September 26

Phil Colburn
26 September 2008
Time: 1040-1100 hours
Weather: Cloudy
Location: In front of Montag at the end of the cement area
I am looking at some of these bushes in front of Montag for today’s observation. They are mostly unremarkable bushes, being low to the ground and having pale green leaves, but they also have small clusters of bright purple flowers. I can see some of the bushes that are purple and have thorns from here. They still don’t have flowers, but what appears to be small berries are hanging off of them. Behind me is what looks like a Rhododendron, but all of the flowers on it have wilted away and are hanging off of the plant in wilted brown clumps. These plants may face a difficult winter when the first frost hits.
Picture courtesy of http://www.mooseyscountrygarden.com/septic-tank-garden/pink-rhododendron-flowers.jpg

September 25

Phil Colburn
25 September 2008
Location: Behind Baxter at the Construction site
Weather: Cloudy
Time: 1110-1130 hours
I am sitting on the steps behind Baxter in the same place as yesterday. However, this time I wanted to look more closely at some of the ways that the construction is affecting the garden plants that live directly next to it. There is still the dust on everything, and now that I look at some of the plants that are growing directly next to the construction, there is a significant amount of dead plant as part of the plant. Some bushes have lost entire sections and two small plants that are growing almost directly adjacent to the construction site have almost completely died, all of their leaves have wilted and they are hanging down. The dust or some other effect from the construction is obviously having an effect on the plants in the areas near the construction site as well as the animals.

September 24

Phil Colburn
24 September 2008
Location: Steps in the back of baxter, near the construction site.
Weather: Cloudy and cool
Time: 1530-1550 hours

I am sitting on the steps out behind Baxter. I see a small garden lining the edge of the building There are some very interesting flowers in the garden which I believe that I have seen before. When I saw them last, I was told that they are the bleeding heart flower, because small stamens hang down from the main purple part of the flower, causing it to look remarkably like a heart dripping blood. There were also a few bees frequenting these flowers, despite the cool temperatures. However, as it is near the construction site, there is still a fine layer of thin dust over everything. Several of the plants here are not doing as well as these bleeding hearts.

Bush Park-9-26-08

Time: 1638-1700

Date: 26 September 2008

Climate: about 76 degrees

Location: walking around Bush Park

I just woke up from a nap and decided i needed some fresh air, so i decided to take a walk around Bush Park.  I like Bush Park because even though it is very close to campus, it still feels like you're getting away for a bit.  Sometimes i see other willamette students here and a lot of sports players on runs but usually it is pretty secluded, at least the few times i have been here it is.  It is very pretty, and i came across the rose garden today which was so beautiful.  it reminds me of a garden near my house in Philadelphia that my friends and i would go to and watch concerts at.  The roses are so nicely colored.  So many different shades of pastel colors.  I could not pick a favorite because each one makes me think of something different.  For instance red roses remind me of the cliche valentines day "love" roses.  Pink and Peach remind me more of a get well soon flower.  But peach also reminds me of easter, and happiness which i like.  I like them all though.  This garden reminds me of some place that my mom and grandmother would have taken me and my sisters to when we were little, or more like dragged us to.  But now i appreciate these types of gardens.  

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa98/Lcacique/bushrosegarden.jpg

http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KSLE/2008/9/26/DailyHistory.html?req_city=NA&req_state=NA&req_statename=NA

