Tyler Starr
8 October 2008 from 1810-1825
Location: The Japanese Gardens between Collins and Olin
Weather: 58 ̊ F, clear skies, no wind
08 October 2008
Tyler Starr: 10/08, Japanese Gardens
Canada Geese and concrete plants
Date: 8 October, 2008
Time: 1800
Location: On the river by the WU Crew Boathouse
Weather: Chilly air, sunny, 57 degrees
Today at crew practice we were rowing closer to the east bank than normal and when I got to take a break while the stern four did their drills, I began to look around on the land near us. I observed a gaggle of little black and white heads peering out at our boat curiously. It seemed as though the 10 or so Canada Geese loitering on the bank had dropped everything to watch us. I then remembered the Great Blue Heron I saw on the water yesterday, and drew a striking juxtapostition. The geese are very social birds, huddling in packs together, while the heron was tho only one I could see. Also when we came too close to the Heron's realm he flew away nervously and didn't return until we were gone. However, the geese stood and watched us as if they did not feel threatened by our presence in the least. It would be interesting to know what makes these two bird species behave so differently socially and what effects this behavior has upon their lifestyle habits.
07 October 2008
Great Blue Heron.
H.R. Waller
Date: 7 October, 2008
Time: 1730
Location: Near the WU Crew boathouse on the river
Weather: Fair, a bit overcast, 62 degrees.
Today my boat had a brand new coxswain, and so she got a bit confused as we were leaving the boathouse to go out and practice on the river. She ended up steering us way too far to the left and we nearly hit the bank on that side. Luckily we stopped just in time, but we did rustle some of the plant life as we hit many of the branches of a large, central tree on the bank. And as we did this, out came a large Great Blue Heron to see what all the fuss was about. He obviously did not appreciate our disturbing his lair. He swooped out authoritatively and after assessing the situation, he decided to take a few laps until we had vacated. I watched him fly around as we worked our way out of our quandary. The Heron made lots of broad circles above the water, only once flying above 5 feet from the water. He was obviously killing time, waiting for us to leave. As he flew, I could see the rusty blue color on the outside, and the underside of his wings were a beige color that turned to brown at the tips. Once the heron was sure we were gone, I watched as he made his way back home.
Looks like a bottle of...squirrel?
Date: 10-07
Location: West of Olin’s
Time: 1405-1430
Weather: Overcast, brief moments of sunlight, 60˚F
After setting the squirrel trap half an hour earlier with a piece of peanut butter encrusted walnut and several smaller peanut tidbits, I went back to the side of the building only to notice…no squirrels fighting their way out. A bit dejected, I returned to find that someone did manage to attract an eastern grey squirrel into their cage. It was gnawing the bars furiously, b
ut seemed to calm down after Dave enveloped the cage with his coat. Placing a cone of fabric with a strip of Velcro down the center, the squirrel tumbled into the sack with its nose snugly fitting into the tip of the cone. We analyzed the squirrel, which seemed mostly tail at first, and sexed it through observing its genitals. The foot was measured to assess its growth. It had many small bumps along the bottoms of the feet; the pads assisted in climbing and provided protection from the abrasion of the environment. I later held the clothed, bottle-shaped squirrel to discover a soft warm bundle, similar holding a cat, which surprised me since I had expected the squirrel to be tense after being trapped and handled. Instead, I found a steady heartbeat and a slightly opened mouth displaying narrow yellowed incisors. It must have calmed down after realizing it was unable to move and escape. Perhaps it was breathing harder due to its enclosure. It was later tagged with a metal “earring” but I had left at that point.
06 October 2008
Silent as a mouse
Location: Springer's Botanical Gardens
Time: 1605-1620
Weather: Overcast, still no rain, 60˚F
The smell of nectar wafted toward me again as I perused the area southwest of the waterfall. This time though, I lingered near the Spanish lavender, and then my senses led me down to a clump of groundcover with dried flowers. Only one was still fresh, pink and shaped as a trumpet. Approximately 2-foot tall, the plant bore ovate dark, serrated leaves. I wondered if it could be a species of honeysuckle? Deeper (east) into the garden, I located hardy cyclamen, which had stakes with purple flower forms decorating the area. The purple plastic and white center mirrored daisies, but I was unsure as to their purpose. Black-eye daisies pulled my attention away from the oddities, and there I noticed a small little rodent playing in the undergrowth. It seemed to be about 3 inches long, small round ears and had a dark, fur-covered tail. Its coat was a light brown with a white underbelly, fine and short. As I stepped forward to take a closer look, my darned keys rattled and the creature bolted away. It was none other than a deer mouse. Odd, since most mice were nocturnal. Must be the weather and gathering clouds. I wondered if it had enough vitals for lasting through the winter? Momentarily, two flocks of geese flew overhead in their familiar v formation, one group smaller than the other. A hummingbird then zoomed nearly directly over my head in a hurry to some place. I noticed that several little flags were erected in the garden, each sporting the exact same message: “EWING-Irrigation products.” The fuzzy purple stalks of flowers were all leaning toward the north toward something with large leaves, a banana tree perhaps. Swallows flew north at 1620. Must be time to migrate.
