McConnell Lake Nature Hike
On a late June day, I paddled McConnell Lake (two loops), then hiked the lake trail, taking my time and observing the plants, insects, birds, and trees along the way. Some of the route had deciduous forest, some of the route had douglas fir forest, one side had lodgepole pines, and some of the open areas had mixed forests with shrub growth. The south side was all on a north-facing slope with damp conditions.
Shared here are some flowering shrubs and flowering or seeding forbs – black twinberry [shrub] (Lonerica involucrata), baneberry [Actaea rubra), false solomon’s seal (Smilacina racemosa), star-flowered false solomon’s seal (Smilacina stellata), and coltsfoot (Petistates frigidus sp.).
Click an image for a lightbox view and a caption.
Also shared here are more photos of the species noted above, but also silky lupine (Lupinus sericeus), meadow rue (Thalictrum occidentale), bunchberry (Cornus canadensis), Robbins milkvetch (Astralagus robinsii), and small-flowered penstemon (Penstemon procerus).
Some points of interest:
- Two of the plants listed above are toxic.
- Two of the plants have edible berries.
- Two of these plants are in the pea family.
- Two of these plants are in the lily family.
- Can you identify which ones?
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