant world. There are some dependable non-natives that show their colors by mid-February but what about our stalwart natives? Our mild winter was luring us into thinking we were done with the season, but plants know better! As a cold snap approaches this week, should our hopes be dashed, like watching the media star groundhogs back east? Or shall we go with what we know from observation?!

Here are a few clues to answering that seasonal question. Suffice to say, for the next week I'm sticking with my hot coffee thermos and keeping the heavy coat handy as we're out and about.

Non-native crocus in our yard on Feb. 10

While most local trails are still looking pretty dormant, you may spot some of these local natives lurking in the bushes:

Rood Bridge Park, Feb. 9.

Red Flowering Currant Buds on Feb. 9
(Ribes sanguineum)

This Indian Plum is reliably an early bloomer!
(Oemleria cerasiformis)

One of my favorites, the symbolic Tall Oregon Grape

on Feb. 2 (Mahonia aquifolium, a.k.a., Berberis aquifolium).

Meanwhile, the fungus season marches on, in deference to the flashier and green neighbors coming out of hibernation. That said, keep your eyes peeled for more natives emerging in the next few weeks.

And last, but not least, if you are thinking about "going native" and planting more natives on your property, here's a great resource link to check out: OSU Native Plant Gardening page.

Friday, February 2, 2018

The Annual Moss Edition - 2018

Tualatin Hills Nature Park

By mid-winter, where we are now, our dedicated wildflower search team starts to get antsy. Even though we are having a very mild winter here in western Oregon, nothing native is blooming. Of course, nature does not come to a complete stop in winter, nor do we; well I supposed we do stop at times, for example when the old cat won't get off a cozy lap. But when we do get out on the trail, we strive to discover new areas to re-visit during the blooming season. That also gets us on our feet and moving around in nature - always a good thing for the mind and soul.

If you live in western Oregon then you know that nearly any mid-winter forest walk will take on a greenish-brownish look. The conifers are green, the moss is green, the ferns are green, and all the dead leaves on the ground are brown. Luckily there are usually frequent creeks, streams, and waterfalls to break this monophonic scenery. Other natural colors are hard to come by; but they are there if you know where to look and you get lucky. For example, we found this Orange Jelly fungus (Dacrymyces palmatus) oozing out of a stump at T.H.N.P.

Jelly for your toast?

You could say there are two kinds of moss people: those who hate moss because it gets in their lawns, mucks up the roof, and covers the walkways; and those who see it as an attractive native plant, doing its part for the damp habitat we occupy. There are about 700 different species of moss in our area, and all are abundant at all elevations. Here are a couple of very common ones living in our local parks.

Menzies Neckera (Metaneckera menziesii) covers a
White Oak at T.H.N.P.

Cat Tail Moss (Isothecium myosuroides) covers old
Vine Maples at Noble Woods Park

If you're looking to soak up some knowledge about Bryophyta plants (moss), see my posts from prior years (links below). Suffice to say, we live in the ideal environment for these curious flowerless and seedless plants. This year, we are featuring some photos from the Galen McBee Airport Park in McMinnville, Oregon. It's an obscure little park with a few walking trails and plenty of moss covered benches! It's a worthwhile stop if you are in the area.