A Cry in the Distance
Date: 10-06
Location: Northwest of Waller Hall
Time: 1116-1131
Weather: Overcast, no rain yet, 57˚F
A sharp penetrating cry halted me in my tracks. I scanned the area in front of Eaton only to discover a western scrub jay jumping onto the rails and issuing a cry, but not the same I heard only moments before. The cry sounded repeatedly and seemed to alternate between the scrub jay’s call and its own. Where did it originate? I looked up to find horse chestnut trees dancing in the gentle zephyr yet no creature appeared. Was it creature or bird? I passing professor noticed my perplexities and offered an answer that it was calling to warn others of possible danger in the area. “A bird?” “No, a squirrel.” So that was why it sounded so much like the barking I heard on several occasions; I just did not relate the two sounds. I didn’t think the danger came from man, for I would have heard it on a daily basis. There were no hawks flying in the upper atmosphere. Still perplexed, I decided to watch the dead tree (it was actually dying, according to Professor Dave) for more hummingbirds that I had noticed earlier this morning courting with quick, high-pitched chirps. Instead, I found a shrub about 10-foot tall with ovate dark green leaves. They were arranged radially around cluster of small buds about ¼ inches long. The unopened buds smelled fragrant and sweet, yet several flowers that had bloomed earlier were hanging dead and dried, trumpet shaped. The bark was auburn, slightly peeling and streaked with silver. The leaves turned red and pink, creating a beautiful contrast with the dark verdant green. Behind the shrub was a block of marble or granite that denoted the founding of Willamette.
H.R. Waller
Date: 6 October, 2008
Time: 1248
Location: Across the sidewalk from the science buildings (on the south side)
Weather: Still mostly cloudy, but dry, 60 degrees.
As I was shuffling along to class an unusual flash of color caught my eye. Accustomed to the repetitious oranges and yellows mixed with the fading green on the trees, this sudden burst of blue was an atypical observation that my eyes picked up on immediately. As I did a double take to further observe this abnormality, I realized that it was a Western Scrub Jay like the one I had seen before in Colloquium class. The brilliant blue avifauna darted around on the railing attatched to the building right across from Olin and Collins where a leafy tree was shading the whole area and providing an escape for the bird as he looked up into the branches and flew up into them. He then looked upwards again and once again flew higher. I wonder what birds are looking for when they do this? It was strange for me to see such a bright bird here in the open like this, because back home the only strange colored birds hide out in forests and are very shy, bu thtis one had no problem being around people and being seen.
Picture courtesy of Google Images.
September 30, 2008
1400
My balcony in Keneko Commons looking toward main campus.
I am quite ill and do not go outside. Nature observations are now hard because of this. It is all quite unfortunate. I am now sitting in my dorm room, which is in Keneko. So there are sliding glass doors, which lead from my room to a balcony. From my 4th floor room I am able to look mainly towards the Sky Bridge and tops of trees. What I find most interesting are the gloomy rain clouds above. For the time of day that it is the clouds and sky is relatively the same color. So the difference between the clouds and sky is quite minimal, it is incredibly bizarre. I can also see trees from my vintage point. Well not all of the trees mainly the top. It is interesting how each week the trees have so vastly changed towards the red colors of true fall. Another thing that is interesting to watch the flow of people going over the sky bridge. There seem to be a steady flow of people but there are it seems that there is a rush of people in the pre and post class period. I have a tempeture so I believe I am going to go sleep now.
Nievous
October 1, 2008
1530
My room on my desk to be exact.
I’m still sick and don’t really go outside. So I am doing a nature observation on my plant, which I have named Nievous. This plant I purchased at Fred Meyer about a month ago. Surprising I have kept it alive which is sort of an accomplishment for me, I not good at caring for living things so I am quite excited for myself. The plant is in a red jar and it is about nine inches high. It also has fourteen leaves is narrow stemmed. What attracted me to this plant was its unique color composition. It has a light forest green color as the base of its leaves and on that there are many light green yellow spots. These spots cover all the leaves and overwhelm the plant’s base color. I wonder if this plant will get much bigger but I assume that I may not be able too because of the pot size. I also should probably try to find what kind of conditions the plant likes because I never know weather or to leave it inside or outside. However I just noticed that it is really dry and I should probably water Nievous. I also have a small bamboo, also from Fred Meyer. It is not named because it is not that cool. I do believe that it is a nice addition to my room and I like it.
Where is the Millstream??
October 5, 2008
1730
The Millstream on a grassy area between the UC and the millstream.
The Millstream is ridiculously low today! I do not understand man must run the millstream. There is no other explanation for this odd phenomenon how else could the millstream drop at least a foot in less than a day. I now want to know if the school is the people in control of this. If not I want to know who is in control of the stream height and what their rhyme and reason for changing the height is. Now that it is this low the stream just look plain ridiculous. It is less than a foot deep and the large rocks just stick out awkwardly. Even some of the smaller rocks are visible. This shallow of a mill run even looks like is makes the ducks bothered. Today they looked really sad perched on top of the now colossal rocks. They now have now water that they can really paddle about. It is also my friend’s birthday and we could not push her in since it was so shallow, I am sure she feels jiped. I wonder what ramifications this shallow of water has on the larger fish that travel through the stream. Whether they are not able to pass through or die due to shallow water conditions of being more vulnerable to predators in this water level.
October 4, 2008
1100
At the bottom in the middle of the star trees.
Today I went to the star trees. For two reasons first I needed a new place to do a nature observation at a new place that is not at the millstream. I also decided to go because the star trees are a type of red wood (they are called Giant sequoias). Anyway I was feeling super home sick and there are many similar looking redwood trees in northern California where I am from so it was comforting for me to see these trees. As I sit under these trees I am astounded by their height. It’s surprising that they have become so tall in such a restively short time. I am interested to see how much they will grow in the future.
