Native Aster

Pacific aster can be used in wildlife or pollinator enhancement plantings, native prairie restoration, meadow gardens, and erosion control or critical area plantings.  Its deep, extensive, fibrous root system can help stabilize slopes.  Native aster species (including Symphyotrichum spp.) are good late-season pollinator plants, providing a critical pollen source for bees active in the late fall, including new bumble bee queens building up their energy reserves before winter dormancy.  They also serve as nectar sources and host plants for checkerspot and crescent butterflies. 

 

Many Little Green Acorns

These are so cute.

 

Lady's Tresses

These 2 are near my entrance. 

These 2 are at the crossroads by dead end trail.

Happy to find this one that I transplanted a couple of years ago.

It is under the arched stump.

These are the 3 by the nursery log. 

They have bloomed for several years now. 

Nice twist starting on this one by my entrance.

Beautiful twist on this one by owl tree. 

These pictures were taken 7/25/26.

Last one to open - 8-1-26 by owl tree.

Waxberry

I found this little shrub near chocolate lily corner.

It had many tiny white bell like flowers.

This is a berry.

I can't find a good article about this plant.

They all say it is a snowberry. 

I posted on WNPS FB and got lots of responses and likes. 

Bill Swartz - 

Five species in the Pacific Northwest. Only close examination to the flowers gets to species. In the Northern Intermountain Region, S. albus is facultative wetland and S. occidentalis is facultative upland. Popping the berries can be great fun.

Meg Meyer -  ·

Compare to S. mollis- creeping snowberry.

Adrienne St. Clair - 

yup, many suggestions point to creeping snowberry as opposed to common snowberry--the reddish hue to the thin stems that arch a bit, the smaller leaves, and the fact that it was in an oak remnant.

Gaultheria hispidula, commonly known as the creeping snowberry or moxie-plum, and known to Mi'kmaq tribes of Newfoundland as manna teaberry, is a perennial spreading ground-level vine of the heath family Ericaceae. It is native to North America and produces small white edible berries.

Creeping snowberry is rare at the southern end of its range. It is state-protected in Connecticut, Idaho, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

The genus Gaultheria was named for Hugues Gaultier, a naturalist and physician in Quebec in mid-18th century. The Latin name hispidula refers to the bristles on the stem and leaves.

Took this picture 7/20/26.

Piperia Orchids

There are many at the top of the dead end trail.

These look really healthy.

I also saw blossoms on the new ones across from bench nearby.

Mu favorite piperia today, 7/20.

Orchids-Lady's Tresses and Piperia

This one is the prettiest Piperia I've ever seen. 

Five Lady's Tresses

The tops are showing a twist.

Brodiaea

Got a few opening.

These all have cluster flower heads. 

Several patches.

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A large patch at the triangle.

Rose Spirea - Hardhack

Many bushes around retention ponds.

 

Beaked Hazelnut

I'm finding many beaked hazelnuts in the bush at entrance.

Landscapers took off the long branches but I found these on the inside of the cut branches.

Ocean Spray

 
This is the older bush.

These young ocean spray plants have fresh looking flowers.  

Ninebark Shrubs

These are ninebark by alley on June 4.

Saw white flowers across reservoir so found a total of 8 around the reservoir.

Some are across reservior.

Some along alley today.

Some planted, some natural.