I saw this northern scorpion, Paruroctonus boreus, in my laundry room a couple of days ago. I was barefoot and almost stepped on it. Fortunately, the sting of this species is not as bad as some of those residing in other parts of the world. A sting from a northern scorpion produces effects similar to a bee sting.
It looks kind of big and scary in this picture, right? In reality, it was only an inch long. I scooped it up with a paper towel and put it outside.
Milkweed seedpods are beautiful and unique. Milkweed, Asclepias spp., is well-known for attracting monarch butterflies. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are attracted to this plant’s flowers. They produce abundant nectar.
In the fall, milkweed seedpods mature and split open. The seeds inside are attached to white floss called coma. This floss allows them to be carried long distances by the wind.
Fun fact: During World War II, when the supply of kapok was cut off by Japan, milkweed floss was used as a substitute to fill life jackets.
I saw this purple Cattleya orchid up close at the Volunteer Park Conservatory in Seattle recently.
This plant is part of a collection started by a donation from Anna Clise in 1921. Her donation inspired others to donate their plant collections as well.
This cactus close up picture was taken at Volunteer Park Conservatory in Seattle. The cactus was only a few inches tall. Its scientific name, Gymnocalycium fleischerianum, posted on a stake nearby, was bigger than the plant. 😉
I saw these iceplants in California up close at Leffingwell Landing Park. This plant, Carpobrotus chilensis, is known as an iceplant or sea fig.
Iceplants in California are considered an invasive species. It is native to South Africa. The iceplants form dense mats in habitats near the sea. The picture below shows them growing under pine trees.
I was a little puzzled when I noticed they had some flowers that were pink, and others that were yellow. Then I read about how the flowers start out yellow and fade to pink. Interesting…
I took pictures of this checkerspot butterfly up close on Winter Ridge in Oregon. I believe it’s a Anicia Checkerspot, Euphydryas anicia, based on the description on the Butterflies of Oregon website.
It’s a beautiful checkerspot butterfly on its own, but I noticed it blended in really well with its environment. Can you see how all the colors on the butterfly’s wings are also in the lichens on the rock? Was it just a coincidence, or did it land here on purpose? Hmm…
Today I’m sharing a couple photos of a dwarf purple monkeyflower up close. This tiny flower is blossoming now in my High Desert yard near Bend, Oregon. They bloom from May to August. In years with ample precipitation, this plant produces branches bearing dozens of flowers.
The dwarf purple monkeyflower, Diplacus nanus or Mimulus nanus, is a native plant that grows in parts of California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, and Wyoming. It grows in sagebrush-steppe and open pine forest habitats.
To show just how small they are, I photographed two plants next to a quarter.
Here is a close up view of some Petersen rocks. I took this picture at Petersen Rock Garden and Museum in Redmond, Oregon. This unique roadside attraction has small-scale buildings and landscaping covered with local rocks.
To learn more about this attraction, see my previous post. It includes LOTS of photos!
Here is a photo of my cat’s eye up close. She likes to sit on my lap every time I sit down so I thought I might as well take her picture.
As cat’s age, the color of their irises changes and they may have a “lacy” pattern. The edge of the black pupil can also become less sharp and distinct. My Pixie-Bob cat is fourteen and a half.
Today I’m sharing some of my green glass from the past. It’s nice to collect things you can actually use.
The first piece is a beater/measuring cup that’s practical and pretty. The Art Deco-style measuring cup also makes a nice display piece without the beater on top.
The next piece is a large cake plate with geometric patterns. It works great for cakes (and even better for homemade fudge). 😀
The next piece is a Vess Dry Ginger Ale bottle. I really liked its curvaceous shape.
A Jenday conure up close at my house. I sometimes take care of my son’s conure when he goes on vacation. It has beautifully colored feathers and a very LOUD voice.
Here’s a picture of beautiful purple clematis blossoms up close in July of last year.
Clematis vines do well in sunny locations with moist, well-drained soil. A thick layer of mulch over their roots helps keep them cool, which they prefer. Once mature, these plants can reach a height of 10 to 20 feet. There are nearly 300 species of clematis. The distinctive blossoms of clematis come in a wide variety of colors, including white, yellow, pink, purple, blue, green, and bi-color.
Here’s a picture of a white cosmos up close, taken a couple of days ago in Bend, Oregon. Cooler weather is on the way so it may soon disappear. They are one of my favorite flowers!
