Yachats! Part Two - Cape Perpetua

So this was actually day one, we went on a nice hike to Cape Perpetua:

We saw these "Indian Pipes" or "Ghost Plants", Monotropa uniflora.  At first we wondered: Fungus or Plant?  I have been learning more about parasitic plants lately... there are so many varied ways of "doing life" in the natural world, it is quite eye-opening.  So it turns out that these are in the family Ericaceae, like Heather, Blueberries, Manzanita, etc.  The interesting thing about these is that they parasitize fungus!  They lack the ability to photosynthesize on their own, hence their lack of chlorophyll and lack of green coloration.  Their host fungal species are all members of the Russulaceae family.  Indian Pipes have one flower per stem (hence "uniflora") and are pollinated mostly by bumblebees.  Because they don't require sunlight to get energy they can grow in dark forests, commonly associated with Birch trees, but I suppose also any trees that are hosts to Russulaceae family fungus.  These specimens were among Hemlock and other conifers.

Later on we also spotted a shrimp-looking peach-colored specimen.  iNaturalist identified this one as Monotropa hypopitys aka "Pinesap", a related species.

This stretch of trail received some insanely strong winds 2 years ago during the devastating wildfires that swept Oregon.  These winds drove from the East westward, which is the opposite direction than these trees were accustomed to withstand, so many were knocked over.

I happened to be leaving Yachats the day after those winds in September 2020.  I will never forget that 17 hour drive home, making multiple detours to avoid highways closed by fires.

Observing bird calls.  I learned to identify the Varied Thrush (sounds like a referee blowing a whistle) and the Swainson's thrush (an ascending flute-like call that seems to spiral off)

Unknown cute star-shaped flower:

We saw a number of these perspiring mushrooms.

Big Bad Banana

Ever since reading a book my Dad gave to me called "The Wild Trees", I have been excited by canopies of old trees like redwoods and other conifers which are their own habitats for various plants and animals.  These habitats require older, larger trees which have platform-like surfaces near the top that over the years accumulate organic matter enough for plants like ferns and huckleberries to root into...

This tree is flexing some muscle, or impersonating a Saguaro Cactus!

Amanita in July

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Back at the house it was time to relax and check out the property while a pot of "Whipple" beans simmered on the stove.

The foxgloves seemed to reach record height this year on the Oregon coast due to all the late rain they received.  Fortunately, the gloom gave way to bright blue skies the week of my visit! 

Almost as tall as the Big Leaf Maple across the river!  😁

Playing with reflections / dried artichoke blossom.

Water is falling, but the river is slowing down now that the rains stopped.

Almost time for a haircut.  The Baboon of "Baboon Beach"

Their dogwood tree was completely coated in blooms. 

Aahhhhhh, that's nice.