There typically was a passageway between the little clump of trees you see on the right and the forest on the left. Sid set out to clear the passageway from various blockages on a fine Sunday morning when he discovered a decimated yellow jacket nest that had been dug up by a skunk or racoon (?). A number of the unhoused yellow jackets took offense and attacked! Sid was stung 7 or 8 times on the back. He felt a reaction setting in, so he epi penned himself, texted Diana and Sandra, and drove to Philomath urgent care. A steroid shot and an oral Benadryl dose later, the doc released him to his sister’s care. Here he is, showing Diana and Bill where the event took place.
As long as we were all here, Bill and I helped Sid finish clearing the passageway.
I sent the top photo to Extension and here is the reply:๎จน To:You Tue 10/10/2023 11:01 AM Dear blakney1, here’s the response to your question:
I suspect that is resin from branch stobs. A longer one is quite obvious on the right side of the picture but does not show the white resin, and I believe the star like pattern is a result of other stobs not exposed as well but still resinous. Branches are major invasion courts for wood decay (heart rot) fungi, and therefore, the tree will pack branches with resin to prevent invasion. If you sliced off another inch, you might see the other stobs to confirm.
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While Sid finishes mowing the far field, Diana continues the war against blackberries.
This leaning tree poses a risk.
Not anymore!
Oh oh! This duo is a bigger project.
Remember the hole I fell into? No longer safe for vehicle traffic, this temporary roadblock should cause Ranger riders to turn around.
Remains of a large underground yellow jacket nest. Skunk or racoon work. Bill got stung on the ear by one of the disgruntled yellow jackets.
Large mushroom found in the middle of the new forest road that bypasses the hole I fell into. I couldn’t figure out what kind. (Added comment: with the help of a fellow Benton Small Woodlands Association member (Dave H.) it has been identified as an Amanita calyptroderma.
Amanita calyptroderma also known as coccora, coccoli or the Pacific amanita,[1] is a white-spored mushroom that fruits naturally in the coastal forests of the western United States during the fall and winter and spring.
This mushroom’s cap is about 10โ25 cm in diameter, usually orange-brown in color (but sometimes white),[2] and partially covered by a thick white patch of universal veil. It has white, close gills.[3] Its cream-colored stalk is about 10โ20 cm in length and 2โ4 cm in width,[2] adorned with a partial veil. It has a partially hollow stem (filled with a stringy white pith), and a large, sacklike volva at the base of the stalk.[2]
The spores of this species, which are white,[2] do not change color when placed in a solution of Melzer’s reagent, and thus are termed inamyloid.[3] This characteristic in combination with the skirt-like annulus and absence of a bulb at the base of the stalk place this mushroom in the sectionCaesareae.
This mushroom occurs in conifer forests,[3] forming mycorrhizae with madrone (Arbutus menziesii) in the southern part of its range (Central California northwards to Washington). However, in the northern part of its range (Washington to southern Canada), its preferred host is Douglas fir(Pseudotsuga menziesii).
Experienced mushroom hunters regard this mushroom as a good edible species,[4] but caution must be exercised when collecting A. calyptroderma for the table, since it can be confused with other species in the genus Amanita.[2] This genus contains some of the deadliest mushrooms in the world, most notably A. phalloides and A. ocreata.
Taking advantage of the beautiful fall days, Sid and helper Bill attach the mower to Miss Tym the tractor so Sid can start mowing the big field across the creek.
It has been a few years since the far field has been mowed. Bill and Diana began chopping down obstacles to the process. Trust me when I tell you it will take several years of effort to beat back opportunistic tree and blackberry growth.
The septuagenarian workforce is only good for an hour or so of chopping at a time.
When poison oak turns red, it is easy to spot!
There are two small areas where last winter’s blowdown created places to plant. This is one of them.
FSC stands forย Forest Stewardship Council, an international non-profit founded in 1993. It helps protect the worldโs forests from unethical and illegal logging. The FSC is a voluntary program through which forest management and chain-of-custody operations can pursue certification. During the certification process, an FSC-accredited Certifier (independent of the FSC and the company being audited) will assess the operation. If it fits the FSCโs criteria for sustainable and ethical management, the operation will receive certification. Shiver River has been FSC certified for many years. The photo above is a new sign indicating the certification.
Native grass seeds recommended by Steele Acres will be spread on the entry hill to the farm. At 15 pounds per acre, the seed being spread is 35% California Oatgrass; 35% Roemer’s Fescue; and 30% Blue Wildrye. We bought 30 pounds to cover the bulk of the 3.25 acres.
Forbs (flowers) next. For the sides of the entry road, we used the following mix from Steele Acres: 36% Achillea millefolium ssp. occidentalis; 27% Eriophyllum lanatum; 37% Prunella vulgaris ssp. lanceolata.
For the edges of the road that now circles the base of the hill the farmhouse sits on: 9.1% Clarkia amoena ssp. lindleyi; 9.1% Geum macrophyllum; 18.2% Gilia capitata; 5.5% Lupinus polycarpus; 9.1% Potentilla glandulosa; 9.1% Sidalcea virgata; 18.2% Dwarf poppy; 9.1% Delphinium menziesii; 12.7% Erysimum capitata.
Yet another patch of Scotch broom located! Not to mention blackberry vines attempting to annoy our little trees.
Shane, one of our farm foresters, was out prepping two sites cleared when we had the winter blowdown. We will plant some Doug-fir seedlings this winter. The sites were too dry for Western red cedar. Bianca never misses a photo op!
A small tree fractured and fell over the Rock Creek forest trail. Lucky for us, Mike the woodcutter was going to be stopping by that afternoon.
Mike cut up the big log (aka the widow maker felled by Shane the logger a couple of months ago) and also the little one. Forest roads are unobstructed for the moment!
Back from our farm patrol, Bill and Diana spot Alex and Sid putting up siding on the Annex.
The pad for a temporary housing mobile is in place.
The cistern is ready to accept rain from the gutters.
Nice clear path behind the bushes and (gulp) in front of the honey bee house.
Sid used the dirt scoured from other projects to level the shared entry between the Annex and the farmhouse.
Sid and Sandra got all the firewood in the firewood shelter. Amazing!
It has been awhile since Kevin A. put his feet back on the ground (instead of in his plane) and made plans to move some dirt for us. First, he’ll level a spot for the temporary housing unit. Next, he’ll level the spot where the firewood storage will be (near where the woodpile is now).
The Loop trail didn’t require much trimming, but Bill and Diana did their best to ensure safe passage.
Sid and the Ranger are always at the ready for a rescue. Ask Diana … she knows.
Bill rests after the Loop hike. Why is he dressed as if it is winter? Don’t ask me.
Nice little bistro set for gazing out onto the landscape.
Luna is unpredictable. Sid approaches her with caution.
Bill relaxes just prior to realizing he is seated right next to the Mason bee house!
