Weekly Journal 9: Final Observations

Location: South Trail, Carkeek Park

Date: June 7, 2014

Weather: Cloudy, warm

Time: 5:00 pm

                This week when I visited my site I observed many changes. Many of the flowering plant have now started to produced berries. The Salmonberry plants no longer have their characteristic pink flowers, but now have deep red or orange berries. The berries on the Dull Oregon Grape have started to mature. A few weeks ago I spotted white and red berries on these plants and now the berries are a dull reddish blue.  The Indian Plum has blooming white clusters of flowers and young, green berries are starting to form. Many of the species that were once green, thriving and lush have started to die. The white flowers of the False Solomon’s Seal are withered and brown. Trees and small shrubs that once had green leaves are now turning yellow and brown. The Western Sword Ferns that populated a tall Big-Leaf Maple tree at my site have started to turn brown and dye. A few weeks ago these ferns were tall and green and sprouting new leaves. Looking at the picture of my site over time, it is clear that the vegetation density and species type has changed significantly. At the beginning, many of the plants at my site were just starting to mature in their early stages and signs of spring were all around. Later the forest appeared to be much fuller and pollinator insects and birds could be found everywhere. Now much of the previously green vegetation is starting to dye as the forest changes with the seasons.

                Twisting and curling in, the dry, decaying fingers ball up into a fist. The back stoops over with age and the texture is aging and brown, yet weeks ago his back was straight, complexion bright and green.

                She stops on the pathway with dinner in his mouth, standing still and quietly chirping, a wiggling worm found for the family. She flies to a tall tree then back to the ground and scurries into the bushes, alerted of my presence.

                Dancing and coating his fuzzy back with pollen, the buzzing pollinator moves from bright bud to bud stopping at each one for just a moment, then carrying on to the next and bringing new life wherever he goes.

                My perception of my observation site has changed tremendously throughout the quarter. At first I felt like my site was dominated by many of the same species, but now that I can identify many more species with various identification techniques, I feel that I can see the biodiversity at my site much more clearly. I also am much more aware of the smaller species at my site like fungi and insects. Previously, the insects and lichens found on the forest trees did not stand out to me, but now I am more likely to sit and observe an insect for a few minutes or look closely at a tree and observe the different lichen and moss species that cling to the trees.

                My sense of the Puget Sound Region as changed as well. The two field trips I attended the Olympic National Forest and East Cascade trips, shows the extreme variety in landscape types around the Puget Sound. The history and geomorphology in the region has had a profound impact on the features of the landscapes as evidenced by the deep canyons cutting through the landscape and various water features. The region to the west where the Olympic Mountains and National Forest are found is one of the rainiest regions in the world and has a unique coniferous rainforest environment. In contrast, east of the Cascade Mountains is a dry, desert –like environment different vegetation suited for the dry climate.

                Through my close observations with my site at Carkeek Park, I have found that knowing a place intimately involves many things. It involves using all of your senses to observe the place and engage with it

closely. Experience the weather, plants, and animal species is important to take in the full experience. Listening to the wind, hearing the sounds of the birds and shifting leaves can help you know a place. Similarly, touching the surface of trees, the soil, and the water in the creek can help you understand a site intimately. The eyes are an important tool, but should not be relied on entirely. Viewing the world at different scales, as a forest ecosystem or a community living on a rotting log can deepen your understanding through sight. To know a place intimately is to spend a lot of time in a place and be open to experience and learn as much as you can from being in a place.