Himalayan Blackberries

This sketch was the start of an experiment that I hoped would last a month or two.  I've noticed that the Himalayan Blackberries that grow in my yard seem to be on steroids.  They literally grow by leaps and bounds.  Blackberries have three methods of propagating:  by seed, root, and by runners.  Runners are extra large canes that leap out of the patch, grow long, and eventually touch ground where they send down roots.  I decided to see just how fast one blackberry cane can grow.  I tied little twisties on it in three places and measured carefully.

Three days later I measured again.  No growth along established cane, but the tip had grown 6 inches in three days!  (15.2 cm)   Hmmmmm!  No wonder I have difficulty keeping my blackberries pruned back.

On day six I went out to measure again ...... but my cane had been nipped off!  There were deer dropping in the area, so I suspect one of them is the culprit.  I'd already pruned off all my other runners so my experiment came to an untimely end.

Over a hundred years ago fruit growers introduced Himalayan Blackerries  to the West Coast of the United States.  Since then then have grown wild in western Oregon and have become a delicious, but invasive nuisance.

Early Early Autumn Treasures

Early Early Autumn Treasures, a photo by Teri DC on Flickr.

I found these early autumn treasures while walking and decided they would make a nice subject. The leaf and acorns are from an oak tree; some acorns are capped and some caps are empty. Many of our oak trees are suffering from oak blight so it was good to find these.

OWL EYES

Owl - Bubo bubo - watercolour on Fabriano paper

this owl lives in the wildlife rescue center in the Abatino Park in Poggio San Lorenzo (Rieti) Italy

Hydrangeas

Here in Perros Guirec, the city of Hortensias, the hydrangeas have never been so beautiful.  The colours this year are richer than ever before, I wonder if the upside down weather we've had this year has anything to do with it?  This lacecap is one of my favourites with lovely blue flowers peeping shyly out from her big green leaves!

Wild Mushrooms

Wild Mushrooms, a photo by Teri DC on Flickr.

I found these wild mushrooms under some bushes and their artistic nature called to me. I don't know their name but I know they are not edible but they are sure a thing of beauty in nature.

Japanese Lanterns--Paula

I had a huge crop of Japanese Lanterns (Physalis alkekengi) in my garden this year. It's so much fun to use orange paint! Actually, I mixed it because there were several different shades.

Japanese Lanterns are also called: Chinese Lanterns, Ground Cherry, Husk Tomato, Winter Cherry and Jerusalem Cherry. This perennial comes from southeastern Europe and Japan. It gets it's name from the distinctive color and shape of the papery husk, which resembles a Japanese Lantern.

The plant grows up to two feet tall, producing white, 5-petaled flowers in mid summer. The flowers give way to a light green, lantern-shaped husk with a berry inside. Dried, they are wonderful in arrangements. I currently have about a dozen stems in a glass vase and it's stunning. As it matures, the husk turns a bright orange-red color and turns papery. As it decays, it becomes brown and lacey, showing nothing but the veins and the single seed inside. In Virginia, it can be rather invasive in the garden.

IMPORTANT: The unripe berries and the leaves of Japanese Lantern plants are poisonous.

Tomatillos and Japanese Lanterns are both members of the deadly nightshade (Physalis) family, as are tomatoes.

Heermann's Gull

Midsummer brings an odd little gull, the Heermann’s gull, to the Oregon coast.  Adults have beautiful white heads, bright red and black bills, and a lovely warm brown body.  They just don’t look like gulls!  

They are also odd in that they go south to the Gulf of California and Mexico to nest, and fly north after nesting is finished.  Late summer and fall is spent as far north as southern British Columbia, Canada.  

Their big name came from an even longer one.  Heermann’s gulls are named after Adophus Lewis Herrmann, a nineteenth century explorer and naturalist.  

Each summer I look forward to these quiet gulls turning up along our coastline.  

My page of leaves complete

This is my assignment 3 for the SBA distance diploma course.  I am now busy at work with the page of flowers for assignment 4.

Spam comments will be removed and reported

Hi all...just wanted you to notice the new note in our intro in the sidebar at right.  I won't tolerate spammers here, people who make a generic comment and then tout their business.  They'll be removed and reported.

Blogger catches most of them, but not all, so if I miss one, dear readers and correspondents, please let me know. 

Thanks--I now return you to your regularly scheduled sketching!

Kate