Early July 2024
Pacific Northwest
Things are pretty quiet by the seashore at this season here, so the oceanspray in the title isn’t referring to waves but rather a widespread shrub in these parts. It’s in bloom right now, and the sprays of tiny blossoms look like surf breaking on the shore — hence its name. I see it on my daily walks, along with what else is active currently.
Oceanspray, Holodiscus discolor:
It is of special value as a pollinator plant for native bees and butterflies.[8] It is also a larval host to Lorquin's admiral, pale tiger swallowtail, and spring azurecaterpillars.[9]
Historically, the plant has been used by Indigenous peoples for many purposes.[10]Raw and cooked seeds were eaten,[11] and leaves were mixed with those of other plants and boiled with small game animals.[12] Many tribes used the wood and bark for making tools and furniture. Noted for the strength of its wood, it was often used for making digging sticks, spears, arrows, bows, harpoons and nails. The wood, like with many other plants, was often hardened with fire and was then polished using horsetail.[13]
Comox natives use oceanspray when flowering as an indicator of the best time to dig for butter clams.[14]
(Wiki)
A phenology report for early July in the PNW islands:
Some bee in the blossoms
Bumblebee with full pollen baskets
There seem to be fewer bees and pollinators in general though this summer. Others on the island are saying the same. Some possible reasons:
- cold wet stretches in spring
- excessive spraying last year to control tent caterpillars
- excessive pest spraying overall
Whatever the reason, it’s not a good sign.
Lorquins admiral on the road. Their larvae feed on oceanspray foliage
Douglas spirea (above) and Snowberry (below) also in bloom
Thimbleberries are ripening
Salal berries have another month at least
Watering somewhere in my garden is nonstop during this dry season, which will last until October. Thankfully we had enough good downpours in winter in spring so there’s lot of rainwater in the catchment tanks. Watering always draws hummingbirds who like to bathe on the wing.
Watering a herb bed
Juvenile Rufous hummingbird — hard to catch on the wing
Also hard to catch in a photo: swallows foraging over a nearby pond. These are Violet-wingeds but Barn swallows also feed here. Canada geese families use this pond too.
A Roughwinged swallow perches for a moment near the sand/clay bank by the shore
White crowned sparrow catching Sand Wasps amidst the spent Sea Thrift
Lots of fledgling activity right now. The baby ravens call incessantly. Finches, grosbeaks, thrushes, wrens, woodpeckers, sparrows annd such are out and about.
Family of Oregon juncos with fresh fledglings. Mom and dad were around, demonstrating how to feed but not actively filling the beaks of the two juvs
One of the fledglings
☀️
Sunny and dry the Pacific Northwest islands. Temps in mid to high 70s, which is hot for us. Calm wind.
What’s up in nature in your neighborhood?
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