Western Wahoo, Euonymus occidentalis

Thanks to seedmoney on gardenweb.com for identifying this plant for me.

Also known as Western Burning Bush, this plant has very unusual flowers and was found growing near the East Fork of the Lewis River in SW Washington.
 


 

5-10-2012 update, the immature flowers look pretty strange, too:

Coast garter snake, Thamnophis elegans terrestris

I was walking through the woods today and came across this colorful snake staring back at me.

Canada Goldenrod, Solidago canadensis

This native perennial, often considered a weed, can be used to make tea.