IT’S ABOUT TIME
BY DAVID WAGNER
T
CASCADES FROG,
RANA CASCADAE
his must be nature’s designation of the Year of the
Nut. Filbert trees all around town have an
abundance of swelling husks. When growing
close to the curb, nuts are being knocked off their
branches by passing trucks and smashed on the
street by subsequent traffic. Squirrels and crows
leap out onto the street to snatch up the soft, as yet unripe,
meat of the seed inside, what we call a nut. Walnuts are also
showing a major crop, especially the Turkish walnuts, in
abandoned orchards and back yards. This means lots of little
walnut seedlings in flower beds next spring, planted by
squirrels this fall.
Mountain meadows are full of wildflowers and butterflies.
Butterflies are as fun to watch with binoculars as birds. It’s
important to use binocs that focus up close, so their beauty
can be fully appreciated.
The dry spring seems to be holding the mosquito level
down in mountain meadows. The rapidly shrinking ponds
have tadpoles with legs. They need to metamorphose quickly
or perish!
Where there are permanent streamlets in high mountains
fed by cold water springs, one may see native frogs in the
quiet pools. Most common is the Cascades frog. It is not a rare
species but recently observed declining numbers are a cause
for concern. Two sources of the decline are suspected. One is
increased UV radiation from the sun. The other is the spread of
parasites by trout planted in high mountain lakes. Effects of
global warming are yet unknown.
David Wagner is a botanist who has worked in Eugene for more than 30
years. He teaches nature drawing and moss identifi cation classes. Visit his
website: fernzenmosses.com
The going’s easy in summertime…
Mural tour by bike.
Saturday, August 17th at 10 a.m. a free 2-hour
tour begins at “Oak Savannah” mural across the
street from Ninkasi Brewing, 3rd and Van Buren.
Details at facebook.com/arriving.by.bike
ÓÇäxÊ7>iÌÌiÊ-ÌÊUÊx{£°{n{°x{£ä
Mon.–Fri. 11–7, Sat. 10–6, Sun. 12–5
eugeneweekly.com • A ugust 8, 2013
9