Parker, Nisqually Wildlife Refuge

We arrived at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge at 7:30 a.m. As soon as we got out of the car we started spotting birds. With this being my first birding trip I was eager to get spotting and recording just what we saw.

The binoculars performed up to the reviews as well as Dave’s recommendation. Clear optics and ease of adjustment made these tools become a part of the experience allowing me to focus on the act of spotting and observing rather than fiddling and focusing.

We walked about 4 miles and spent nearly 6 hours spotting and observing in several different areas. From the wooded edge of the wetlands to the open tide flats there was a great diversity of species. Parker was a little tired towards the end but he pulled through!

For a first time birder it was very helpful to be in a setting where there was great opportunity to see a high concentration of species and be led by experienced birders that knew what we needed to see and look for. Thanks Dave and Yvonne!

Check out my photos of the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, a set on Flickr. I hope to get some equipment that will allow images of actual birds! For now you can at least get a glimpse of what the infrastructure of the reserve looks like.

Here is my observed list from today’s outing linked to entries at wikipedia.org.

1. American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis)
2. American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
3. Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)
4. Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
5. American Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
6. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
7. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
8. Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)
9. American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
10. Common or European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
11. Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)
12. Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)
13. Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera)
14. Gadwall (Anas strepera)
15. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
16. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
17. Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
18. Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)
19. American Wigeon (Anas americana)
20. Wilson’s Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla)
21. Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia)
22. Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
23. Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)
24. Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)
25. Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
26. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
27. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
28. Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)
29. Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)
30. Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens)
31. Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)
32. Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)
33. Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)
34. Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
35. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
36. Rufous Humming Bird (Selasphorus rufus)
37. Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla)

In advance of this outing I purchased a new pair of binoculars and look forward to getting some good use out of them. With a great recommendation from Dave and after reading many reviews I chose the NIKON 7294 Monarch III 8×42. (amazon.com)

 Map to : Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge 

image source: wlcutler

Heuchera ‘Midnight Rose’ is a  sport of  Heuchera ‘Obsidian’. This selection has the same deep black-purple leaves as ‘Obsidian’ but with bright pink variegation that emerges in spring. As the season progresses the variegation increases in surface area and then lightens to a pale creamy pink. As with all Heuchera they are easy to grow and fit well into any perennial planting. Low growing with a mounded habit.

I took this picture at the Oregon Garden in Silverton, Oregon. If you ever have a chance to tour the Oregon Garden take the opportunity.

Join Dr. Michael A. Dirr at the 2011 National Green Centre, Jan 9-10 in St. Louis, MO, as he unveils Dirr’s Tree and Shrub Finder. See it on the runway of the Sweet Melissa Fashion Show: the trendiest new plants (and iPhone apps!) in horticulture. Find out more about the unveiling of the app for iPhone at www.nationalgreencentre.org.

Based on Dirr’s classic work, The Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, Dirr’s Tree and Shrub Finder (Timber Press, Dec. 2010, $9.99) offers the latest and most reliable information on woody landscape plants for the landscape professional and the home gardener alike in an inexpensive and accessible format. Ideal for landscape designers, horticulture professionals, students, and plant enthusiasts, the app includes over 9,400 woody plants, 72 search criteria, 7,600 beautiful, high resolution, full color photos and more than 1,120 line drawings.

As an iPhone user and major Dirr fan I am eager to get this application. In my work and personal pursuits Dirr’s Manual has been my constant go to guide, to have it on my phone and with me constantly should be a great benefit. A few months back I spoke with Timber Press about this application and asked if there would be an iPad version and was told that that was not currently in the works. A copy of this application optimized for the iPad would really work sweet in my design process and education of my clients. The iPad’s larger screen real estate would be ideal during a client presentation. That being said I am excited to get Dirr’s Manual in my pocket! As soon as I get my hands on it I’ll review it here.

Thanks to @WesternPlantPro for the heads up and @treeplanting for RT’ing.

Proper selection of a plant for given site conditions is critical. It is more important than your ability to prune, harvest, or mulch. All too often a plant is chosen on its look or size in the nursery. Just because that Colorado Spruce looks great in the pot at the nursery doesn’t mean you should be planting 5 feet from the corner of the house . That spruce has the potential to grow to 60 feet in height and 20 feet wide, not the ideal tree for such a location.

I have often seen this mistake at the hand of the landscaper who’s only concern is to make money and not consider the future of the landscape. The initial cost of the landscape from a lowball bid contractor may seem appealing, but the eventual side effects of a poorly designed landscape will end up costing you more in the future. If you are hiring a contractor, get references, visit projects that they have designed and installed; in short do your homework.

Key to a successful landscape design is understanding the site to be landscaped. What type of soil is present? Is the soil constantly wet? What is the weather like? Does the site get sun? Is it full sun? How cold does it get in the winter? The list could go on. Take time to survey the site, if you have time to evaluate the site over time that is even better.

I did not do much to the landscape of my property for the first year after we moved into the house, but I did take time to observe how the landscape changed through the seasons. This observation has made it possible to design the landscape with an understanding of how it functions throughout the year. I was surprised to find that the north side of the property received more sun in the summer than I thought it would, encouraging me to plant an apple tree in the brightest summer sun location.

Knowledge of a  plant’s growth habit and requirements make it possible to select the right plant for the space being considered. Several factors go into proper plant selection.

• Plant Hardiness
• Plant Habit
• Water Requirements
• Soil Type
• Sun Exposure
• Design Effect – What are you trying to do? Trying to screen the view to your neighbors unsightly side yard? An evergreen will provide year round screen where a deciduous plant would not do as well for that purpose.

Understanding a plant’s limitations or its potentials will make a difference in the success of your landscape design and future maintenance. Over the next few weeks I’ll be writing about each of these factors in more detail. I’d love to hear some of the factors you consider when planting in your landscapes.

image: citta-vita

Perennial. Low growing, (4 to 6in.) spreading, succulents with rosettes of fleshy leaves in shades of crimson and green. Grown for the interesting plant appearance since flowers are inconspicuous. Used primarily in rock gardens and containers. Numerous varieties are propagated primarily by offsets. Easy to grow in full sun. Drought tolerant once established. Hardy to zone 4.

DIY Project: Making a Hen and Chicks Wreath (myflowerland.com)

Montezuma Pine, is a species of conifer that is native to Mexico and Central America, where it is commonly known as Ocote. The tree grows about 100 feet high and its canopy can reach 35-40 feet wide; occasionally it may reach a height of 130 feet.

Its rounded crown is complimented by the slightly drooping needles. The needles are born in fascicles of 5 with occasionally 4-6 and are quite irregular in thickness with some rather thick and others thin. The bark is dark brown-grayish, deeply fissured. Bark on young trees is a reddish brown rough and scaly.

The cones on this pine are also quite variable in size , usually slightly curved 4-6inches long and 3-4 inches wide when they have fully opened.

The specimen pictured in these photos is located at the Washington Park Arboretum, Seattle. (GPS: +47° 38′ 16.84″, -122° 17′ 37.19″)

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A corymb is similar to a panicle with the same branching structure, but with the lower flowers having longer stems, thus creating a flatter top.