Bike Caching

It's been a long time since I did any serious geocaching, but since they introduced "Treasures," I've started participating again, at least as a cache hunter. Collecting "Treasures" is kinda like collecting Pokemon, except you have to find a cache to earn one (and the requirements vary). Since I had business in Yelm this morning, I threw my bike in the car and, with twelve caches on my list, set off on a ride south from Rainier (town of). I found 11 of them. The last one was strongly defended by bees (I'm allergic), so I prudently retreated without giving it much effort. My ride wound up being about 7 miles in all, proving that the old Crow still has life in her yet.

Oak Galls

Day 183: On the prairies of southwest Washington, apples grow on oak trees. Oak apples (also known as oak galls) form when a tiny wasp lays an egg on the host species. As the larvae develop, they feed on the plant tissues within the protective skin of the gall. Various species of gall wasp utilize Garry Oak (Quercus garryana) in this manner, with size of the gall and internal characteristics often providing a clue as to the wasp's species. These were well out of reach, so I did not examine the internal structure. And yes, I did consider pasting a "censored" sticker over the one on the top left. Nasty little wasp!

Usnea Scabrata

Day 178: With the help of Daphne Fisher Stone's marvelous "aide memoire" to Usneas of the Pacific Northwest, I was able to identify Usnea scabrata, a species which has puzzled me since I lived on one of western Washington's prairies. It is one of several Usneas which occur on Garry Oak (Quercus garryana) in the area from Yelm to Tenino, and arguably dominant on those trees just south of Rainier. It is characterized by a pendulant thallus, the individual strands calling to mind U. longissima, but branching and significantly shorter. In cross-section, the medulla (inner flesh) is quite thick compared to the cortex (outer skin), and the axis (central cord) accounts for almost half the width of the section (the ratio, if you are interested, is C8, M17, A49). The branches are uneven and dented, with papillae and isidia present in most cases. Like U. longissima, there are many fibrils shooting off from the main branches, somewhat like a loosely-spun Christmas garland. Very few annual cracks encircle the branches, and these are not conspicuous. No chemical testing should be necessary to identify the species. Of all the lichens in our woods, the Usneas are perhaps the most graceful and elegant, and they are by far one of the most sensitive, taking offense wherever even minor amounts of pollutants are present in their air. It is refreshing, both literally and figuratively, to place yourself in their company.

Amanita Pantherina, US Version

Day 167: Amanita pantherina fruits in both the spring and in the autumn, with a cap which may vary in colour from pale yellow to dark brown. Some field guides for the Pacific Northwest list it as Amanita gemmata because of dissimilarities to the European A. pantherina, but other sources insist that "pantherina" is the correct taxonomy. It is identified by its large white warts and the striations at the margin of the cap, and upon closer analysis, a snug cup (volva) with a free rim at the base of the stem (stipe). It is common on southwest Washington prairies, and although it is poisonous to humans and dogs, it is eaten by deer.

Camo Chorus

Day 166: Yesterday, I mentioned the variation of colour one might expect to see in specimens of Pseudacris regilla (aka Pacific Chorus Frog, Pacific Treefrog). Here is an example. Identifiable by the shape of the head/snout and facial markings, this little feller must have emerged from the mud only recently. Its skin has not had time to adapt to exposure to sunlight. If you look closely, you can see where a few patches of bright green are beginning to appear on its side just above the arch of the thigh. Whether an instinctive response prompted this specimen to perch on brown wood as opposed to my previous example's settling on green moss is speculative at best, but is an interesting thought to entertain.

Hopping Down The Yelm-Tenino Trail

Day 165: "Here comes Mister Froggy-tail, Hopping down the Yelm-Tenino Trail..." Well, with a little license taken as to his activity and position (he was sitting on a log in a swamp beside the trail), he was nonetheless a cheerful sight. I'd wound up in Yelm despite my best-laid plans and was making the best of a bad thing with a seven-mile walk. Why seven miles? One, because I didn't get started until 1:30 and two, because that distance took me to the place where I was most likely to find froggy models. In fact, I found two. The other was dark brown in colour, presumably because it was newly emerged from winter protection. These frogs' colouration is highly variable depending on the amount of light falling on specialized photo-receptor cells in their skin. Unlike chamaeleons, the change in frogs takes place over weeks instead of minutes. (Pacific Chorus Frog, Pseudacris regilla)

Goin' Hell-Bent-For-Leather

Day 44: Mark this as the one-and-only Woolly Bear I've seen this year, and the poor little guy was goin' hell-bent-for-leather, trying to reach the grass at the side of a bike path. Has it been that until very recently, we didn't have the requisite cold to kick these caterpillars into winter mode? Usually, I see them all along the road when I'm walking, a circumstance which slows me down considerably as I move each one to safety. It doesn't seem likely that I could have missed them, not when they are normally abundant.

Nuttall's Larkspur, Delphinium Nuttallii

Day 263: "Common in south Puget Sound prairies," says the field guide, but Nuttall's Larkspur occurs only sporadically along the Yelm-Tenino Trail, and only in a stretch which extends about a mile on either side of the town of Rainier. The intense blue is a stoplight for bicyclists and walkers when it occurs at trailside: "What is that?" Oftentimes, tall grass almost conceals the spikes, giving casual observers the impression that this is just another species of vetch vining through the prairie. Like other members of the delphinium family (domestic and wild), the flowers come with their own "bees," a cluster of smaller petals in the center. These petals are often bearded, giving the "bee" a fuzzy look.