Creeping plants
Date: 6 October, 2008
Time: 1043
Location: off the sidewalk between Rogers and Smith
Weather: partly cloudy, no rain, 63 degrees
As I was walking back form class this morning I happened to notice a little gently sloping hill on the west side of the sidewalk running between Smith and Rogers. It was filled with a plethora of vegetation that from a distance all looks the same as if a green throw blanket was draped across the hill with a random tree and a few taller plants peeping out. But at closer examination, it is observed that the hill is covered in mainly one type of plant. It is a little leafy thing that looks like it may be some type of invasive weed, except that it doesn't really subtract from the aesthetics of the area, but rather it fills up the space making it look somehow more coherent. The plant's leaves are a deep green color that fade to black on the ends, and they are in little clusters of five. Its leaves are oblong shaped and the length of my thumb, but a little wider. The plant is filling up the entire hillside and even beginning to creep up on to the trunk of the lone tree that makes this spot its home.
The Bistro
October 5, 2008
2015
In the Willamette University Bistro.
I am trying a new kind of observation where I observe humans because the other day in class we decided that humans are a very important part of nature too. So… I am sitting here in in the bistro there are about 17 people give or take 2. There are people standing waiting in line for coffee, while others mingle and quietly talk with friends. There are also many people like myself doing work for their classes on either their laptops or reading. The Bistro workers constantly emerge from their kitchen to collect dirty dishes of other various tasks.
05 October 2008
Bees and flowers.
Date: 5 October, 2008
Time: 1500
Location: On the north side of the Millstream, next to Smith
Weather: drizzling, 58 degrees
There is a patch of flowers that look jut like daisies, except they are yellow. They are on the bank of the Millstream, clustered together in a big group. Upon consulting Audubon's field guide, I suspected that thy were perhaps Northern Mule's Ears, but the book says that those bloom in May and June, so I'm not sure if that could be correct. When I got up to examine the flowers more closely, I noticed that there was a bee sitting on one of them working away busily to sustain its colony. When I looked through the book to try and identify it, I decided that it looks more like a Drone Fly than a wasp or bumble bee. It is in the fly family, though I am not sure why since it feeds on nectar and pollen like most bees do. It looked like its legs and undercarriage were dusted with pollen, though it was difficult to get a close enough look with the little worker buzzing around all over the place.
5 October 2008: Willamette River
Rose Dickson
5 October 2008
1736 – 1800 hours
Waterfront, Portland, OR, USA
56 degrees, rain
Walking along the Portland Waterfront I realize the difference between Willamette and Portland as compared with the Willamette River and the Mill stream. both bodies of water are beautiful and serve an incredible purpose, but as I watch the river I realize how vast it truly is. The stream on campus is very safe and I can, not necessarily accurately, imagine the journey that it follows downstream. The river, however, is so vast that I cannot even begin to imagine where it leads to. The history excites me as I wonder who, like myself, have wondered these same questions. The river to represents the unknown, an unimaginable amout of individuals flowing, not always calmly, to create a unified body. The Mill stream, which is also very intriguing to me, represents this on a smaller scale. A group of individuals all heading the same direction ready to open and flow together on a larger scale. They become ready to flow into the Willamette River.
5 October 2008: Puddle
Rose Dickson
5 October 2008
0923 – 0940 hours
Walking downtown 23rd and Thurman, Portland, OR, USA
58 degrees, rain
Walking down the streets of Portland I become accustomed once again to the real world. I am visiting home this weekend from Willamette University and it feels so nice to step outside the bubble that is so often surrounding me at Willamette. As I walk through the streets I notice the definite change in landscape. No longer is the Mill stream flowing near the sidewalk. Instead my view is of grays and blacks. Buildings encompass my view and the height of them even pollutes my vision of the sky. Walking down the street I feel my feet begin to dampen. I realize that one aspect of nature humans cannot control is weather. No matter how many skyscrapers, sidewalks or parking lots you can find in a city, the air temperature and moisture can never be pre-determined or altered. My moccasins have now become completely soaked as I unconsciously splash through every puddle that is now taking over the cityscape. Like a mirror the puddle acts as a reflector, making all the surroundings appear more open and larger. Something strange that I realize is that the reflections of these puddles represent a connection between nature and society. What is seen inside the puddle when looking closely is natural rain water and some dirt or worms caught inside. However, when looking into a puddle at first glance you may catch sight of an executive office or a storefront. A reflection not of itself but of its surroundings. Even though puddles are not lasting, they provide a reminder that humans are not always in control. A wet toe can be proof that nature will always have its affect on us.
photo courtesy:http://www.danheller.com/images/UnitedStates/NewYork/Misc/puddle-reflect.jpg
3 October 2008
1:20
Mill Stream Bridge, Willamette University, Salem, OR
As I walk along the mill stream bridge there are several trees in front of me, it has just rained and each leaf is holding a small gem of water at the ends of its tips. The water glistens though there is no sun. Each little drop is so clear and pure. The magnification of this tiny little droplet of water is amazing and though it is so simple it is such a beautiful sight.
5:10
Eastside Lawn, Willamette University, Salem, OR
As I walk across the grass from Matthews to the lawn the grass is soft and smooth against my feet, in places the ground caves down into almost a natural bowl. In these bowls water has collected and the mud seeps up between my toes, it is a strange feeling. Directly in front of where I am sitting is Montag Center, people walk in and out constantly, some with laundry, some with homework. In the corner of the lawn there is a tree that has been cinched off from the natural world. This tree is not a particularly large tree, but it has been surrounded by a triangle of sidewalk cutting it off from any other plants. The ground around this tree is littered with woodchips and fallen leaves, sparse clumps of grass, and a few twigs. Where some trees branch smoothly off into an arching shape this tree seems to turn abruptly from trunk to branches with no smooth transition. The clumps of wild grass around this tree seem so unnatural, they are plotted in each of the three corners where the sidewalk come together, they look so sad and wilted, almost like a graying head of hair.
