Environmental Study Of Lechtenberg Park

[Turtle]

Cows in streams = not good

 

I would recommend notifying the owners of the park about the cattle intrusion and see if they are willing to install fences along the property border. Unfortunately it's nearly impossible to control cattle droppings in streams on private land, but public land is quite different (except BLM's I suppose).

 

I don't think they got to the stream in the park. Outside & upstream of the park, Lacamas creek runs through farmland. It's there i saw the hoof-prints and cow patties at the bank. Denuded of trees, I think the water probably get's warmer than otherwise it would in the natural setting. I'm considering an upstream wade through it all to see what is what. I believe the stream itself is a greenway so I won't be trespassing. :D

 

I got a line on a possible family related to the park's origin; one Aloysius Lechtenberg & wife Clara. So far I have them here by the 1930's, and while they owned farmland West of the park 15 miles or so along the bottomlands of the Columbia R., the land that is now the park may have been their home. :wave: Given how the water rose the last couple years, they may have simply been flooded out. :halp: :)

ALOYSIUS "AL" LECHTENBERG b: 27 Sep 1889 New Vienna, IA

d: 27 Oct 1980 in Vancouver, Clark Co, WA Burial: Vancouver, Clark Co, WA

+CLARA LAPPE b: 29 Feb 1888 in Dyersville, Dubuque Co, IA

d: 25 Nov 1981 in Vancouver, Clark Co, WA Burial: Vancouver, Clark Co, WA

m: 24 Jan 1911 in St. Francis Xavier Basilica, Dyersville, IA

The Lechtenberg Family

[Turtle]

Occasionally I dig up a whole plant to bring home, and that is the case with this unusual forest dweller. When I came across it, it was all alone and sporting a nice flower stem of yet-unopened blooms. (No doubt the reason I collected it whole. :D) Well the flower stem suffered a serious bend while in my pack, and never came to fruition. (not that having green blooms helped any with the ID either. :) ) :( Nonetheless, I've kept it in a pot on the sill and today I had a close look on a hunch and found, sure enough, a new leaf bud growing at the base of the largest & oldest leaf blade. Nailed it! Youth-On-Age - Tolmiea menziesii, also called Piggy-Back-Plant. Also interesting, it is the first plant in my field guide that I have seen author C.P. Lyons make the note 'Sometimes used as a house plant.' :shrug:

 

[Ganoderma]

looking good man! just a tip i use when collecting wild plants (or shipping plants). prune most of the leaves off. many plants when going through such an ordeal (especially if their roots are messed with) take a bt to adjust and get their roots readjusted. they give off a lot of water and literally dehydrate themselves before getting re established. just a thought....you plant looks fine regardless!

 

to bring back a bit of an old topic i found some pics on my comp of some wild collected Ganoderma i got a few years back. tehse were growing on dead coconut and betel nut trees.....and there were a couple beetle species' larva gracefully feeding on their myclia in the tree as well :cool:

 

note teh shiny appearance. and also note the dusty appearance on the older fruit body (those are spores!) i love this Genus!

 

[Turtle]

Thanks Ganoderma! ;) I will be keeping a keener eye out now for fungi in the forest.

 

Meanwhile, here it is June 1st and I am just getting around to ID'ing a plant I photographed back on the May 5 trip. :) ;) So, here that is: :confused:

 

Hooker's Fairybells - Prosartes hookeri var. oregana (aka Oregon Fairybells)

previously classified Disporum hookeri

may 5, 2008

lechtenberg park

clark county washington- native

 

[freeztar]

Nice one Turtle! ;)

 

Check this out:

Botany Photo of the Day: Prosartes hookeri var. oregana

 

Apparently it is Prosartes. :)

 

Those taxonomists make my life so much more difficult! :confused:

[Turtle]

Nice one Turtle! :)

 

Check this out:

Botany Photo of the Day: Prosartes hookeri var. oregana

 

Apparently it is Prosartes. :doh:

 

Those taxonomists make my life so much more difficult!

 

Nice one yourself! Prosartes hookeri var. oregana it is. I will make the appropriate corrections. Your link also claims a correction of inedibility of the fruit:

May 11, 2006 12:05 PM: One of three Prosartes, found in British Columbia. Easy to grow from seeds, which many sources describe as inedible, they are edible, but pithy. Rapidly consumed by wildlife, when ripe.

[freeztar]

With all do respect Sir, the medal falls your way.

This thread is an excellent example of scientific investigation. Your initiative is very much appreciated. You've inspired many people, myself included. Thank you very much Turtle! :doh:

[modest]

Ok already, you both get the credit

 

Turtle, I'm thinking you may some day see on one of your investigations an eruption in the distance.

 

Here's a view of Mt. St. Helens in the background of Lechtenberg Park (elevation exaggerated by 3):

 

 

Can you see it from the top of that hill?

