Death Camas – Toxicoscordion venenosum, Meadow Death Camas; Anticlea elegans, Alpine or Mountain Death Camas
In my article last week I wrote about the Common Camas and the Great Camas, then at the end of the article I mentioned that these plants should not be confused with the Death Camas that is extremely poisonous! As promised here is the article on the Death Camas.
And then it happened. My typewriter had scarcely regained its normal , temperature after clacking out a bevy of cutting remarks about how old man winter was playing dirty tricks on skiers in general and the poor resort owners in particular when the furious old frost-whiskered demon came snorting in on us, revenge bent.
This week’s crawly is a swimmy, divy, flappy. Meet the hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus). We’ll call them “hoodies” for short.
There are so many cool things to learn about hooded mergansers, it’s hard to know where to start.
While writing last week’s All Things Oregon I was reminded that I had a very rosy childhood.
In the literal sense, that is – not necessarily in the metaphorical sense.
This is because my parents really loved roses. Like really. Like a lot.
Red clover, red clover, Oregon will send some right over!
For this week’s All Things we’re getting a big jump on St. Patrick’s Day as we explore Oregon’s clover industry.
Camas is such a treat to come upon as one is hiking or walking through the meadows with wet seepages, bogs and moist wetlands. The light blue of the flowers is so beautiful. I know that I look for the delicate flower spikes in midspring.
It just isn’t nice when people lose their temper and say such nasty things about the poor weather man when that harassed individual, I’m sure, does his honest utmost to furnish us with his best guesses concerning what may be in store for us weather-wise.
Not surprisingly we’re going to kick off this week’s Crawlies with, “Don’t panic!”
Yes, our featured critter is a varied carpet beetle (Anthrenus verbasci) generally considered a “pest” insect.
This week I find myself still birdbrained— I mean, I have birds on the brain.
This happens to me this time of year every year, because the Great Backyard Bird Count is this coming weekend Feb. 13 – 16.