A Wet Wednesday Walk

The rain has finally stopped.  So that means a high pollen count once again.  Who's to blame?  These Cottonwoods.

The trees are dense with pollen. 

With all the recent moisture there are rivulets of water everywhere. 

It's perked up the Sword Ferns.

The rain has been hard on the Trilliums.

These are Western Trilliums (Trillium Ovatum). The bloom is perched on a stem above the leaves. 

These are Small-flowered Trilliums (Trillium parviflorum). The blossom is right on top of the mottled leaves. 

The Star-flowered False Solomon's Seal (Maianthemum stellatum) is growing inches a day.  There is so much energy as spring approaches.

I am really surprised to see our native Tiger Lilies (Lilium columbianum) this far along already.  The plants normally do not bloom until late June.

Look at the Big Creek!  It is quite fierce.

I originally thought this was Red Osier Dogwood, but the leaves are the wrong shape.  So it's a Spring Mystery Plant.  

Wild Plums - thanks birds!

This seep is the swampiest marshiest spot on our property.

I will not venture into it even in August. 

It's a perfect micro-climate for a deadly poisonous plant - the Corn Lily (Veratrum californicum).  

Here are the distinctive leaves of the Large-leafed Lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus).

The Osoberries (Oemleria cerasiformis) are such early bloomers that they are almost finished now.

But in their place, other plants are leafing out.

Here's something I recognize for sure - the new leaves of a Vine Maple (Acer circinatum). 

Dorothy's Creek is chugging along too. 

The hummingbirds will be pleased when the buds of the Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium) open.

I'll end today with the first open bloom on a Grand Hound's Tongue (Cynoglossum grande) a native forget-me-not.  

You'd think spring was already here!