Lynch Creek Meander

I nearly missed the Fawn Lilies (Erythronium oregonum, upper left), but in so doing, I was able to see all my favourites along this little-known trail. Several of them are species I've never seen anywhere else: Sanicula crassicaulis (Sanicle, center top), and yes, those are its itty-bitty little flowers; Plectritis congesta (Sea-blush, top right), and what it's doing in the middle of the woods with a name like that is anyone's guess; Luzula multiflora (Common Woodrush, lower left), nearing the end of its flowering period, and the second of two Luzula species in my photographic "collection". I've found the remaining two in multiple locations: Veronica regina-nivalis (center bottom), also near the end of its blooming season; and good old Claytonia sibirica (Miner's Lettuce, lower right), just because I needed a sixth image for the montage. It was a short but rewarding hike, possibly the last I'll be able to enjoy for a while because we have a Pacific storm system moving in.

Number 100

Day 156: It doesn't look like much...a few leaves, no pretty flower...but it is a milestone in my career as a plant photographer. Sanicula crassicaulis (Pacific Sanicle) is the 100th taxon I have submitted to the Burke Herbarium image gallery, i.e., the 100th species of plant, fungus and lichen over a total of 170 photographs under my name. I take no credit for identifying it from the foliage. I threw it at Arnie as soon as I got the photos onto the computer. Nor did I know it would be #100 when I knelt down beside and and said, "So who are you, guy? I don't remember ever seeing those leaves before." And I owe a special thank-you to Kevin for forgetting to put my pizza in the car with the rest of my groceries. If he hadn't forgotten, I wouldn't have had the excuse to go down to Eatonville to retrieve it from his fridge or been able to rationalize a hike in Rimrock County Park (undeveloped) with the logic, "Well, as long as I'm down there, I might as well check on the..." But wait! If I let that slip, it would spoil tomorrow's post. Suffice to say it was a good day, botanically speaking.

Update: not only was it my 100th species for the Herbarium gallery, it also seems to be the furthest east sighting of it in the county!