 

I think Mt. Rainier is hiding behind there somewhere as well.

 

-modest

[Turtle]

Ok already, you both get the credit

Turtle, I'm thinking you may some day see on one of your investigations an eruption in the distance.

I can only hope! :doh: I'm askin' Santa for it to be Adams this time around. : :eek: :hihi:

Here's a view of Mt. St. Helens in the background of Lechtenberg Park (elevation exaggerated by 3):

 

 

Can you see it from the top of that hill?

I think Mt. Rainier is hiding behind there somewhere as well.

 

-modest

 

Yep, Ranier is back there behind St. Helens. I have never been to the top of that hill, called Green Mountain, but as long as the trees don't block the view then it is plenty high enough to see St. Helens. If I can fit a trip in up there, I'll get some photos. :)

[modest]

Yep, Ranier is back there behind St. Helens. I have never been to the top of that hill, called Green Mountain, but as long as the trees don't block the view then it is plenty high enough to see St. Helens. If I can fit a trip in up there, I'll get some photos. :doh:

 

Alrighty then. Now, to get your wagon up there....

 

-modest

[Turtle]

Alrighty then. Now, to get your wagon up there.... :)

 

-modest

 

I'm giving some thought to trying it in the park at any rate. :eek: On that note :), I went up and spent a couple hours pruning some trail today. To my delight, both the Red-Osier Dogwood and the Pacific Ninebark were in bloom. :cup: Here's a shot of the Ninebark flowers & leaves with my hand for scale & a closeup of a bloom.

 

pacific ninebark - Physocarpus capitatus

june 2, 2008

lechtenberg park

clark county washington -native

 

blooms:

 

 

blooms & leaves:

[Turtle]

red-osier Dogwood - Cornus stolonifera

june 2, 2008

lechtenberg park

clark county washington - native

 

 

 

That's a wrap. :cup: :rolleyes:

[Racoon]

Valerian Root..

how is that different from Sitka Valerian?

 

Valerian is a natural herbal sleep aid/sedative. I have 1 growing in the ground.

Its the root thats useful.

 

Interesting Turtle.

 

always more questions than answers... :thumbs_up

[Turtle]

Valerian Root..

how is that different from Sitka Valerian?

 

Valerian is a natural herbal sleep aid/sedative. I have 1 growing in the ground.

Its the root thats useful.

 

Interesting Turtle.

 

always more questions than answers... :shade:

 

edit 9/9/10: in reviewing i find i mis-identified the plant referenced here. it was pacific waterleaf, not sitka valerian. :doh: live & learn.

[DougF]

Turtle,

I'm glade to see that your "BACK" in the park again.

You've developed quite a list a the beginning of this thread you (and all who had a hand in) should be quite proud of all of the plants (and things) you've located on your journeys,

I only wish I had half of the drive you portray.

 

Glad to be considered your friend, DougF.

[Turtle]

Turtle,

I'm glade to see that your "BACK" in the park again.

You've developed quite a list a the beginning of this thread you (and all who had a hand in) should be quite proud of all of the plants (and things) you've located on your journeys,

I only wish I had half of the drive you portray.

 

Glad to be considered your friend, DougF.

 

Thank you friend Doug. :) Today is auspicious for both your post and the ID'ing of a plant that has vexed me for years. :) I first encountered this sometimes short, sometimes medium size shrub/tree on the bank of the Columbia, and still not knowing its name, I found it all around in Lechtenberg. Similar in leaf to Cascara, but not shiny or firm, I still have never found it flowering and couldn't nail it down. However, 2 days ago I found it fruiting, and brought home a branch.

 

Still I failed to find it in my book! :doh::(:) But wait! Never underestimate that sweet spirit Serendipity. She sent over a botanizing aquaintence who, on a bit of a look, declared it...

Indian Plum - Oemleria cerasiformis

 

:wave: :wave:

 

Post Script: Here's a nice page on it: >>Oemleria cerasiformis - INDIAN PLUM - Rainyside.com

 

Wiki says it's an aphrodisiac though! :D

... Native Americans ate them, made tea of the bark, and chewed its twigs to use as a mild anesthetic and aphrodisiac [2].

Oemleria cerasiformis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Forget Viagra®; get your twig up with Oemleria. :cup: :hyper:

 

indian plum - Oemleria cerasiformis (aka oso-berry and skunk bush)

collected june 2, 2008

lechtenberg park

clark county washington - native

 

 

[Turtle]

At the foot of the Pacific Yew, I found a failed trunk fallen, covered in moss, and dipping into a side channel of the creek. I sawed out a small section of limb ~3" diameter, brought it home, split it, planed it, scraped it, scanned it, and attached it for your perusals. I count ~ 40 years; the pith is planed away in the middle of the segment, so add a year or two there, and I planed a smidge off the outside edges, so add a couple there.