What
Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum)Observer
jesscubbDescription
This giant sequoia is well known on campus for its incredible height! Perhaps the largest tree on campus? The red bark is stunning, a brighter hue than that of the western red cedar which is similarly soft to the touch.
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Pacific Madrone (Arbutus menziesii)Observer
jesscubbDescription
This was a fairly small Madrona tree, without too many leaves.Growing in a forested area bordering a meadow at Seward park. Bigger, healthier Madronas are often seen closer to water or a cliffside with song, I am not sure what this was doing so far in the forest.
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Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)Observer
jesscubbDescription
Yarrow was growing all over the meadows in the open and shaded areas of Leavenworth. I saw it dispersed along the hills on the way towards Mt as well. It is a fuzzy plant, with many tiny tiny leaves. I wonder what the advantage of such deeply riveted leaves might be.
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Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus)Observer
jesscubbDescription
Along the lakeside at Seward park, a few of these irises are growing about 40cm tall. They are in perfect full bloom.
These wetland irises are an introduced species known for their thick leaves and their many uses.
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False Bindweeds (Genus Calystegia)Observer
jesscubbDescription
This morning glory vine is so clever as to be climbing up a thick grass stalk along the lakeside at Seward Park.
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Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)Observer
jesscubbDescription
These were growing where ever there was exposed dirt in the forest here. Although no flowers were present, the plants looked healthy.
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Western Redcedar (Thuja plicata)Observer
jesscubbDescription
About 1/4 the size of the Doug Fir at it's side, this Western Red Cedar was growing next to the path. A climax species of the PNW
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Podosphaera aphanisObserver
jesscubbDescription
This fungi had taken over this plant, perhaps not killing it, but making it look very droopy.
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Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)Observer
jesscubbDescription
Doug Fir's are so easily distinguished by their very rough, creviced bark- the perfect home for so many insects, lichens, mosses and even small animals. This tree was the biggest in the area about 3 ft. in diameter.
What
Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina)Observer
jesscubbDescription
It is amazing how things are allowed to grow in Grieg Garden- this little sanctuary right in the middle of campus. This fern was around 1.5m tall and 2 m wide with its widely branching fronds.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
jesscubbDescription
I found these two huge artist conk's growing out of an Oak tree in Grieg Garden. Each was almost a foot wide, the first about 5.5ft high up the tree, and the second about 10 ft. up.
The lower one, which I could get a better look at, had been there so long that the bark of the Oak tree has grown around and over the top of it- as depicted in the first photo. Amazing!
What
Rhododendrons and Azaleas (Genus Rhododendron)Observer
jesscubbDescription
These stunning rhododendrons decorate all of campus this time of year with their huge pink and purple flowers. These around Grieg Garden have grown so tall- around 8m and are heavy with flowers. The leaves are thick and waxy, covered in pollen as if sticky themselves.
What
Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota)Observer
jesscubbDescription
Throughout the meadows at the UBNA, these dry remnants of Queen Anne's lace protrude above the still low grass. They are remarkably in tact for having survived the snow of the winter, still standing though completely dried out. Why would a plant do this? For the longest time I didn't know what this was, thinking it was some kind of fennel.
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Nootka Rose (Rosa nutkana)Observer
jesscubbDescription
This very low growing nootka rose is just beginning to come into bloom! I wonder if it's shortness (10 cm from the ground) allowed for the plant to put energy into flower formation, as opposed to the surrounding tall rose bushes that are flowerless.
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Upland Larkspur (Delphinium nuttallianum)Observer
jesscubbDescription
Lining the path of this pine forest park were many brilliant blue larkspur. The stems were not over 20 cm tall, and the small flowers only 3cm from top to bottom.
What
Western Larch (Larix occidentalis)Observer
jesscubbDescription
Western larch began to appear more obviously as we entered Montana along I-90. The trees are easily distinguished against the dark-green sea of pine trees for their brilliant green needles. The tree loses it's needles each fall, so in spring they are new and bright.
