Cooley's Hedge-Nettle, Stachys cooleyae

With all of the snow currently on the ground, this picture taken last Summer seems quite foreign. Anyway, this member of the Mint family has striking purple flowers and grows to about 6 feet high.

Many-zoned Polypore, Trametes versicolor

These 1/2" wide fungi are setting up shop on the trunk of a small Cascara, Rhamnus purshiana.

Snowy bench

We have a bench in the front yard that is not quite level - the recent snowfall is sloooooooowly sliding off onto the ground.

Oxeye Daisy, Leucanthemum vulgare

This introduced species has edible leaves and a solitary flower at the end of each stem. This picture was taken in July.

Icicles

This isn't a flora picture either, but the 'cicles are alive and growing!

Water and Ice

I know this isn't a flora picture- that will have to wait until the weather improves. The air temperature is well below freezing and the water temperature of the creek by the house is near freezing as evidenced by this rock with the ice accumulating around the perimeter.
Same rock two days later.

Rough Moss, Claopodium crispifolium

It is 21 degrees out and very windy -it was a race against time to see what was going to freeze first - me or my camera. The moss is growing on the trunk of a Big Leaf Maple, and it is quite possible that I have mis-identified the species. This may be my last post until it warms up a bit.

Common centaury, Centaurium erythraea

This nonnative has flowers that, especially with my poor eyesight, look similar to Deptford Pink - the second entry in this blog.

Fan Moss, Rhizomnium glabrescens

Found this leafy moss growing on a log. This plant has leaves about 1/10" long and spore capsules on the end of tiny stalks.

Cup lichen, Cladonia furcata

This lichen is similar to the Pixie Cups shown in my first blog entry. It is truly amazing to see the miniature world that is visible when you look closely at your surroundings.

Herb Robert , Geranium robertianum

After the recent wet, cold weather it was very surprising to find this 1/2" flower today.

I took another picture today (5-30-2010) with better light that really brings out the vibrant colors in the flower.

Buds that will be opening soon.

Pelt Lichen, Peltigera sp.

There are quite a few members of the Peltigera family and I am unable to identify the specific species. The picture covers an area of about 1 square inch.

Western St. Johns-Wort, Hypericum formosum

The tiny purple dots around the perimeter of each petal are virtually invisible to the naked eye, but are readily seen in this closeup.

White Bog Orchid, Bog Candle, Platanthera dilatata

These plants grow in moist areas and have very fragrant, closely spaced flowers along the length of the terminal spike.