3:45
Jackson Plaza, Willamette University, Salem, OR
I am sitting underneath the tree at the corner of Jackson Plaza where the mill stream meets the cement wall just a little ways down from the bridge next to Smith Auditorium. The grass is wet after a short shower and I am glad that my jacket is long to protect me from the streams of water running off each blade of grass. I look out the mill stream and can almost see the murky bottom peeping through the shallow stream. I have noticed that each weekend the mill stream becomes much shallower than it is during the week. During the weekend the mill stream seems to trickle through the rocks lining the bottom, but during the week the stream blazes through without trouble. I lean back against the tree and look out at the center of campus beneath the tree’s safety. I look up and see a tangle of branches criss-crossing here and there, winding together like knots. The bark is rough and moss seems to be creeping up near the base of the tree. I start to wonder what the roots below me look like, they are trapped on one side by the cement wall that cases the mill stream and all around is sidewalk and brick. These barriers are limiting the trees growing area, just like the tree near the Eastside Lawn.
Jackson Plaza
12:32
Jackson Plaza, Willamette University, Salem, OR
The weather is cool and the sun looks as though it is fighting the clouds to push through. I am sitting on the brick wall in Jackson Plaza and the stone is cool and damp. Usually when I have taken observations from Jackson Plaza I have mainly focused on the mill stream, but today I am taking my observation from another direction, with my back to the stream I can now view the goings on of the main portion of the Plaza. Two men are walking towards the plaza and one is juggling two oranges with one hand, with each toss he increases the height of the oranges. Suddenly two people come running through the plaza making bird noises to imitate crows. I turn my gaze back to the juggler only to find him balancing on one of the pillars juggling not only two oranges, but now two oranges and a water bottle. The water bottle falls and he quickly jumps down to retrieve his third utensil. This area of campus seems to be the heart of Willamette.
Collin's Observations Week 4
29 September 2008
Millstream
1432
It is very hot outside and the clouds above me are both light and pale. Humidity seems to be gathering. What little shade there is is being provided by a broad shaped tree to my left. The stream is flowing at a fast pace and seems to eddy out down the stream. Looking down at the grass, I can see it bustling with bugs, something I wouldn't notice unless I stared at it for a few seconds. The bark on the tree providing shade seems to jump out at me. It is marked by many lines and crevices, creating interesting shapes. How the grass manages to look so green in this heat is beyond me. I can see the sun peeping through pine needles. I notice a piece of spider web gleam to my left. The river looks a bit calmer.
http://www.avidimages.com/preview/2006/11/18/tree_bark__corce_darbre_avidimages_1212_prev.jpg
C.Jones
30 September 2008
Millstream
1432
The sky is overcast and gives the river a dark appearance. The bubbling of the stream is interrupted by the snap of a branch and twigs falling from a nearby tree to my left. I look high up into the canopy of the tree and discover the disturbance is two grey squirrels. They look like gymnasts as I watch them hop from branch to branch and follow one squirrels manuevers all the way to the ground. The other squirrel is still at the top of the tree, maybe looking for a way down or guarding something. A sharp twet breaks the silence 30 or so feet to my right. My guess is it is some sort of an alarm call, maybe due to the activities of the squirrels. It grows more distant now, it seems to have taken a new position. Rain drops now begin to fall. Maybe it was a weather alert. The stream flows faster in this part of the stream as it trickles down. Leaves begin to fall off the trees as raindrops come into contact with them. The bird is still chirping behind me and I see the squirrel moving towards the bird's previous location. This place is full of nature.
C.Jones
2 October 2008
Millstream
1412
It is windy and slightly cold outside. As I sit at ground level, the water flows fast, but gently by me. Yellow leaves fall all around from the trees and some join the flow of the river. There is a wall of rocks and a plant covering them ahead of me. I can see the rock bed underneath the water as the wind blows. The sky is grey and cloudy, there are no shadows today. I see a lone flower sticking oddly out about 30 feet ahead of me. I can see the star trees swaying in the gusts of the wind in the distance. I see lots of green foilage when I look up. The millstream continues to flow at a steady pace. There are less ripples on the water now.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/219/509320808_373e81bca4.jpg?v=0
C. Jones
5 October 2008
Millstream
1308
The air is chilly and golden leaves litter the ground. The river flows quietly downstream and five ducks, three mallards and two hens, sit quietly in the middle of the current. A crow calls from overhead, but the ducks do not move. Two more ducks, one mallard and one hen, drift downstream boobing their heads underwater as if fishing. One of the hens ruffles her feathers out of agitation and begins to peck at her back. The river is very low, I can see the bottom and the rocks that disrupt the flow are prevalent with their ripples. One of the mallards ruffles his feathers in an intimidating fashion, I think he may be the leader of the group.
http://www.jasonhahn.com/gallery/albums/jul2007/wooduck_lland_050407_050_copy.jpg
C.Jones
5 October 2008
Millstream
1911
I just saw a group of ducks sitting calmly in the water. As I begin to observe them, they flew off in two groups with perfect unison. This part of the stream is very quiet, plants are bunched up and the water does not flow here. The surrounding lights flicker across the water as it begins to rain. The stream is still very shallow. I just saw what looked to be four mallards fly overhead, perhaps they are lookig for a place to rest tonight. The rocks in the stream look like beached ships stuck on a sandbar. The stream still flows quietly.