The Star Trees! 9-25-08

Time: 1013-1029

Date: 25 September 2008

Climate: 57 degrees F, sunny, calm air

Location: The Star Trees and facing the capital

I decided to take a walk before going to the gym and walked to the Star Trees.  The Star Trees are huge, bigger than i had remembered. But maybe that is because i rarely stand directly next to them.  When i look up all i see are limbs and branches of the tree along with the overtaking color of hunter green.  I like the star trees a lot because they are so fascinating.  They are huge and powerful trees that somehow make a star at the top.  Every time i look at the star i wonder how anyone ever thought to do that and who would figure out that if they are strategically placed in a certain spot it would make a star at the top.  This is such a clever idea.  It really adds something special to the campus.  The Willamette campus is interesting in that it has so many hidden secrets to it.  For instance, the Japanese Garden and the Botanical Garden.  Willamette also has the mill stream.  All of these things are so special to campus especially when you're a new student.  You really realize how much the campus can shape your view of the beauty of the school. The campus is beautiful but now that i have come to love all of these points of campus when i think about the campus they are the first things that come to mind.  When i think of the mill stream i think of hanging out and eating lunch outside with friends and watching people get thrown in.  When i think of the japanese garden i think of how lovely it is to do work there outside and be completely undisturbed.  I love the botanical garden and when i think about that i think of taking walks either alone or with friends and just enjoying the scenery.  And the Star trees are just special.  They are something that no other campus has and that is very special.  

http://www.2librarians.com/family/willamette/StarTrees.jpg

http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KSLE/2008/9/27/DailyHistory.html?req_city=Salem&req_state=OR&req_statename=Oregon

Exploding flowers

Observer: Estella Yee
Date: 09-26
Location: Alleyway between Olin and Collin
Time: 1442-1500
Weather: 65˚F, sun clouded over, hint of rain?

Looking for more squirrels to feed the leftover peanuts to, I wandered toward the Japanese Garden. I found several juncos near the east side of Collin's. Dark heads and brown bodies hopped about the shrubs, but as I got closer each time, one would warble excessively. Could it be a warning call to the others nearby that there was a stranger in the vicinity? Their flight path was interesting, they’d glide downward slightly and the flap furiously upward in order to alight on the next tree. I noticed a few fully bloomed yellow flowers shaped like crocuses and held up by a slender stalk, similar to a crocosmia. To the west of Olin's were a startling species of flowers. Their flowers shaped like three wrinkly bulbs congealed into one blossom. The buds themselves were relatively small; less than ¼ inch. The yellow-orange color made them appear diseased almost. The spikes were about 4 inches long and the plant itself 2-foot tall. The blades of leaves were yellowing. Surrounding the border flowers were shrubs similar to the one I found on the 24th, with sprays of tiny yellow green flowers. An eastern grey squirrel climbed the shrubs and nibbled on a few, but finding nothing continued on to sit on the chain link fence for a while, perhaps considering whether it would jump or take the time to dash around the fence. It opted for the later. It was even more cautious in crossing the narrow concrete walkway, standing first on its hind legs to consider me, peered at me from the side, and then sprinting off into the underbrush.

Out for a walk-9-24-2008

Time: 2243-2301

Climate: about 50 degrees, a bit windy

Date: 24 September 2008

Place: Bellevue Street 

So i am walking southeast down Bellevue Street towards Sparks Field.  I needed a break from my studies so i decided to talk around.  While i was walking i noticed hundreds of pine cones that had not been there a few nights before.  I noticed they were from large trees that tower over the hedges surrounding the tennis courts.  They are so much bigger than i had expected for trees merely along the outskirts of a parking lot.  The trees had long pines as opposed to leaves.  The fallen pines were brown and covering the ground in a layer and in some spots it was about 1-cm thick of dead fallen pines.  The pine cones were all over and it made me wonder what these trees are.  After trying to figure them out the closest that i found to their physical attributes would have to be the Ponderosa Pine but for some reason i do not think that is right.  I took one of the pine cones to take back for further research but i had no such luck.  

I begin to look around and notice that i cannot see any stars in the sky and the ones that i think i can see are so faint that they might as well not be visible.  It is sad because even though i am from such a big city i can still see hundreds, thousands of stars most nights.  Here it is almost too overcast to see them every night.   I love to look at the sky.  Whenever i can see the stars i try to locate the north star just so that everywhere i go i can find it.  But it is definitely not visible in plain sight tonight, unfortunately... 