Western Dog Violet, Viola Adunca

Day 210: After puzzling my readers with semantically bewildering yellow Violets, today provided an opportunity to expand the record with a more "violet" example. Viola adunca (Western Dog Violet) is common in Washington and like its kin, it prefers the moist ground alongside streams and ditches. The lowest petal is heavily lined with "bee guides" and the two side petals have white beards. Another prominent feature of this Violet is the large spur, visible here on the back of the bud (the hole was made by an insect). Note how the spur projects well back from the sepal. As it matures, it will lengthen and curve upward, becoming more hooked at the tip.

Snow Queens, Synthyris Reniformis

Day 171: Early emergers, the dainty and delicate Snow Queen favours the margins of lowland forest, its bell-shaped lavender flowers often paling to nearly white, bearing a pair of dark purple stamens. Its leaves (not shown in this image) are heart-shaped with lightly scalloped edges.

While walking the Yelm-Tenino Trail today, I discovered a streak (for lack of a better word) of Synthyris extending about twenty feet long by five feet wide between a narrow band of evergreens and a horse pasture. A patrol of ten yards beyond either end of the patch yielded up no other specimens of the plant, and I did not observe them anywhere else along the trail. I suspect the availability of natural fertilizer may have played a role in encouraging their growth in this area.

Just Listen

Day 142: The image is not important here. Just listen! I decided to walk somewhere a little different, and found these singers alongside the Yelm-Tenino Trail. THEY know it's spring!

Pardon Me, Your Slip Is Showing

Day 21: First let me say that I did not place that piece of lichen on the cap of this mushroom. This is exactly how I discovered it. Today along the Yelm-Tenino trail, the mushrooms were abundant and varied, but of all I saw, this specimen was the most beautiful. Based on what I observed in other examples, I believe it is a member of the Stropharia family, although the annulus is not readily apparent in this photo. Others exhibited a distinct "ring" beneath the cap. The gills were dusky lavender, and some specimens showed significant scales on the stipe. The "lace" is typical of Stropharias: "Pardon me, your slip is showing."

Taking the mushroom tour today brought back a lot of good memories. My late husband and I lived only a few miles from the future trail, although in those days, it was still an active railroad line. Our property had been his grandparents', and when we inherited it and started making preparations to move in, we often took walks on the acreage to familiarize ourselves with the unique ecology of western Washington prairie. On one particular occasion, we found a dozen or more perfect specimens of Amanita muscaria, the "Mario mushroom" with the red cap flecked with white spots. The species became our mascot for the family ranch, which we then named "Toadstool Acres," although it wasn't the only Amanita which occurred there, nor even the most prevalent. Each walk in the autumn woods turned up something new and generally suspect. Occasionally, we'd find something we knew was edible: boletas, shaggymanes, and one spring, a solitary morel which chose to grow at the very edge of our concrete stoop. Some years, the muscarias failed to appear; other times, they grew in profusion. We never determined what conditions they favoured.

In other mycological pursuits, Bruce proved himself to be a superb "truffle hound," rooting out the best and biggest before my mom or I had added a single 'shroom to our baskets. He had a nose for boletas which couldn't be matched, and frequently out-picked us two to one. Riding through Mushroom Country today, I had to wonder what he could have found for dinner while I was grubbing around on my knees taking pictures of "toadstools" you wouldn't want to eat. I bet he'd have come up with something.

Footnote: I am almost certain this is Stropharia ambigua, a mushroom common in Pacific Northwest conifer forests. It is reputed to be edible, but "tastes like old leaves" and therefore is not desirable.

Large-Flowered Collomia, Collomia Grandiflora

Day 287: I'm afraid I can't resist posting a wildflower photo taken during my bike ride yesterday. You see, Large-Flowered Collomia is somewhat uncommon in Western Washington, and the only place I know that it occurs is on the prairie. Primarily a plant of the east side, it grows in open to lightly wooded areas and meadows. The flowers form a compact head, and are a pale yellowish-salmon color which is most unusual and appealing. The stamens bear dark blue pollen.

Menzies' Larkspur, Delphinium Menziesii

Day 273: No matter how many wildflower pictures I may bring home from a hike or bike ride, Larkspur is almost guaranteed to trump anything else. The intense blue stops you in your tracks.

I bicycled thirty-five miles on the Yelm-Tenino and Chehalis-Western Trails today as part of a patrol for invasive plants, and fortunately, Larkspur isn't on the list. That said, I found a massive infestation of English Ivy and two small patches of Yellow Archangel which will be duly reported.

It was a lovely day for a ride. After rescheduling work because I expected today to be in the 90s again, the forecast changed overnight. I awoke to sunny skies and the promise of somewhat cooler temperatures, so I threw the bike in the car and headed for Flatland. As is so often the case, I drove down into overcast by the time I reached Eatonville. The clouds persisted until after noon and a fresh breeze kept the sweat from rising. On the way home, I rewarded myself with an iced mocha from my favorite espresso wagon.

Nuttall's Larkspur, Delphinium Nuttallii

Day 246: The weather was good this morning for the first time in two week and the forecast looked rather dismal for the remainder of the week, so I decided to go for a short bike ride on the Chehalis-Western Trail. The C-W cuts through one of western Washington's grass prairies, and often provides a menu of delights to anyone interested in wildflowers or birds. Today, I found the Larkspur in bloom, its vivid blue color standing out strikingly against the paler grasses.

As for that "short" ride, when I came to my turn-around point at the ten-mile mark, I discovered I had left my water bottle on the kitchen counter. I shifted to Alternate Plan B, and rode an additional seven miles to Taco Time where I bought bottled water and lunch. My "short" ride turned into 34 miles.