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51 degrees F
Weekly Journal 2
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This week's observations presented a little bit more life than the last, seeing as though Spring is almost upon us and the weather has been on a nicer streak. Plants that were newly flowering this week included the salmonberry with its bright pink pedals and thimbleberry and looked as though they would soon be producing fruit judging by their round, plump buds. The red flowering currant was also brandishing its tell-tale deep red flowers.
Some species I hadn't noticed before or lacked the knowledge to identify include a big Douglas fir down in the small meadow, and a western hemlock. Today I learned about the big leaf maple: It has flowers that hang down lazily, winged seeds used for maximum dispersal, and bark that is thick and appears to travel along the trunk vertically with a "cracked mud" looking pattern. I also observed a red alder and noticed that it had smooth, spotty bark that looked almost like army camouflage. Another distinct attribute was its amazingly small seeds that looked like tiny pinecones scattered everywhere among the branches.
One blue flower I am still unable to identify grows in small patches and the plant is only about 6 inches tall. It must be some sort of wildflower. It has very soft, small leaves and the flowers bloom periodically up the whole length of the stalk. In the middle of each tiny flower is a yellow circle; the vibrant colors are undoubtedly for attracting small pollinators.
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