http://www.weather.com/weather/pastweather/hourly/USOR0304?stn=0&when=092508

Tyler Starr: 9/26, Mill Stream North of Goudy

Tyler Starr

26 September 2008 from 1215 to 1230

Location: North bank of the Mill Stream just to the north of Goudy

Weather: 57 ̊ F, partly cloudy, no wind

General: The squirrels are out in full force today—there are four of them around where I’m sitting. They must sense that the weather is beginning to get colder. They keep alternating between foraging for acorns up in an oak tree and for fallen acorns on the ground. One specific squirrel, when it finds an acorn, runs across the pavement to the bushes next to Smith/Fine Arts and buries its find. Another buries its acorns right next to the tree where I am sitting. Many acorns rain from the tree where the squirrels are jumping around. Another squirrel sits on the ground and picks up the acorns that fall. Many of the acorns fall into the stream as well. The squirrels jump from tree to tree, and often walk on very thin branches that don’t appear that they would be able to support any weight. One squirrel right now is walking on some of the thin branches directly over the Mill Stream. I can definitely believe what Dave was telling us, that evidence shows squirrels often fall, seeing all of these squirrels jumping around on the trees. More leaves are beginning to fall from the trees as well, and some more leaves have changed, although the vast majority of trees and leaves are all green still. There weren’t too many other animals out at this busy hour. The squirrels seem to be one of the only animals that aren’t frightened off by all of the bustle of an awake campus.

Invasive moss?

H.R. Waller
Date: 25 September, 2008
Time: 2000
Location: The WU Crew boathouse
Weather: Chilly, 62 degrees, overcast.
Today at the boathouse, I took extra notice of the green, sticky blanket of moss spread over the water surrounding the house and dock. It wasn't obvious anywhere else on the river, only in places where there was a structure protruding onto the water. In the crevase between the boathouse and the shore, the entire surface was covered in green. It's strange how this plant doesn't need any soil to thrive like it does. I wonder if it causes any harm to the river life? Also why is it only close to the shore, and not floating along in the middle of the river? It is thick enough to support various bits and pieces of other flora that have fallen into the river, and then have stuck in place, held by the mossy substance. It gives the appearance of a thick soup with many different ingredients poking out everywhere. The individual pieces of clover-like leaves that make up the mossy substance hold onto each other as if forming a defensive unit against an enemy.

Revisit to the Smullin's side wall

Observer: Estella Yee
Date: 09-25
Location: North side of Smullin
Time: 939-958
Weather: 57˚F, overcast (Is it going to rain today?)

I thought to visit the site of where I had first discovered some dark-eyed juncos. I hadn’t seen them around for some time. Sure enough they were still there, hopping about the trees and shrubbery near the wall. I caught sight of one that had landed on the rail, but unfortunately, it had seen it and flew into the bushes. A particular shrub that I noted seemed similar to a magnolia tree. Its leaves were dark green and arranged radially, however, many were turning colors and falling yellow on the ground. The leaves grew in a circle about buds, which were predominantly green but the edges were slightly crimson. Others had already blossomed and dried out. The petals had fallen on many, leaving only stamens and pistils. The trunk of the shrub was extremely contorted with mosses covering in patches. The dark brown bark was flaking and roughed the exterior. A small fuchsia plant grew underneath, with magenta drooping blossoms but the height was much less than the others on campus that grew in the full sun. While I was watching though the juncos escaped to a nearby oak tree. At that moment, I noticed that I was being watched from above by a lazily soaring bird of prey, perhaps a red-tailed hawk.

Autumn: 23 September 2008

Rose Dickson

23 September 2008

1631 – 1709 hours

On the bridge between Smith Auditorium and the Library on Willamette University campus, Salem, OR, USA

68 degrees, clear skies

“And the leaves that are green turned to brown,

And they wither with the wind,

And they crumble in your hand.” Simon and Garfunkel

            Sitting on the Willamette University campus, I am in awe. The changes I have observed in just a few weeks really hits me as I listen to one of my favorite songs by Simon and Garfunkel, Leaves that are Green. My ear picks up their harmonious voices, as I begin to see that what they are singing of is right in front of my eyes. Everywhere I look, the ground is littered with leaves of red, brown and yellow; autumn is here. I look at one leaf in particular; it is decorated with each of these three colors so intricately, that I can’t help but see it as an incredible piece of art. These are the details in nature that amaze me.  I could work on a drawing or painting of this single leaf for weeks and still never be able to replicate the intense detail in which it possesses. I am stunned by the ease at which you can find beauty in nature, all it takes is opening your eyes. I pick up the leaf and take it back to my dorm; I have found a new piece of art to decorate my room.

