May 26-27, 2012 Waterfall Hike Port Ludlow, WA
Today I went on the waterfall hike around 1:00 pm. The weather was sunny and warm, and there were many more wildflowers in bloom this time, and the ground was carpeted in threeleaf foamflower. The twinberry was in bloom as well as the fringecup and Western Star flower. The western star flower grew both in clusters and alone, and had a varying number of leaves from 2 to 5. These were new to bloom in the last week, because last week there were none. The five-fingered fern was not looking as fresh and green as it was the last time I was there, and the flowers on the youth-on-age were wilting. Along the way home, there were many beautiful rhodedendrons in full bloom along the side of the road and nestled into the forest.
The next day the weather was cold and misty, and around 4:00pm I saw an Ensatina salamander in the tool shed in the forest. Later I took a walk on the beach around 7:00pm and the weather had improved and I saw several Lewis's Moon Snail egg colors on the beach at low tide.
Threeleaf foamflower, Tiarella trifoliata
Twinberry, Lonicera involucrata
Tall Oregon grape, Mahonia aquifolium
Jumping Spider, Family Salticidae
Pacific rhodedeondron, Rhodedendron macrophyllum
Fringe Cups, Tellima grandiflora
Western Star flower, Trientalis latifolia
Lewis' Moon Snail, Euspira lewisii
Ensatina, Ensatina eschscholtzii
Observations
Photos / Sounds
What
Zebra Jumping Spider (Salticus scenicus)Observer
andymjDescription
This tiny spider was moving around this sign post near the beginning of the waterfall trail by making small jerk-like jumps.
Photos / Sounds
What
Western Starflower (Lysimachia latifolia)Observer
andymjDescription
These tiny pinkish white flowers were growing in low patches along the edge of the pine-needle trail. The amount of leaves varied from plant to plant from two to five.
Photos / Sounds
What
Fringe Cups (Tellima grandiflora)Observer
andymjDescription
These medium height groundcover plants grew in many areas across the forest floor and interspersed with other groundcovers.
Photos / Sounds
What
Threeleaf Foamflower (Tiarella trifoliata)Observer
andymjDescription
These plants have a very similar structure to the fringe cup and piggyback plant with the leaves toward the base of the plant perpendicular to the flowering stem that is tall and curves down at the top. These plants i saw growing in many areas of the forest including along the banks of the stream.
Photos / Sounds
What
Cascade Oregon-Grape (Berberis nervosa)Observer
andymjDescription
The tall oregon grape was growing on the edge of a steep embankment in the midst of the old growth forest. It was not blooming nor did it seem to have berries yet.
Photos / Sounds
What
Twinberry Honeysuckle (Lonicera involucrata)Observer
andymjDescription
This large twinberry bush was growing in the sunny field just outside of the old growth forest. It was blossoming yet and didn't show signs of the blossoms turning to berries just yet.
Photos / Sounds
What
Lewis's Moon Snail (Neverita lewisii)Observer
andymjDescription
This is a picture of moon snail eggs. The eggs are layed in a collar-like structure that resembles sand. There were a few moon snail collars on the beach today.
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