Wednesday's Walk

The last walk of July.

It's Wednesday and I'm ready for a walk.  Care to join me?

The meadows are no longer green.  But I quite like this color combination too - the white of the Queen Ann's Lace, the purple Canadian Thistles, and the ecru of the grass seed heads.

I saw the first of the new Douglas Fir cones. 

The apples are growing.

With berries on the Cascara and other bushes, I'd hope to see some Cedar Waxwings at work.  Maybe next time - they are such pretty birds.

I think we are going to have a banner year of Blackberries.

My sister and I are arguing about the Vine Maple.  I maintain it is turning color already, she says no, the red is the color of the new growth. 

This is Western Baneberry (Actaea rubra).  Earlier this spring it had a spray of tiny white flowers.  Now it is in the midst of berry production.  First they are green...

Then they turn white...

...and finally they are a glossy red when they are ripe. 

I've just found out the plant is poisonous! In fact, all parts of the plant are poisonous. However, accidental poisoning is not likely since the berries are extremely bitter. The berries are the most toxic part of the plant. A healthy adult will experience poisoning from as few as six berries. Ingestion of the berries can cause nausea, dizziness, increased pulse and severe gastrointestinal discomfort. The toxins can also have an immediate sedative effect on the cardiac muscle tissue possibly leading to cardiac arrest if introduced into the bloodstream.  Yikes!  I here I thought it just a pretty wildflower!

I spied the first of the acorns too.

Here's the blossom of a Bull Thistle.

As you didn't eat any of the Baneberry, I'll assume you enjoyed our walk!