Strange Plant Life

H.R. Waller
Date: 25 September, 2008
Time: 0951
Location: On Millstream, facing the UC across the river.
Weather: Mostly sunny, brisk, 58 degrees

Although I have observed from various locations on the millstream, this is my first from this particular location. It's strange how different everything looks just from shifting to another side of the river. As I sit on this hard, wooden bench, I notice a variety of strange plants on the bank in front of me. I find myself wondering why there are so many random types of flora all over the campus. There seems to be no theme, no rhyme nor reason to the types or number of plants in all of the various locations of random flora patches. This patch consists of tall, bright yellow flowers that look like daisies, with their round, brown lobes surrounded by golden petals. There are also a bunch of short, green shrub like things, a grassy looking plant with long slender leaves and a height of no more than a foot, and a very peculiar short tree, purpleish in color, no taller than 3 feet. It's leaves are very skinny, palmately compound, and toothed. I wish I knew what it was, and why there are no others like it on campus.

I wonder how many gingkos are on campus...

9-24
1604-1621
South of Goudy, northwest corner of Brown Field
Walking in the rain, I didn’t expect to see much, but lo and behold, I had located yet another gingko tree. I think I’ll make it my goal this semester to locate every single gingko on campus. This one was much older than the one in front of Montag; it was about 150 feet tall, 2foot diameter about trunk, with leaves that seemed slightly lighter in color. More leaves had fallen on the ground. The grey bark held deep furrows, and a dirty shoe was sitting negligently at the trunk’s base. Dark mosses grew along the branch joints. There was a slight bend toward the west, which grew more pronounced at the apex. The angle though, was much less than the younger one. This tree was surrounded by 5-foot tall shrubs. A rhododendron had elliptical leaves of a shiny green. Trumpet shaped flowers had already wilted and dried out. Flies continued to land on the leaves despite the rain. They were of a curious grey color of a house fly. One had a marvelous iridescent green shell and was larger in comparison to the other flies. Sadly, before I could register more about its appearance, it flew away. Small nymphs continued to buzz about the air, dodging the raindrops. I have always wondered about what would happen when a fly was hit by a raindrop. Would it drop due to the force of the water? Would it fall to the ground and die? While I was pondering this, three brown birds flew low over campus directly in front ofhte north side entrance of the Putnam Center. They seemed to have longer necks than the regular passerine, but I couldn't see much more than that.

Birdhouses in every tree...

Observer: Estella Yee
Date: 09-24
Location: North of Goudy and the west section of the Mill Stream
Time: 1104-1120
Weather: Overcast, 63˚F

Two swallows swooped over the Mill Stream while I was heading past Doney. Eastern grey squirrels passed the street and began digging in the grass for hiding places or food. One squirrel near the shore was digging with quick, furious strokes. I watched its muscles twitch and back arch, then as its torso surfaced, its movements lessened to only barely moving the front arms. It dug near the base of a 60-foot tall tree. Its leaves were ovate, with clumps of moss covering the branches. It had a thick trunk of smooth, whitish brown bark, and odd cracks near the base. The fruits were the most curious. Some hung in thin, tapered clusters about ¾ inches long. The green tiny horned shaped ones had other green, more elliptical and full fruits nearby. Similar to small pinecones, the rough sides had ridges. Blackened ones had opened up, exactly like miniature cones. A birdhouse named “PARISH” was tossed carelessly up onto the lower branches. Some of the longer branches had been sawed off to probably minimize the width of the tree. Ten-foot shrubberies surrounded the tree. Most had smooth dark-green leaves. Clusters of flowers were light green but the open flowers were dry and brown. The trunks were thin and straggly, arranged basally around the base. Yellow jackets were present about the grasses, along with a dragonfly and small nymphs or flies. Seeing the weather, it’s probably going to rain today…hopefully not too soon.

Trees from afar.

