Green Lake, Seattle WA 5/16

Following Ravenna down the opposite direction from Ravenna Park towards Green Lake is also an area rich with native plant species. It was another warm sunny day in Seattle and the whole walk I could hear birds chirping. Most of the plants we observed grow on the ground or are trees. This area is full of colorful flowering plants in the springtime like the heart leaf bergenia and many types of rhododendron's. There were lots of maples planted and also a few Japanese Maples. The majority of plants identified on the walk are ground plants like several species of ivy, the lesser periwinkle and ferns. Urban areas like this contain a lot of flowering plants because of their aesthetically pleasing quality and the color they add to the area in the spring and summer. I saw the most birds on this walk than in other areas, besides the Union Bay Natural Area. In one of the maples on the edge of lake was a Black-capped Chickadee high in the tree eating a worm. We could hear several other chickadees the whole afternoon flying around when the sun was beginning to set. We also saw several mallards swimming in the water and crows on the grass looking for worms.

Posted on May 17, 2012 11:49 PM by karavanslyck karavanslyck

Observations

Photos / Sounds

What

Maples (Genus Acer)

Observer

karavanslyck

Date

May 16, 2012

Description

The leaves are oval shaped and were felt like to the touch. Also there were thinner leaves mixed in that were more elongated and not soft. There were brownish berry looking things hanging off the branches as well

Photos / Sounds

What

Vine Maple (Acer circinatum)

Observer

karavanslyck

Date

May 16, 2012

Description

Because of the leaves I think this tree is some sort of maple. It has red and pink flowers on the end of the branch.

Photos / Sounds

What

Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Observer

karavanslyck

Date

May 16, 2012

Description

Dandelions are very common in this area in lawns, the bases of trees and sidewalk edges.

Photos / Sounds

What

Elephant's-Ears (Bergenia crassifolia)

Observer

karavanslyck

Date

May 16, 2012

Description

This plant has large leaves that have a leathery feel to them and the flowers in the middle have a long stem and the petals are purple.

Photos / Sounds

What

Cotoneasters (Genus Cotoneaster)

Observer

karavanslyck

Date

May 16, 2012

Description

Also known as kinnikinnick this plant is easily identified by the small leaves and bright red berries.

Photos / Sounds

What

Shrubby Rock-Roses (Genus Cistus)

Observer

karavanslyck

Date

May 16, 2012

Description

This bush has pink flowers with leaves placed opposite of each other. The bush was dense and could not be looked through.

Photos / Sounds

What

Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica)

Observer

karavanslyck

Date

May 16, 2012

Description

The tree these berries were found on had some green leaves and others that were red. All of them are pointy and alternate in placement. The berries are a bright red and grow in clumps at the end of the branch. There were several of these trees around the area.

Photos / Sounds

What

Ferns (Class Polypodiopsida)

Observer

karavanslyck

Date

May 16, 2012

Description

The Fraglile Fern is distinct from other ferns because it grows in rock crevices and ledges and tends to start smaller, pan out and then shrink in width at the tips. The leaves themselves are thinner than a sword fern.

Photos / Sounds

What

Lesser Periwinkle (Vinca minor)

Observer

karavanslyck

Date

May 16, 2012

Description

The bush has pointy leaves with a few purple flowers at the end of the stems. Each flower has five petals.

Photos / Sounds

No photos or sounds

Observer

karavanslyck

Date

May 16, 2012

Photos / Sounds

What

Brown-lipped Snail (Cepaea nemoralis)

Observer

karavanslyck

Date

May 16, 2012

Description

This type of snail is commonly found in gardens and has brown coloring on its shell.

Photos / Sounds

What

Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)

Observer

karavanslyck

Date

May 16, 2012

Description

This bush has completely red leaves that are very thin and are alternately placed. It is a very common plant for this area and is only about 4 meters tall.

Photos / Sounds

What

Japanese Andromeda (Pieris japonica)

Observer

karavanslyck

Date

May 16, 2012

Description

This bush seems to resemble the columbia manzanita because of the bell shaped flowers and the coloring. Also the way they hang vertically off the ends of the branches

Photos / Sounds

What

Hellebores (Genus Helleborus)

Observer

karavanslyck

Date

May 16, 2012

Description

This flower is a light pink with purple spots on it and the leaves of the plant are opposite.

Photos / Sounds

What

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Observer

karavanslyck

Date

May 16, 2012

Description

I heard this chickadee before spotting it because of the distinct call it makes. Also the coloring of the white and black on its head are specific to the black-capped chickadee. This bird had just caught a worm and was sitting in the tree eating it when I took this picture.

Photos / Sounds

What

Large White-headed Gulls (Genus Larus)

Observer

karavanslyck

Date

May 16, 2012

Description

Seagulls are extremely common around the northwest and can be found in flocks. They are mostly around bodies of water, such as Green Lake, and in parks or other urban areas.

Photos / Sounds

What

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)

Observer

karavanslyck

Date

May 16, 2012

Description

Crows are found just about anywhere, especially parks. This bird was on the ground scavenging for food.

Photos / Sounds

What

Red Nail Gall Mite (Eriophyes tiliae)

Observer

karavanslyck

Date

May 16, 2012

Description

On this leaf there is some kind of fungus growing through the bottom of the leaf and sticking up through the top. The fungus is red and pointy at the tip and covers the whole surface of the leaf. Not all of the leaves on this plant had the fungus but at least five did.

Photos / Sounds

What

Larches (Genus Larix)

Observer

karavanslyck

Date

May 16, 2012

Description

I believe this is some kind of fir tree because of the bark and needles, however the pine cones are reddish and the branches hand down lower instead of sticking straight out like other fir trees.

Photos / Sounds

What

Lawn Daisy (Bellis perennis)

Observer

karavanslyck

Date

May 16, 2012

Description

Daisies like these white ones are found all over the grassy lawn around green lake and in the median along Ravenna. They grow in clusters.

Photos / Sounds

What

Oregon Oak (Quercus garryana)

Observer

karavanslyck

Date

May 16, 2012

Description

This kind of tree was found in several places around Ravenna and Green Lake and has leaves that look like an arugula plant.

Photos / Sounds

What

Forget-Me-Nots (Genus Myosotis)

Observer

karavanslyck

Date

May 16, 2012

Description

This flower resembles a daisy but the petals are more round and are purple. They have long stems and grow in the crevices of rocks.

Photos / Sounds

What

Maples (Genus Acer)

Observer

karavanslyck

Date

May 16, 2012

Description

This is a common type of maple identified easily by its leaf shape.

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