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Showy Phlox (Phlox speciosa)Observer
jesscubbDescription
These small flowers emerged from the pine-needle strewn earth throughout Idaho and into western MT. This plant was about 30cm tall, with small scentless white flowers. The very thin green leaves are well-adapted to a dry climate that doesn't provide much water for growing wide, thick leaves.
What
Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)Observer
jesscubbDescription
East of the Cascades, the hillsides and forests are completely dominated by the Ponderosa Pine. The bark of this hardy tree is thick, protected from forest fires and long-term drought, while the needles are long and very pointed!
What
Harsh Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja hispida)Observer
jesscubbDescription
When researching plants of Eastern washington I found a few sources that called the species of Paintbrush found here Harsh Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja hispada). But this species isn't recognized by inaturalist.
This paintbrush was growing in a small clump in the wooded, shady area of the hill. We did not find many of these flowers, only this one stand on the entire trip.
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Western Stoneseed (Lithospermum ruderale)Observer
jesscubbDescription
I only found one patch of what I think is called Columbia puccoon or lemonweed. Growing in the taller grasse in the wooded, shady area above the meadow. It was not in full bloom, and therefore difficult to identify at first, but I think the spiny, dusty leaves are distinguishing enough.
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Saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia)Observer
jesscubbDescription
I understood this plant to be called Western Serviceberry, but here it comes up as Sakatoon. This was perhaps the most present shrub in the area we explored. Many of these fill in the shaded area beneath trees. Most of the bushes were in full bloom, like the one pictured here.
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Meadow Deathcamas (Toxicoscordion venenosum)Observer
jesscubbDescription
Dispersed near the rocks and almost nearly in full bloom. Each plant had only one stem with a flower made of a series of very small blossoms.
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Larkspurs (Genus Delphinium)Observer
jesscubbDescription
Hidden amongst the grass a few of these violets were in full bloom in Leavenworth! I am not sure that this is precisely the correct species identification, however. It was the closest I could find for flowers in this region, but maybe rather than a violet it's more closely related to a columbine?
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American Vetch (Vicia americana)Observer
jesscubbDescription
This curly wild pea-like plant winds all around the long grasses in the shady, lightly forested areas we tromped through.
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Barestem Biscuitroot (Lomatium nudicaule)Observer
jesscubbDescription
I am not sure of the species, but this fire-work esque flower was growing all along the parking lot at our Leavenworth stop. The flowers emerge in a burst from one point on the stem, not unlike a queen anne's lace flower.
Photos / Sounds
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Checker Lily (Fritillaria affinis)Observer
jesscubbDescription
The species name lanceolata does not seem to exist within inaturalist, but according to Pojar, this is the flower native to the PNW. Many chocolate lilies were growing in the flat, meadow area with light shade. The flowers are dark purple, brownish about 4cm long.
Photos / Sounds
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Ocean Spray (Holodiscus discolor)Observer
jesscubbDescription
Ocean spray is easy to identify for its plumed flowers that seem to be splashing off the plant like white ocean spray. Here photographed the flowers are old, so they are brown and dry rather than white. This shrub was about 2.5m tall with small, coarsely toothed leaves that look not unlike black hawthorn.
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Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis)Observer
jesscubbDescription
Darting around the dry rocks a few of these lizards could be spotted with a careful eye. Most that I saw were much smaller, but the one photographed was a full grown adult male, with a bright blue belly for attracting females.
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Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum)Observer
jesscubbDescription
These giants really dominated the over story here at the Skykomish. They offer a canopy that is not quite as dense as a conifer would, letting in soft light from between and through their big leaves. The maples here have been able to grow HUGE and are all completely covered in dense moss.
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Sheep's Sorrel (Rumex acetosella)Observer
jesscubbDescription
Growing in a patch of grasses at the center of the parking lot, these little flowers helped identify the grass as "sweet vernal." The leaves were palatable, a bit like spinach.