H.R. Waller
Date: 24 September, 2008
Time: 1407
Weather: colder, cloudy, 54 degrees.
Location: on the east side of Kaneko, looking across the street ( to the west).
Sometimes when observing art, it is necessary to take a step back and enjoy the whole picture. Because this is true for art, I figured it may also apply nicely to nature. This is why for today's field observation I decided to observe the trees across the street from Kaneko. I am standing on my balcony on floor 3 east, and surveying the wide variety of enormous trees across the road. They all are taller than the houses in between them, and each one is of a different variety. Some are taller than others and more conical shaped, while others are more rounded and squat just above the rooftops like fat giants guarding the houses from harm. I wonder who made the decision to put the trees in between the houses like that? How are they sure they wont one day fall and crush the house? I also wonder how much taller they are going to get. Where these trees found naturally, since these ones were obviously put here deliberatley. Together all the abundant tree and plant life makes the view from up here much ore interesting and welcoming.

Tyler Starr: 9/24, Mill Stream in front of the UC

Tyler Starr

24 September 2008 from 1215 to 1230

Location: The southern bank of the Mill Stream just to the north of the UC

Weather: 65 ̊ F, 5-10 mph wind, partly cloudy, with a strong sun

General: There were 4 trees in front of me that were particularly striking. I had not really noticed them before. They were large, perhaps 60 feet tall conifers. They looked very similar to the Star Trees, so it is possible that they are the same type of sequoia. Their branches ripple with the wind, and the entire tree even sways mesmerizingly. The wind is also causing the water to move fairly quickly through the Mill Race. I heard 2 crows cawing from atop Smith Auditorium, and I also saw 3 fly over me headed toward the east. I also heard the Western Scrub Jay’s screeching call coming from the direction of the Quad. It seems like the crows and Scrub Jays are all over the place these days. Once again, I do not see any of the mallard ducks, but oftentimes they are off in the shade at this time of the day anyway. A 2-inch dragonfly is darting across the lawn and the stream. More signs of fall are appearing. Tons of leaves are floating down in the wind from the trees, and there seems to be more color changes every day. Tons of leaves are drifting down the Mill Stream. Fall is approaching…

Cherry tree? Sadly, no...

Observer: Estella Yee
Date: 23 September
Location: West of Bistro, South of Goudy
Time: 948-1004
Weather: 49˚F, brisk, scattered clouds, partly sunny

Near a tripartite blue Opening Days board, this 50-foot tree resembled a tall version of the huckleberry shrub. The bark was light brown and ashen grey in color. On the trunk were a few horizontal bands of tiny dark dots, forming a ring about the diameter. Many of the lower branches have been sawed off, leaving circles of dark wood that decorated the entire column. Six trunks branched off from the ground, creating a small niche where leaves and spider webs accumulated. Two long strands of webbing dangled from the branches. A small offspring, 1-foot high, grew next to its parent, nearly flush with the latter’s trunk. The shiny, dark green leaves were elliptical and slightly serrated. A few of the leaves nearer the trunk appeared nibbled on by pests. Clusters of dried flowers hung limply, arranged like a catechin. They were orange or yellow, but there was no clue as to the color of fresh blossoms. Surrounding the few flowers though were a profusion of ½ inch berries. They were slightly elongated, with a small sharp bump at the base of the berries. They hung individually, one on each twig. Most were a dark maroon, but a few were still bright scarlet. One or two looked like rainier cherries; they were crimson on top and faded into a pale white on the bottom. I wonder if they’re edible? I hadn’t found any birds feasting on them as of yet. A few leaves have fallen onto the chunky mulched ground. Even fewer berries had fallen onto the sidewalk to form a mess of goo. Behind me, an American crow had landed and grabbed at a morsel that someone had negligently tossed aside. It curiously pecked at it in the inch high grass and appeared to bury it. Moments later, it began a series of cacophonic caws, all aimed toward the NE. it would shout by dropping its jaw and pulling its head back simultaneously, then walk slightly forward and repeat its process. I had no idea as to what it was directed at or whether it was merely a call to inform others of food.

