Parasol Mushroom “Lepiota procera” The stalk is 5- 15″ tall and the cap is 3-10″ in diameter. The cap is smooth and brown early on but is soon covered with shaggy scales. Gills white and not attached to stalk. A ” Veil” covers the gills initially but it eventually becomes a prominent double-edged ring on the stalk. Photo: Near Rainier,Or 10/10/2006
Green Corn Lily “Veratrum viride” Lily Family (Liliaceae) Perennial, plant 3-6′ tall, leaves 12-15″ long with coarse parallel veins, flowers yellow to green and clustered on lateral stems, Blooms in late summer in wet mountain meadows in Or & Wa. Photo: Mount Adams on 7/28/2007
Queen’s Cup “Clintonia uniflora” Lily Family (Liliaceae). Perennial, plant 2-5″ tall, 1″ diam. white flower, bright blue berry approx 3/8″ in diameter. Blooms in moist shaded forest. Coastal and Cascade Mts. and N.E. Or. & Wa. Flower photo: Wallowa Lake, Or. 6/27/04 Berry Photo: Whatum Lake near Mt Hood Or. 10/06/2007
Bunchberry “Cornus unalaschkensis” Dogwood Family (Cornaceae). Perennial with trailing stems, 4-8″ tall, leaves red in Winter, tightly bunched flowers surrounded by 4 white petal-like bracts, edible red berry-like fruits. Cascade Mts. to the Coast and in the Blue Mts. Photo: Along the Clackamas River east of Estacada, Or. 6/16/06
The bunchberries are edible but they are described as mealy and somewhat bitter. Photo: Whatum Lake 10/06/2007
© 2006 mkellar
The Astoria-Megler Bridge taken from Coxcomb hill just South of Astoria. The bridge is approximately 4 miles long and foot traffic is not permitted with the exception of a half day in October when they hold their annual bridge walk. The bridge replaced a ferry system in 1966. Photo: Overlooking Astoria, Or 5/21/2009
The Astoria Column located on Coxcomb Hill overlooking Astoria. The column is 125′ tall and 500 feet of artwork depicting the history of Astoria spirals up the column. You can purchase small balsa wood gliders to launch off the top of the tower. Photo: Near Astoria, Or 5/21/2009
The Peter Iredale was a four masted steel sailing vessel that ran aground on the beach 10/25/1906 on the Oregon Coast four miles south of the Columbia River. The ship was sold for scrap and 103 years later, there isn’t much left to see. Several kite boarders scampered by in the surf while I was there. The times they are a changing. Photo: Near Warrenton, Or. just south of the Columbia River 5/21/2009.
Cow Parsnip “Heracleum lanatum ” Parsnip Family” (Apiaceae) Perennial, plant 1-10′ tall, leaves lobed and toothed 3-15″ broad, flowers heads 3-15″ across with many small white flowers. Blooms late spring-early summer in moist shady locations throughout Or & Wa. Photo: Saddle Mt. near Seaside, Or 5/13/2005
The Office Bridge at Westfir, Or was built in 1944 to accommodate log trucks crossing the North Fork of the Willamette River. It is the longest covered bridge in Oregon and it also features a covered walkway. Westfir is S.E. of Eugene Or. and I was there on a field trip for a moss identification class. Photo 4/15/2007
Oregon Forestsnail “Allogona townsendiana” The Internet isn’t much help on this one but I think that is what it is. It is probably 1.5 to 2″ in diameter and they are said to live in areas that have big leaf maples and they eat stinging nettles. Apparently they aren’t very common but of course I live in Oregon and I have big leaf maples and stinging nettles. Photo: Near Rainier, Or 5/14/2005