29 September 2008
4:37
Sidewalk across from Hatfield Library, Willamette University, Salem, OR
As I walk along the sidewalk I notice the fallen leaves. These leaves are bright yellows and deep rich reds and oranges; they dot the speckled gray sidewalk like a water painting. Every now and then there is a shadow of a leaf as though someone has simply pressed a leaf in ink and stamped it onto the cool wet cement. These imprints become increasingly right before the sidewalk turns into the parking lot, it is a very gradual transition from real leaves to imprints as you walk along this sidewalk. I walk a little bit further and see two bright blue birds flying after each other closely to the ground, almost scraping it as they fly dangerously close to the gravel. These birds continuously rise and fall almost in a parabolic manner. Squirrel darts out from beneath a bush and playfully entices the birds, he runs around and the birds seem to follow still flying in their swooping manner. I watch this scene for a minute or two and then continue on walking beneath the swaying branches of several different trees. The wind shakes several leaves loose and they come spiraling down from their lofty homes.
4 October 2008: Mossy Rock
Rose Dickson
4 October 2008
1421 – 1450 hours
Facing the Bistro, next to the mill stream on Willamette University Campus, Salem, OR, USA
58 degrees, cloudy
Sitting by the Mill stream I let my feet sink into the water. My toes slip along the slimy rocks below and I wonder what creates their texture. Beneath my legs I feel a tickling of fuzz. To investigate I lift my legs and examine the rocks I was using as support. These rocks, like the ones below my feet, are also covered in a blanket of texture. This texture, however, encompasses only half the rock. The texture is mossy to the touch- it is embedded between the cracks of the different rocks but also hug the outer circumference. The moss is like a blanket to the stone. When did it grow here? This is the first time I noticed this external covering, is it a warm coat for the winter? Do rocks, like humans, need an extra layer, as the weather get cooler? I abandon this thought and begin to question its existence the whole time I’ve taken residence at Willamette. How could I have let this significant part of Willamette University campus go unnoticed for so long? The more we study different naturalists in Colloquium class the more I become aware of the relevance in each detail of nature. Nature is a whole, not a collection of individuals. I want to enlarge my view nature. A vast expanse, working together in a cyclical pattern.
Photo Courtesy: http://www.ozarkmountainimages.com/ForestFloor/MossyRock1024.jpg
Changes
5 October 2008
Location: Running
Weather: 56*
Woke up this morning and headed for sparks to meet with the guys to go for a long run. Left the building and headed to Minto Park for a run and we saw some wild goose just hanging around the pond and latter on we see small brown bunnies they looked like squirrels but with out the tail. Later on a little mist of rain came and went, also as we headed to a near by trail and last weekend their wear no leafs on the trail. Now the are all over.
Sep. 29-Oct. 5
Observer: Kaitlyn Rice
Date: 30 September 2008
Time: 1350 hours
Location: By the Mill Stream
Weather: Warm, but overcast
Not Another Mill Stream Journal Entry
In an effort to kill some time before I had to work on Tuesday, I decided to find a spot to make a nature observation. The problem that I am having now though is that I do not know where to go that is semi-original. For this entry, I ended up next to the Mill Stream, but with my back to it and, instead, I observed some of the flowers up close. Above me, birds can be heard chirping. It is a high-pitched sound that brings back memories of my cockatiel, Scooter.
The flowers that are on the bushes in front of me are red and like bells in their shape. Inside of the flowers, the pistols can be found, long and slender. Everything about the flower seems to be perfectly symmetrical. The flowers all grow in bunches at the tops of the stems of the plant. Where the flowers grow from, the stem turns from green to a redish-purple color. On a couple of stems, there are buds. As I examine them closer, they remind me of a Dr. Seuss character: there is it’s pointy collar that is placed around its egg-shaped head that has one curly hair growing out from the top. The leaves of the plant spread from the top to the bottom of the branch. Each leaf is very slender and long. To my right, the same plant grows, except the flowers of this one are purple instead of pink. The bushes themselves are shaded by a young tree and the little bit of sun that makes it through the clouds must also, to be seen by me, shine through the tree branches. Behind me, I hear a commotion in the Mill Stream. I turn around to notice that a group of about 15 ducks have swam up the stream. What made all of the ruckus is a male duck that is chasing a female away and it makes me wonder why? Then I think about how funny and interesting it would be to be a duck.
Date: 1 October 2008
Time: 1726 hours
Location: On the sidewalk between the Chicken Fountain and the library
Weather: Again, it is warm, but overcast
First Signs of Fall
On this Wednesday evening, I was walking to dinner at Goudy and was not really thinking about anything in particular. When I passed the hedges just after the Chicken Fountain, something on the ground caught my eye. It was nothing spectacular upon first glance—only a leaf that had fallen off of the tree towering above. However, I picked it up and examined it. It had red on it and this is what first attracted me to it. There was nothing especially interesting about its size for it only spanned the width of my palm. I was still intrigued by this leaf. It was one of those moments where you decide to take some time and “smell the roses”, or appreciate the small things. I took this leaf with me to dinner and still have it with me in my room. Its stem is brown and hard now. I know now though that at one point, this leaf had grown from a tiny bud and its stem had been green, strong, and flexible, the link for the leaf to the tree. This stem grows up into the leaf and spreads into three main different directions—the veins for the leaf. Those three veins then split into many smaller ones and so on and so forth. The color is the best part about the leaf though. It is green around the “veins”, but then, it turns into a red color, with splotches of yellow, where it would have eventually turned into a brown.