Hooray! I found it :)

Observer: Estella Yee
Date: 22 September
Location: SW of Montag, North of Writing Center
Time: 1432-1456
Weather: 61˚F, brisk, sunny day

After scouring the campus for a near week, I finally found my allusive tree. Returning from the side of the campus along ΣΑΕ, I peered around the carefully maintained landscape, looking past a one-foot tall plant that appeared somewhat like a woolly mullein, with spikes of vibrant yellow. Giving up my search for the day, I was suddenly hit by the sight of an inconspicuous looking tree. It was about 20-foot high and 10 inches in diameter around the trunk. The trunk possessed a light tan brown color with veins of a pale red running vertically. At the base of the trunk, the tree appeared to have begun growing straight up, yet the current position of the tree creates a 60˚ angle with the ground, pointing toward the West. It most likely followed the sun as it grew. The slender limbs shot upward in an exponential curve despite the arc of the trunk. The leaves were the most unique and the prime capturer of my immediate adoration. They were fan shaped! The young tree could only be the gingko. The single fronds had parallel venation that radiated from the stem. Likewise, the leaves were arranged on the branch in clusters. Along the edges of the leaf was a golden hue, and as the sun rose behind the tree, one could see the leaves clearly defined by a halo. The only question is whether this one was a male or female. The latter would bear the distinguishing aromatic seeds that are currently clamed to have memory boosting affects. I wonder when the leaves would drop. Would the phenology be similar to the rest of the deciduous trees?

A different type of fall.

H.R. Waller
Date: 22 September, 2008
Time: 1015
Location: Across form Hatfield Library on the patch of grass before entering the chicken fountain area.
Weather: Cool, blue skies, 58 degrees.
Lately I have been noticing that the leaves are beginning to change, one of the telltale signs that the bittersweet fall is creeping upon us. However, today walking back from class, I spotted a tree that had shed a plethora of its leaves, but instead of the usual goldens, yellows, and oranges, all the leaves were shades of pink and light purple, a beautiful but strange sight. Its trunk is about as wide as my arms. They fit around it in a comfortable hug. The tree is very tall and branchy, the bark white and brown. The leaves are arranged randomly and are large. They are round at the bottom, and then turn into palmately lobed shaped at the top, only there are three lobes rather than the typical five. The tree stands opposite the Mark O. Hatfield Library, just to the south of the building. Upon walking away from the area, I couldn't recall any of the other plants in the surrounding area, because the pink and purple veil the tree had layed out on the ground in front of itself was so distracting and interesting to look at. The (alive) leaves are bright green and look like any other leaves on the rest of the trees, so I'm curious as to why these ones turn a much different color? Is it composed of different sugars?

Tyler Starr: 9/22, Northwest Corner of the Quad

Tyler Starr

22 September from 0949 to 1006

Location: Under the westernmost horse chestnut tree on the northwest corner of the Quad.

Weather: 55 ̊ F, no wind, mostly sunny

General: Many birds are active at this hour. As I walked over to the Adirondack chairs where I wanted to sit, I noticed 2 crows hopping around. As I got closer, they flew up to the tree immediately above where I was sitting, so I got a very close view of them (see picture). They then flew up to join a third companion on top of Collins. For the rest of the time I sat there, the crows were flying around, cawing from time to time. I got a good view of a blue bird; I believe it was a Western Scrub Jay. It was sitting on top of the entrance to Doney, repeating its screech-like “kwesh” sound. Another one flew by back behind the Star Trees, and the one atop Doney followed it. They were back by the Star Trees for a few minutes, as I could hear their calls. One came back for a brief moment and perched on the horse chestnut tree, but it was behind a large branch so I could not get a picture. They are a bright blue color, with a white underside. I also saw two chickadees in a Douglas fir by Goudy on my way over to my spot. They weren’t making noise, but I happened to look up and see them. Apparently I got to my observation sight just in time. At about 1000, two large trucks came to take down the large tents that were set up on the Quad. They were very loud, and all of the birds left. The crows flew away to the north, and one flew southeast over Smith Auditorium. The Scrub Jays stayed over behind Collins and Olin. One bird I didn’t see today that surprised me was the mallard ducks. It is a nice cool temperature, and usually they’re out in the Mill Stream at this time, but I walked all along the Mill Stream and didn’t see any of them.