Ravenna Park, Seattle, WA. 2012/4/18

Ravenna Park. 15:30.

Today has actually been fairly nice outside. I was anticipating rain, and began my morning biking with rain pants on in preparation, but I didn't encounter any.

I began my chilly descent into the north-west end of Ravenna Park. It is quite a nice bike ride on a hot day, but it feels as though it is less than 4.4 C on a 10 C day...especially considering wind while biking. I locked my bike up to a wooden fence near some Douglas Firs (Pseudosuga menziesii). I still have difficulty telling these magnificent trees from their relatives using bark pattern, but as soon as I can see the characteristic squirrel-tailed cones on a branch, I immediately know what I am looking at. It is worth mentioning that this park was carved out due to glaciation. as was much of the region. This explains why the ground is so hard. The park is essentially a sanctuary for large trees, including firs (douglas included) and large western red cedars (Thuja plicata). I still have difficulty telling cedars apart, but I do know that Thuja plicata's close relatives do not grow at this low of an altitude in this region. Plus, the aroma of the western red is quite noticeable as we learned at Pack Forest.

As I walked along the path, there were more Western Red Cedars, Douglas-Firs, and some Madrone Trees (Arbutus menziesii). There is an abundance of Sword Ferns (Polystichum munitum), Tall Oregon-grape (Mahonia aquifolium) and its cousin Dull Oregon-grape (Mahonia nervosa) and Salal (Gaultheria shallon) that make up the majority of the understory in this forest, but there are many other plants as well. I saw quite a bit of English Ivy (Hedera helix), although I know that there are currently efforts to remove it from the area, and many Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale). In addition, I saw three Brown Creepers (Certhia Americana) and heard around seven American Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) from afar.

Douglas Firs (Pseudosuga menziesii)
Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata)
Madrone Trees (Arbutus menziesii)

Sword Ferns (Polystichum munitum)
Tall Oregon-grape (Mahonia aquifolium)
Dull Oregon-grape (Mahonia nervosa)
Salal (Gaultheria shallon)
English Ivy (Hedera helix)
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Brown Creepers (Certhia Americana)
American Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos)

Publicado el abril 30, 2012 09:29 MAÑANA por ablevins