Date: 3 October 2008
Time: 1430 hours
Location: Sky above Idaho
Weather: Partly cloudy, warm
Bird’s Eye View
Well, my flight was not too long, which is always a good thing. I am always scared to fly unless the weather is perfect, but I survived and now that we are over Idaho, the sky is starting to clear up. I know that we are over Idaho because I know this part of the state all too well. Right now, we are flying over Emmett, a town that I used to live in about 3 years ago. I looked down to find Interstate 84 to first realize we were getting close. Then I saw Squaw Butte, a Butte that is the symbol for the town of Emmett. Just to clarify, I made sure that I could find the town’s high school. It is always obvious because the school is constructed of two large, white domes. Once spotted in the middle of the valley, I knew that we would only be in the air for a few more minutes. The two women sitting behind me comment on how brown everything is. I suppose that I am used to it, but now that I compare it to Oregon, the foothills are all very brown. Bogus Mountain comes to view out of my window and, because it is covered in Pine trees, it appears a dark green/blue. The city of Boise is nestled below it and all that I can see is tons of neighborhoods and treetops. There is a high school, but we pass over it too quickly for me to figure out which one it is. Over the top of Eagle Road, it is all coming back to me. I feel like I never even left.
Date: 4 October 2008
Time: 1125 Hours
Location: Idaho Horse Park, Nampa, Idaho
Weather: It is sunny but chilly now, but won’t be for long
My Friend Peter
For this weekend, I have returned home to Idaho, mainly because it is the weekend of the Region 6 Dressage Championships. It is the biggest horse show of the season and I have come to cheer on my barn. Unfortunately, it is located this year in Nampa, Idaho, where they have a nice barn, but it is not the most desirable location. It is usually windy out here, though today it has been on and off thunderstorms—even better. Anyway, I was walking out to the outdoor arenas, on top of the grassy hill where the grass has been flattened by a combination of the rain and the golf carts driving back and forth on it. I came to a stop at a spot behind a short, cement wall. Examining the spot before I sat down on it, I noticed a small bug. At first, I thought that it might be a young ladybug and I, in my insect knowledge, decided that because of the way that it was circling around like it owned the wall, figured it was a male insect and I called him Peter. What made me think that Peter was a young ladybug was because he was a yellow-gold color. He also had several small, black spots on his exoskeleton. Upon closer inspection though, I eliminated the idea that Peter was any type of a ladybug. His body was too square in shape. I enjoyed watching him. Peter was not like some other insects that can be intimidating to see. Those with horns, or large, round, black bodies can often be frightening for me to get too close to. Peter had no apparent destination in mind, as he mostly just circled around. I think that he sensed me though because he flew away after not too long. I hope that he found a good place to hide out because as I turned around, I noticed the enormous, black clouds that were making their way to pour down their fury upon those of us, and anyone else, who was outside.
Date: 5 October 2008
Time: 0915 hours
Location: My front lawn, Eagle, Idaho
Weather: Partly cloudy, cool, about 40 degrees
I Don’t Remember Leaving It Like This
Whenever I was driving back home from the airport, one of the first things that I noticed was that most all of the trees at home were already turning their fall colors and some were even losing their leaves. I was surprised by this because I do not remember having the trees turn this quickly. Perhaps it is that pesky global warming. Anyway, on Sunday morning, I stepped out onto my porch and took in some of the details of the large tree in our front lawn. When I first pulled up on Friday evening, I commented on how I might have to do some raking while I was home. My father was quick to inform me that he had just mown the lawn 2 days ago and the leaves had not been there then. Who knew that that many leaves could fall off of a tree so quickly? At 9 in the morning in a large neighborhood, there is not much wildlife out and about. However, from around the corner of the garage slinks the neighbor’s cat, watching me closely and quick to pass me. I guess he had been pet and adored over one too many times. From the tree there is a rustling sound and I look up in the branches to see if it is another type of animal. Instead though, it is another leaf making its way down to the ground. My eyes ran over the flowerbed in front of the porch and I noticed that the large, bush-shaped flower had gone through quite the change since I had been gone. Its flowers that had once been a vibrant pink were now a pale purple, almost brown color. Now, however, it is time to go. Farewell yard! Next time I see you, maybe you will be covered in snow.
2 October 2008: Moth
Rose Dickson
2 October 2008
1647 – 1700 hours
2nd floor acting studio in the Theatre building on Willamette University Campus, Salem, OR, USA
67 degrees, cloudy
Dancing in the theatre at Willamette University I am pulled out of my dedicated practice. Immediately my mind is drawn to a buzzing coming from the corner window. A moth has gotten lost within this top floor room. How did it manage it’s way here? The windows almost seem permanently sealed closed with dust. Did it fly in elsewhere and get caught? I try to forget my new companion as I work hard on my dance steps. As I continue, I can’t help but remember the poor moth’s fate. If I wouldn’t be the one to set it free, it could end up living a life of solitude in this secluded loft. My empathy takes over priority and I open the window for the moth. I watch it fly out and I can’t help but feel a sense of joy as I think about the life I saved and the new connection I feel to this creature.
1 October 2008: Redleaf
Rose Dickson
1 October 2008
1431 – 1509 hours
On the bridge between Smith Auditorium and the Library on Willamette University campus, Salem, OR, USA
63 degrees, cloudy
In an earlier blog post I commented on the pale orange, red and yellows of a leaf, now under the same tree I find leaves of deep red. As an art major I have studied intensively the color wheel and I find the speed of the leaves’ transformation from green to red fascinating. The color green is directly opposite red on the wheel.
As I tear the leaf I encounter a delicate web and the fragility of it intrigues me. On the surface the leave appears robust and waxy yet beneath its thin surface is a veiny skeleton. Then as I examine the other leaves scattered across the pavement I notice the skeleton is apparent from outside. I suppose it is a internal quality that must be perceived inwardly before it can be noticed on the outside. Then I realize the small segments of the veins reinforce the leaf like the foundation of a home. And stepping back from the tree I notice each leaf contributes to the whole tree just as each part of the web makes up the leaf. This comparative scale reminds me of the interconnected web of the ecosystem. Each part contributes to a whole and each aspect of the system functions in accordance to the purpose of the whole. I am beginning to believe and question the idea of nature as a whole, which is something I would like to investigate further.