Florists and gardeners use red flowers to represent a wide variety of emotions and characteristics. You may associate them with love, but they have many other meanings.
Columbines are symbols of strength, wisdom, and peace. Red columbines symbolize love, intense emotions, and encouragement.
Western columbine, Aquilegia formosa
Hibiscus are symbols of youth, beauty, success, glory, and femininity. Red hibiscus symbolize romance and love.
Red hibiscus, Hibiscus sp.
Black-eyed Susans are symbols of justice, inspiring motivation and positive changes. They are sometimes associated with the sense of wonder of childhood.
Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia sp.
Poppies are symbols of remembrance and hope. The flowers are used to recognize members of the Armed Forces around the world. In some cultures, red poppies represent love and success.
Iceland poppy, Papaver nudicaule
Indian paintbrush are symbols of creativity, passion, and the pursuit of dreams. Their red and orange flowers represent fiery energy and the drive needed to achieve your goals.
Indian paintbrush, Castilleja sp.
Red flowers stand out in both wild and cultivated landscapes.
Meanings of flowers may vary, depending on the source. For this post, I relied on information on Petal Republic.
After waking up one morning, I stumbled into my darkened kitchen to make coffee. I almost stepped on this Jerusalem cricket in the middle of the room.
The Jerusalem cricket, Stenopelmatus fuscus, also known as the potato bug, is a slow-moving desert creature that has an almost prehistoric look. Though they look harmless, they’re capable of delivering a painful bite with their strong jaw. They feed on plant roots, decaying matter, potatoes, and other insects – including their mates!
I carefully scooped up my unexpected visitor with a piece of cardboard and took it outside so it could hide under a rock, and not under my bare feet. 😉
To learn more about this strange insects’ mating ritual, watch this video.
I saw this gorgeous pink chrysanthemum on the High Desert Garden Tour last year. Though native to China and northeastern Europe, these plants do well in many parts of the world. The long-lasting flowers are available in a variety of colors. These include pink, purple, orange, yellow, white, and red. Unlike many of the plants that grow in High Desert gardens, this one is not appetizing to deer. A big plus around here!
I call this a double yolk thunderegg because two of these round rocks formed together. Thundereggs are Oregon’s state rock. You never know what’s inside until they’re cut open, like this one, or already cracked open.
This double yolk thunderegg is from Richardson’s Rock Ranch, north of Madras, Oregon. Though you can no longer dig there, you can purchase cut, polished, and raw rocks of many kinds from their large store.
If you want to dig for thundereggs, visit Priday Polka-Dot Agate Beds, about 9 miles northeast of Richardson’s. See my post about this amazing place if you want to uncover ENORMOUS thundereggs.
Here’s a photograph of Euphorbia, up close, growing in the fall. In spring, this type has bright yellow flowers. These plants, also known as ‘spurge’, are drought tolerant and easy to grow. There are more than 2,000 types of Euphorbia.
Here’s a picture of lungwort up close, taken near the North Santiam River in Oregon.
Lungwort, Lobania pulmonaria
Also known as Lung lichen, this lichen has been used in dyes, teas, and for treatment of lung ailments. Deer and moose browse on lungwort and other animals use it for nest material.
Lungwort is sensitive to air pollution and doesn’t grow well in polluted locations. In fact, the National Forest Service keeps a database on this and other lichens “to detect, map, evaluate trends, and assess the ecological impacts of air pollutants.”
Could this be a pickled herring fossil? I got this fossil from my mom and don’t know anything about it’s history. It looks like the herring fish pictured on this Green River Fossil site. Though I was hoping it was something rare, fossils of this small fish are common.
The Green River Formation, located in parts of Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah, is one of the best places to find fish fossils in the world.
This and that rock from Fischer Canyon, Oregon. According to the Central Oregon rockhounding map, published by the Bureau of Land Management, you can find petrified wood, jasper, and agate here. Other sources list calcite and quartz as being at this site.
This small conglomerate includes several types of rock that merged together.
This piece of jasper, shown up close, comes from Fischer Canyon, south of Prineville Reservoir. I liked this rock because the yellow lichen stood out in bold contrast against the red background.
I saw these multi-colored trailing petunias in a hanging basket in downtown Bend. Since they produce so many flowers, another common name for this plant is ‘million bells.’
Trailing petunias Calibrachoa hybrida
These perennials are hybrids from plants originally grown in South America. They bloom from spring through first frost and they’re easy to grow. They make a perfect addition to hanging baskets.
