Whistle-pig

Day 260: You'd think Hoary Marmots didn't have a care in the world, lounging around on the rocks in the "Sound-of-Music" setting which characterizes the subalpine areas surrounding Mount Rainier. Also colloquially called "whistle-pigs" for their high-pitched call, these large rodents are members of the same family (Sciuridae) as squirrels and chipmunks. Their nonchalance is misleading, however. During the few months when vegetation is available, Marmots must consume large quantities of food in order to put on the body fat which sustains them through a long hibernation. This handsome paradigm of the species was simply taking a break between snacks, one of several Marmots I observed during a short hike above Paradise.

The Icing On The Cake

Day 259: Yesterday, I introduced my readers to two of the most common species of Paintbrush to be found in Mount Rainier National Park. Today, it is my pleasure to show you a rare variety.

First, I want you to notice that I used the word "variety" in that last sentence. This is not a rare plant, per se, but it is a rare colour. Just like pansies, petunias and poppies can be found in a variety of colours, so can some of our native wildflowers. Their genetic differences are not sufficient to categorize them as separate species or even as sub-species despite the fact that they are visually quite different from others of their same species.

Castilleja parviflora var. oreopola is a case in point. This "Magenta Paintbrush" has white bracts. If you compare a "leaf" of magenta-coloured Paintbrush (C. parviflora) to a "leaf" of this white Paintbrush, you should be able to tell that they are identical in all respects except colour. The white form is rather rare in the Park, previously reported from the Sunrise area. Following a lead from a botanizing friend, I was pleased to be able to observe not one but two specimens near Paradise on a morning hike today.

Castilleja Paradise

Day 258: Of the six species of Castilleja (Indian Paintbrush) you may encounter at Mount Rainier National Park (others occur elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest), C. miniata (Slender Paintbrush aka Scarlet Paintbrush, left) and C. parviflora (Magenta Paintbrush, right) are the most common in subalpine meadows. Like Christmas poinsettias, their most dramatic feature is not their flowers. It is their colourful bracts, modified leaves which in the case of the Paintbrushes often conceal much of the actual blossom. Note the inconspicuous yellow "spike" among the bracts in each of these photos. That is a Paintbrush flower (or more properly, its corolla, i.e., a set of fused petals surrounding the reproductive structures of the plant).

So where might you find a painted meadow? These specimens were photographed yesterday at Paradise where, in a normal year, patches of snow might still be on the ground. Wildflower season has begun early this year, and our subalpine meadows are already filled with every colour of the rainbow. Get out there and take a hike!

Proud Scouts Plus One

Day 257: Seven young citizen scientists (one of whom declined to be in the photo) earned their Girl Scout Ranger Resource Stewardship badges today. The girls, their three leaders, Ranger Kevin, Centennial Ambassador Ian and I helped them gather phenological data for several species of wildflower alongside the trail to Myrtle Falls (Paradise, Mount Rainier National Park). The girls observed and photographed plants, recording species names (scientific or common), growth phase (leaf, bud, flower or seedhead), as well as GPS coordinates to match each of their photographs. The information and photos will be uploaded to a website when they return home. This session followed an earlier one with me on Thursday, learning the art of "field-guide" photography (as opposed to art photography). These young ladies should be very proud of themselves for the service they have rendered to the Park!

Colourless

Day 256: Bonus points to anyone who recognizes what's going on here without reading the explanation. Regrettably, the exercise didn't quite pan out like I'd hoped. It was my first attempt at gold-panning and although my technique seems to be correct, my handful of black sand gave up no colour unless there are micro-particles mixed in with the magnetite. I'll do a closer analysis before emptying the pan onto my driveway, but I can say with certainty that I won't get rich at this rate.

Out With The Scouts - Pacific Chorus Frog

Day 255: Of all the things I do in the Park, one of the most rewarding and enjoyable is working with youth groups such as Scouts. Today I had the privilege of doing just that: explaining to them the difference between art photography and field-guide photography and then going on a patrol of the Longmire Stewardship Campground to practice. I had some specifics in mind, hoping to infect them with my enthusiasm for rare plants, and indeed that goal was achieved. However, their own finds were the most memorable and exciting: Red-legged and Pacific Chorus Frogs, and a colony of Cone Plants (Hemitomes congestum) numbering at least a dozen in a two-foot diameter circle.

Upon hearing one of the girls shout, "Crow! I found something weird!" I abandoned photographing our little friend here and went to check. I found the troop gathered around the plants, some already on hands and knees taking pictures with cell phones and iPads. As soon as their discovery registered, I let loose a whoop of delight and complimented them on being keen observers. Then I emphasized the rarity of the species and, having already introduced the subject of mycoheterotrophy, listened as they discussed among themselves the specialized conditions required for the plant to grow. It never fails to amaze me when ten-year olds grasp a concept many adults find daunting. As we walked back to their camp, several of the girls regaled me with questions.

At their campsite, I reviewed all the photos they had taken. Some were blurry or badly exposed, some were what you might expect from a ten-year old photographer. However, in each and every camera was at least one good quality photo (and sometimes many) of one particular subject: the Cone Plants. Seven young scientists walked away from this event with solid documentation of a rarity. You can bet they'll remember this camping trip!

Guest Of Dishonor

Day 254: The Guest of Dishonor at today's All-Park Safety Meeting and Employee Orientation was Monochamus scutellatus, the White-Spotted Sawyer, a notorious predator of spruce and pine forests. I knew it only as a long-horned beetle of some type, so requested expert help in making an identification. I don't "do" insects. It's hard enough to manage wildflowers and specific families of lichen, so when something like this chap shows up, I turn to someone with the proper skill set, someone who is as passionate about their field as I am about mine. Knowledge is the common currency among naturalists, and for the most part, it passes freely between disciplines to contribute to a greater comprehension of the whole. The search for knowledge drives us; the sharing of that knowledge is equally compulsive. Feed us, and we will grow. Turn us on, and you may find that we don't have an "off" switch, but it is all a part of our enthusiasm for the natural world.