Chickadees in the Rain
Date: 5 October, 2008
Time: 1745-1800
Location: My balcony
Weather: Raining, a little foggy in the distance.
The rain keeps creeping in from the southish area, and from up this (sort of) high I can see where it blurs into the ground and is this amorphous fog/rain/mist thing that I'm not sure has a name (although it should, really, because this is Oregon, and we have a million names for rain). There's a bit of a breeze, just enough to make the tops of the trees sway and the rain blow further onto the balcony. The trees in the distance are mostly green still, but there are larger patches of yellow. On one of the closest trees there are two Black Capped Chickadees calling back and forth and flitting around on the branches. Now though, they've flown away across the tracks, and I can't hear them calling anymore. There's just the sound of the wind in the trees and if I listen really hard I can hear the rain.
Paralyzed Squirrel
Date: 5 October, 2008
Time: 1400-1410
Location: State St., Willson Park.
Weather: Dense clouds, a few sprinkles of rain.
The squirrel looks like a statue it's trying so hard not to be seen. I can't really believe it would let me get so close, but it could be terrified out of it's mind that there's this huge thing coming towards it. It's paws are tucked up by it's chest, and it's sitting extremely straight, with the tail curled on the ground behind it. It looks like there's something in it's cheeks, but that could just be the way squirrels are. I get close enough, eventually, that it shakes off it's paralysis and bounds a few feet away from me. I keep moving along the sidewalk, and every time I get close it bounds a few more feet and freezes. Eventually it moves a bit away from the sidewalk, towards some trees and relative safety.
4 October 2008 from 4:26pm to 5:00pm
Location: Net
Weather: 58*
Looking through my window I see a little sparrow. This is a tiny little sparrow that’s on the tree outside my two-story building. Let me tell you about this sparrow outside, its very small in size and really hard to see and I will make the best to describe him. Let’s start from the top, it has a small beak and a white stomach all the way to it’s tail. Also along the chick, with black on the chine and it runs to the eyes ant after that it turns brown that runs also to the back of his trail. The back of the sparrow is a mixture between brown and black. It’s so small I bet I could grab it and use it like a ball; the body of the sparrow is small. The rainy weather can scare a sparrow away cause this one is gone. I think I might just close my window; it’s starting to get cold also starting to rain. Now I will write my observation down and post it on the bog so blogers can read what I see.
Aspens?
Date: 4 October, 2008
Time: 1014-1030
Location: Outside Kaneko, between the pool and the train tracks.
Weather: Mostly cloudy, windy.
The clouds keep shifting to reveal sunlight and some blue sky, but the temperature is still reasonable and it's much windier than it has been in a while. Blowing from the south/southwest, and it smells like it's bringing rain. We'll see how that plays out later. It feels like it's actually fall now, both because of the weather and because of what the trees are doing. The line of trees between Kaneko and the railroad tracks, those that are deciduous that is, are turning color. One to my left has sudden yellow patches of leaves, and a white barked one has a few yellow and brown ones. It's leaves are fluttering extremely quickly, like aspen leaves. Perhaps it is an aspen? I don't even know what they look like, just that their leaves flutter spastically.
Tyler Starr: 10/05 pm, the Quad
Tyler Starr
5 October 2008 from 1645-1700
Location: The northwest corner of the Quad
Weather: 60 ̊ F, 5-10 mph wind, very cloudy, showering off and on
General: The entire campus seems so different when it’s cloudy than when it’s sunny. I feel like it makes everything appear more natural. I am not used to this type of weather, but from what I’ve seen from it, I think I’m going to like it a lot. For some reason, I feel more relaxed on days like today than days where it is hot and sunny. We’ll see how I feel about the weather in November though, after I have been experiencing it for a while. Many animals appreciate the cloudy weather as well, so they can be out all day instead of having to find a cool spot to spend the day. Squirrels are out in full force and the ducks are out. There are four or five crows on top of Collins, cawing. Student activity seems pretty mellow right now, since most people are probably inside doing homework. Looking at the clouds is very interesting as well. Most are a whitish grayish mass covering the sky and hiding the sun. There is one patch to the west that a bit darker than the rest. Perhaps it is a rain cloud.
Tyler Starr: 10/05 am, Mill Stream
Tyler Starr
5 October 2008 from 1120-1135
Location: North side of the Mill Stream in between the library and Rogers
Weather: Low 50’s, 5-10 mph wind, off and on sprinkling, cloudy
Observation Oct 5
5 October 2008
Weather: Cloudy
Time: 1300-1320 hours
Location: The Construction site behind Baxter
Today I decided to sit up against the fence of the construction site and make an observation on what the construction site contained. There is plastic and sharp gravel everywhere, and no animal ever seems to make an appearance within the construction site. It is possible that some of the plastic on the ground from the construction site could be blown or washed away in the wind or rain and cause serious problems to the areas around it. It is extremely important that the effect the construction site has on the environment around it be strictly contained.
Observation Oct 4
4 October 2008
Weather: Sunny
Location: Crew Boathouse on the Willamette River
Time: 800-830 hours
As I wait for my turn in the Regatta today, I decided to take a look at the water around the boathouse and the kinds of vegetation that live in it. There is a lot of algae in the water, and it seems totally swampy near the boathouse. This is because the incredibly strong current of the river is blocked by a landmass that sits between the river and a small inlet that the boathouse floats in. It is really interesting how drastically the area changes when the current does not go through it.
