Final Journal Entry
6/7/12 (Final Journal Entry and Final for Exam)
So my assigned location was 122.25242400000 for longitude and 47.54968800000 for latitude. Using findinglatitudeandlongitude.com, I thought I would be better able to find this location. The web site recommended that I go to 4701 24th Ave NE, Seattle, WA. Though, this place did not exactly have my assigned coordinates. It was closer than what I could have hoped to have gotten to completely on my own. The location was in an apartment complex that had these coordinates: N 47.66368 and W 122.30172. There was light precipitation outside and it was about 55 degrees fairenheit outside.
Looking at my surroundings, I realized there was a surprising amount of ‘natural history’ here. The first thing I noticed was this tree. It probably is not native to this area, but it led me to wonder…who would plant it? Why? I sought to identify this tree. It had opposite branches and also appeared to have some decay. It was also growing some sort of fruit. Apples, perhaps? It felt like the texture of what I know to be an apple. This tree was standing amidst ivy. Its branches also appear kind of jagged, almost contorted. It’s really cool! I also noticed a spider web growing out from a piece of decaying bark. There was also moss growing on the bark of this tree. I think I even spotted lichen, which surprised me because lichen don’t grow well in polluted environments. So perhaps, this apartment complex is a lot cleaner than one may initially expect.
There are a lot of birds here. I just spotted the silhouette of one on a power line. While here, I’ve seen crows perch on this same power line. But based on my observations, they are not the only type of bird to do so.
As I ventured further into the parking lot of this apartment complex, I spotted another tree. Its trunk had split into 2. This led me to wonder if such a physical trait were more common for some trees than others. And, just how common was it for this tree? What was this tree. Since it was growing cones in clusters, I knew it was a type of conifer. But what kind, specifically? The bark felt tough while also being a bit flaky. It also appeared to have an alternate branch pattern. At the bottom of the main trunk, there was a hard substance attached. It makes me ponder…a type of lichen?
It was here that I picked up on the sound of crows as well as the high pitched chirping of a bird. This chirping sounded like a mouse squeaky toy. Compared to that sound, a different bird almost sounded to be singing: cheery-cheeey~chee..che
There was one other bird sound I heard: be-be-be-be. Again, I have no idea which birds are making these sounds! But now I’m able to pick up on the different sounds. Before this class, I naively thought most birds made the universal cheep cheep sound. How wrong I was.
Regarding the second tree I attempted to examine…the cones appeared to be slender.
Right next to this tree, there was a third one that had some leaves looking an unhealthy yellow—possibly due to pollution? From another perspective, some of the leaves looked yellow…and brown like a ripening banana. The size of these leaves aren’t exactly big, but they do have an aspect of tropical luxuriance.
It should also be noted that the last two trees mentioned seemed to be growing out of the rocks.
Now walking a little bit into the Burke Gilman Trail, I can hear activity up in the branches. The swishing and twitching of leaves from a squirrel or bird? The surrounding trees in this area appear to be broad leafed.
But interestingly, on one side of a tree, no leaves are present on three of the branches. What could have happened? Could it have been due to the power line put in place 20 feet away? Or, the constant movement of bicyclists? Like all the others, I struggle identifying this tree. Its leaves are flexible like paper, with the top part feeling smooth and just a little soft. The ‘vein’ can also be felt on the back. I wonder if any birds use this type of tree for anything? Or, insects?
Speaking of insects, the next plant I found was covered in holes. It looked like something had been eating them. A beetle, perhaps? Actually, there are holes in two different types of plants that are located right next to each other. The leaves of one appear ‘more tropical’ than those of the other.
But for the plant covered in holes looking less tropical, it may be fruiting! Though, they could be seeds. Most were yellow, while a few other dangling ones were red—but are they red first or yellow first? The red were all in clusters, while the yellow were also in clusters of 2 or 3, but some were hanging by themselves. Do they just fall to the ground once they’re yellow? I could not find anything on the ground, though. Can humans use this plant for anything? How did it get here?
There’s something else growing along this trail. It looks potentially to be a type of weed. Or, grass?
Next, I think I’ve found butter cups! But, I’m not touching them. If I recall correctly from the forbs tour, they should not be ingested by humans or touched by them. The petals of this flower really give off such a sheen. Leaves of other plants surrounding this one are covered in holes, but not the butter cups! Are the leaves of this flower harmful to some insects, as well?
Ok, this next plant is probably one of the most fascinating I’ve ever seen. There’s this plant that appears to be covering part of the slope of the trail that has spikes all around these fuzzy looking budding flowers. What’s really interesting to note, is that as these flowers start to bloom they look to be covered in some type of ‘visible ooze.’ Some parts of the leaves of this plant may have been slightly dampened from this secreted ‘ooze.’ Due to my having no knowledge of this plant, I refrained from touching these flowers. But, this was a fascinating new plant to really examine. The buds are all white. At first, I thought it could be cotton—which is ridiculous. But something about it from my peripheral vision made me think that way. This plant was a great way to finish off a fun exploration of an apartment complex that led into the Burke Gilman.
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