Native Talk Tuesday #21

For today's Native Talk Tuesday, we have a reptile and a wildflower

The reptile featured in today's Native Talk Tuesday is Clemmys marmorata, commonly known as the Western Pond Turtle. This endangered species of turtles is only found west of the Cascade-Sierra mountain ranges, though it is supposedly extinct or near-so in the state of Washington . They are often found in still-water environments below one mile in elevation. The turtle below was seen with two others in Stayton's Wilderness Park.

 
The plant featured in today's Native Talk Tuesday is Crydalis scouleri, commonly known as the Scouler's Corydalis. This plant is easily identified from early- to mid-Spring due to it's stalk of pink flowers. Scouler's Corydalis is found along moist, shaded stream banks and forests and is named after Dr. John Scouler, who accompanied David Douglas on his explorations of the Pacific Northwest. The plant in the picture below was found at Silver Falls State Park, east of Salem.

Earth Speak Sunday #19

The Unforeseen Wilderness by Wendell Berry

And the world cannot be discovered by a journey of miles, no matter how long, but only by a spiritual journey, a journey of one inch, very arduous and humble and joyful, by which we arrive at the ground at our feet, and learn to be at home.

Fast Fact Friday #7

Today's Fast Fact:
     Discovered in 1874, and set aside as a National Monument in 1933, the Oregon Caves National Monument is really only one cave.

Waterfall Wednesday #8

Lower South Falls

This 93-foot waterfall is located roughly one mile downstream from South Falls at Silver Falls State Park. Like South Falls, a trail takes visitors behind the waterfall, making it one of four falls that do so. From Mid-Winter to Mid-Spring, this waterfall creates an almost perfect curtain of water.In Late Summer it becomes less dramatic. Formed by three different layers of lava flows, with the middle one less resistant and therefore allowing a path behind the falls, this waterfall has created several caverns below the trail that are not visible in the picture above.

Native Talk Tuesday #20

For today's Native Talk Tuesday, we have a bird and a shrub

The bird featured in today's Native Talk Tuesday is Pipilo maculatus, commonly known as the Spotted Towhee. With its black head, red sides, and white underside, it is easy to spot, especially with its black and white wings. The Spotted Towhee is distinguished from other Towhee species east of the Cascade Range by having a darker black head and back, and less white bars on its wings. The picture below was taken in Stayton's Wilderness Park

The plant featured in today's Native Talk Tuesday is Ribes sanguineum, commonly known as the Red-flowering Currant. In early spring you can see easily identify these plants due to their clusters of pink to red flowers. They are found at low to mid-elevations in open forests, disturbed sites, and even rocky slopes. The plant in the picture below was found at Silver Falls State Park, east of Salem. 

Earth Speak Sunday #18

Riprap and Cold Mountain Poems by Gary Snyder

I settled at Cold Mountain long ago,
Already it seems like years and years.
Freely drifting, I prowl the woods and streams
And linger watching things themselves.
Men don't get this far into the mountains,
White clouds gather and billow.
Thin grass does for a mattress,
 The blue sky makes a good quilt.
Happy with a stone underhead
Let heaven and earth go about their changes.

Fast Fact Friday #6

Today's Fast Fact:
     Weighing in at a whopping 80.4 Troy ounces, the Armstrong Nugget was the largest piece of gold ever found in Oregon; it is now on display in the US Bank in Baker City.



This fact was found on the website goldrushnuggets.com