March 19, 2012 – Monday
Rose walked with me today. We were out about 45 minutes. 88 images.
I was surprised to see that the south pond was fairly well filled. The north pond had a lot of water but not enough to be fully exposed above the matting of dry grass. I walked across the north pond bottom four days ago and it was only damp in the deepest places.
Rose said we had a record rainfall a couple of days ago. It would be interesting to know how much rain fell over the four days.
I had spent much of the day starting a rationalization of last year’s shrub study. Working with the images gave me a false sense of security. I felt confident that I would get a better orientation with the shrubs in the field but I didn’t.
The buttercups are coming on but are a long way from their prime.
The buttercup buds I found nearly a month ago are still stunted
I made a feeble effort to check yellow bell hill for foliage. I saw a distinctive form there and photographed it. It seems to have too many leaves to be a yellow bell. But it has parallel veins of the lily family … and the grasses.
I attempted more photos of tiny Lomatium-like foliage but they didn’t come out well.
The light was strong and there was a good sky. I thought I would get definitive willow photos but I didn’t.
I do love attempting images of the mosses and lichens. I have to learn a little about them this year.
I noticed a strange mass within a patch of spike moss that I need better images of.
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| These are the second buds we found. They are still behind plants that developed later. |
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| I see white on the stamens. There will be more white on petals later. |
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| There are more blossoms today but there will be a lot more soon |
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| /Rose noticed the white. Is it a disease? It seems odd that the pistils are not prominent. [Ken Swedberg says the white is frost damage.] |
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| Too many leaves for yellow bell? Lots of yellow bells in this location, later. |
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| Club moss, Spike Moss? I can't find it on the internet [Ken says this is Salaginella wallacei or Salaginella densa. I have to check the character of the branching to see if it is 'compact'.] |
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| No macro setting |
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| Macro setting on camera, direct sun from the left |
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| I didn't notice this in the field. It is in a buttercup photo. Need to find a patch to watch. |
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| Spores developing? |
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| Definitely a hawthorn |
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| Need to pay attention to the hairy buds |
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| Willow buds |
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| Lots of water filling south pond in about 4 days. Ken Swedberg says there was 1.72 inches out beyond Cheney. |
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| North pond water is harder to assess. The water reaches the edge of what was 7 foot grass last year |
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| Rose is watching ducks. I didn't see them. |
