Arboretum 5/19/12

Today, I decided to trek to the Arboretum to try and identify some things I had not yet seen and also admire the beautiful Seattle weather. It was sunny, bright, and perfect weather for spending time by the water. On the walk over, I passed behind the UW training facilities and found some interesting species in an inlet by the Conibear Shellhouse. The inlet was narrow but deep and was littered with large lillypads and plant debris. This area was also home to ducks, insects, and herons feeding. Along the edge of this inlet, there was also some interesting foliage that I did not recognize. Later, with the help of the inaturalist community I was able to identify them as hawthorns. Continuing down the road, I began to see other species I did not recognize scattered amongst fir and cedar trees. For example, across the street from a grove of Douglas firs, I spotted a strange looking redwood tree with flaky bark and peculiar needles. As it turns out it was a dawn redwood. Just before crossing the Montlake bridge to enter the arboretum, I came across a large shrub with vibrant yellow flowers hanging from its branches. I then crossed the bridge and went down the steep steps to the arboretum where I immediately was surrounded by wildflowers. There were flowers of all colors in front of me: blue, violet, yellow, and white. I began the identification process and came across creeping buttercup, borage, hardhack, red osier dogwood, bluebell, and leatherleaf viburnum. All of these plants were strewn along the edge of the path where they could receive sunlight. The other plants towered above them but were further off the path and in a much denser area. I continued down the path to the edge of the water where I was able to see a pair of northern shovelers returning to their female counterparts. I did not delve too deep into the arboretum because the ground was soaked with water from Lake Washington but I was surprised at the diversity I found while on my short hike from the edge of the Montlake bridge down to the waterfront.

Posted on June 4, 2012 06:19 PM by twitwer