Earth Speak Sunday #22

Seven Arrows by Hyemeyohsts Storm

To Touch and Feel is to Experience. many people live out their entire lives without ever really Touching or being Touched by anything. These people live within a world of mind and imagination that may move them sometimes to joy, tears, happiness, or sorrow. but these people never really Touch. They do not live and become one with life.

Fast Fact Friday #10

Today's Fast Fact:
     The most complete Jaguar fossil in the US was discovered inside the Oregon Caves in 1995 by crews who were working on a map of the cave.



This fact was found on the NPS website.

Trail Talk Thursday #14

Today's trail is located at Bonesteele County Park, located along the Aumsville Highway. The main trail head is located next to the eastern end of the parking lot, and descends into a wooded section on the property as it leaves a short dirt road that is gated off. Of course, many people start by walking uphill on that road instead of taking the slightly hidden trail. As you enter the forest on this trail, you come across a boardwalk that passes Spring Wildflowers.

As the trail continues, you will find that after walking uphill a short ways, the trail splits into two. The left trail will take you up to a section of forested hillside that is bordered by boulders before connecting with that short road that leads you back to the parking lot.

The right trail will take you out of the small forest and to another split in the trail. Taking a left here will follow the edge of the woods and down to the parking lot, while a right will take you around the perimeter of the rest of the park and offer a view of Mount Jefferson. The field located on the property also has many trails that cross it. For those of you that want to bring Fido, this park allows it as long as the dog remains on a leash and it's poop is picked up. With so many trail combinations to choose from, you and your pet can hike as little or as long as your dog is willing to go.

Waterfall Wednesday #10

Drake Falls

At 27 feet, Drake falls is the shortest of the Big Ten waterfalls at Silver falls State Park. Named after Photographer June Drake, who tried to turn the region that is now a state park into a national park, Drake Falls flows over one layer of the Columbia River Basalts. Due to a bend in the creek, the only place you can see this waterfall is from a small platform that was built on the steep slope.

Native Talk Tuesday #23

For today's Native Talk Tuesday, we have a bird and a woodland plant.

The bird featured in today's Native Talk Tuesday is Sphyrapicus ruber, commonly known as the Red-breasted Sapsucker. This species of sapsucker is found year-round in the coniferous and mixed forests of the Pacific Northwest--that is, from Northern California to southeast Alaska, west of the Cascadian and Canadian Coastal Ranges. The woodpecker below was seen at Silver Falls State Park, east of Salem, Oregon.
 

The plant featured in today's Native Talk Tuesday is Viola glabella, commonly known as the Stream Violet. Also known as the Yellow Wood Violet, this plant is identified due to its five yellow petals, with the lower three having dark purple lines. These lines are said to help guide pollinators to the correct spot on the flower. Found moist forests along streams, trails, and clearings, the Stream Violet can be confused with the Trailing Yellow Violet, which looks exactly the same to the untrained eye. What makes the Stream Violet different is the dark purple lines on its lower three petals--the Trailing Yellow Violet has violet (light purple) lines. The plant in the picture below was found at Silver Falls State Park, east of Salem in early April.

Earth Speak Sunday #21

To quote a Chinese proverb:

The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago.
The second best time is now!

Fast Fact Friday #9

Today's Fast Fact:
     Some of the earliest rhino fossils in the world were discovered at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.



This fact comes from the National Park Service Website.

Trail Talk Thursday #13

Today's trail is a small, 0.2-mile trail along Hullt Creek in Silver Falls State Park. Located along the Canyon Trail, the trail head for this short trail takes visitors a short distance to the base of Double Falls. Of course, to get to this small trail, you would need to hike 1.1 miles from the Winter Falls Parking Lot, 2.1 miles from the Historic South Falls Lodge starting on the Maple Ridge Trail, or 2.1 miles from the North Falls Parking Lot. Either way, this small trail is just an add-on to the Canyon Trail.

Waterfall Wednesday #9

Double Falls

At 178 feet, this waterfall is the highest within Silver Falls State Park and is located on Hullt Creek. Named Double Falls due to its two-tiered drop, most visitors do not see the top one after mid-Spring due to all the foliage. Like nearby Winter Falls, this waterfall is best seen from mid-Winter to late-Spring when most of the water comes from snowmelt and runoff. The trailhead to the base of this waterfall is located on the Canyon Trail, just upstream from the Lower North Falls.

Native Talk Tuesday #22

For today's Native Talk Tuesday, we have a bird and a wetland plant.

The bird featured in today's Native Talk Tuesday is Picoides pubescens, commonly known as the Downy Woodpecker. This species of woodpecker is only found suburbs, orchards, parks, and forests; but are uncommon to rare in southeast Oregon. The woodpecker below was seen in a stand of trees next to a farmer's field east of Salem, Oregon.
 

The plant featured in today's Native Talk Tuesday is Lysichiton americanum, commonly known as the Skunk Cabbage. Also known as the Swamp Lantern, this plant is easily identified due to its large leaves, that are sometimes over 4 feet long. From early- to mid-Spring, one or more leaves turn yellow and a corncob-shaped spike is found within the yellow bract. Found wet meadows and muddy seepage areas from low to mid elevations, the Skunk Cabbage was used by the Native Tribes more for lining baskets like wax paper than for eating. Apparently, the only time it may have been eaten was in early Spring if there was a food shortage and only after roasting or steaming it first. The plant in the picture below was found at Silver Falls State Park, east of Salem.

Earth Speak Sunday #20

To quote Zenkai Shibayama,

Silently a flower blooms,

In silence it falls away;

Yet here now, at this moment, at this place,

The world of the flower, the whole of the world is blooming.

This is the talk of the flower, the truth of the blossom;

The glory of eternal life is fully shining here.

Fast Fact Friday #8

Today's Fast Fact:
     The American Beaver was named the Oregon state animal in 1969.




This fact was found on the following website: www.oregon.com