Picture courtesy of http://www.coremediagroup.org/core/?p=5
Observation Oct 3
3 October 2008
Weather: Cloudy Time: 1200-1220 hours
Location: Small park north of Baxter
The daffodil like flowers in this park that I mentioned before are no longer blooming. There are only a few flowers left, and the petals are dropping off of them quite quickly. This means that they have reached the end of their blooming season. If they are annuals, they will bloom again later, or if they are perennials, they will die. The leaves on the trees are turning yellow and orange, another sign that winter is coming soon.
Picture Courtesy of http://centaurcunningman.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/daffodil.jpg
Observation Oct 2
2 October 2008
Weather: Cloudy
Time: 1030-1050 hours.
Location: Millstream
Today I decided to sit on the edge of the millstream facing towards the UC. It was very relaxing in the shade from the trees around me, which looked as if they were of the species Oregon Ash. I was unable to find any animals in the area around me other than the extremely common grey squirrels however. The stream still has the same eelgrass-like stuff in it as well as a few mallards. The mallards are still very sociable to people and will allow me to get quite close before spooking.
Picture courtesy of http://www.geog.ubc.ca/~brian/florae/images/OregonAsh-closeup.JPG
Observation Oct 1
October 1 2008
Location: Under the Star Trees
Time: 1450-1510
As I was sitting under the Star trees, I heard some chirping coming from birds that I could not see in the branches of the trees. I also heard the background noise of crickets and frogs, which surprised me because usually they do not start making their song until darkness falls. The trees looked the same as usual, as did the ground under them. Other than the crickets and frogs that were making noise unusually early, there was no change in the area from the observation that I did a few weeks ago. Maybe the noise of the crickets and frogs indicates that the ecosystem is acclimating to the construction both north of it at the state capital and east of it by Baxter.
Raccoons and Morning Glories
Blackberry season over?- 10-5-2008
Time: 13:22-14:03
Date: 3 October, 2008
Time: 2200-2215
Location: Kaneko side of the skybridge.
Weather: Cloudy, alternating between rain and misty sprinkles.
The weather keeps changing it's mind. One minute it's almost pouring down rain, then a few minutes later it's windy and clear, at least until you get to the heavy cloud cover. I can almost see the community garden that's next to TIUA and Mill St., and I wonder if the plants are going to actually produce useful fruit, although they did get all that sun that doesn't usually persist this long. Right now the weather is windy, but there doesn't seem to be too much of a wind chill factor, it just feels like the perfect temperature, somewhere between 60 degrees and 70 degrees. It'll probably get really cold later though.
Botanical Garden- 10-4-2008
Ducks outside of Goudy- 10-4-2008
Leo Castillo
3 October 2008 from 11:00am-11:30am
Location: Chinese garden. Between Art building and Olin
Weather: 72* Sunny.
I wanted to seen if the Chinese garden had gone through any changes since the last time I was there. As I stepped into the jungle I saw a little shade with a bench where I could site and make some observation and see If I could tell if there where any changes. If you look up at the top of this picture, you too can see that I am under a shade. Then if you look from the right to your left you will first notice the shrub that leys on top of that semi big boulder. This shrub is dark green it seems to be in its prime and a young looking shrub. Then behind that we have eight brown walls that give it that Chinese look and keep things out. Next to that is a little bamboo tree that is against a brown wall and it seems to support this bamboo tree. In seem to me that if you look close enough you can see a little window in the wall and you can look out. After that there are tree long skinny trees that split into about five steams that mainly go straight up and don’t go out to the sides. Looking back down there are little shrubs that if I could I would make little miniature trees. If you look hard enough you can see the green generators from the pervious observation. There is a trail that you can fallow and you can walk and see the whole garden and it’s covered so it a nice way to hide from the sun. Another thing you can notice is that fall leafs on the floor and how dry they are.
Bush Park- 10-3-2008
time: 14:17-14:43
funky vines on telephone pole- 10-1-08
Leo Castillo
2 October 2008 from 1:00pm to 1:30pm
Location: Olin and Collins.
Weather: 67* Sunny.
As I head back to yesterdays location, I remember the spot and how other stuff had capture my attention. One thing that captured my attention the most was the two generators that hid within the shrubs and ferns. It funny that they painted the generators, green to make them blend in with their green surroundings. I’m assuming that the shrubs don’t get bigger then that or grow taller, so that they can get around to the generator. There are about seven shrubs around the generator with about a three-foot distance. These shrubs aren’t like the tree from yesterday; they are half bright green and the other half light green. This is a sign that fall is here and you can tell by the two ton colored shrubs and leafs on anything around campus. the ends of these shrubs are a similarity between a big shaggy moss a but it’s not the same. Most of the soil looks to be very dry and lacking on bark dust, and there is a white car that is distant.
Leo Castillo
1 October 2008 from 1:00pm to 1:30pm
Location: Between Art building and the Olin Science Center.
Weather: 68* mostly cloudy.
Thinking about what I was going to do today and where I was head. Observation crossed my mine, but first I need a place and thing that no one has done yet. Also I needed to find a camera to capture the moment. So I headed over to my friends and asked for it, without doubt I kept looking for that one place. Then I remember the garden between the art building and Olin and how I haven’t been there in a while. So I head over and a lonely tree captures my attention. It’s a brand new tree and young one, all by its lonely self so I decided to spend some time on it. By the way some leafs, it appears to be a type of Lady Fern plant leafs and it all by itself. Another noticeable aspect about this tree is that it seems to be a little gloomy. Two walls separate this tree from the rest to the garden that lies behind these two walls. It surprises my how green it leafs still maintain bright and rich, now that we are in October.