RHH's photos with the keyword: goose rock

These fungi, Red-banded Polypores, are so common in our area that we seldom stop to photograph them. They are often found with these secretions, however, and that always makes them more interesting. I've tasted the secretions (these fungi are not poisonous) and they are completely tasteless as far as I can tell. That fits with the explanation given below. The process of producing these drops is called "guttation." A friend here on Ipernity, Fizgig, explained it thus: "This is a great example of a process called Guttation --- a term used in botany to describe the process by which plants excrete excess water through drops from their leaves. For some mushrooms, like the Red-Banded Plolypore, this is so common that it is a reliable identification feature." This example was photographed at Goose Rock in Deception Pass State Park.

This photo was taken from Goose Rock, a prominent feature on the north end of Whidbey Island and shows the island stretching off to the south with the Olypics across the straits. The open area on Whidbey Island is the Oak Harbor Naval Air Station. ronaldhanko-orchidhunter.blogspot.com/2013/05/orchid-hunting-on-fidalgo-and-whidbey.html

These are the flowers of the Giant Rattlesnake Orchis, a very common species here in the northwest, so common that we rarely even stop to take pictures. This example was photographed at Goose Rock on the north end of Whidbey Island, overlooking Deception Pass. nativeorchidsofthepacificnorthwest.blogspot.com/2012/10/t...

I posted one of two similar Piperias yesterday. Here is the other. The difference between the spurs is immediately obvious. This one, the Flat-spurred Piperia, has a spur (nectary) that is straight and horizontal. Though its colors are similar to those of the Long-spurred Piperia, the two flowers are very different on close examination. There are actually five Piperia species in Washington and the differences between them can be seen at the link below. nativeorchidsofthepacificnorthwest.blogspot.com/2012/10/w...

A few more photos of the Piperias at Goose Rock and then I'll move on to other things. These are the Flat-spurred Piperia, so-named not for the shape but the horizontal position of the spur or nectary. This nice group was photographed at the top of Goose Rock where they grow everywhere. ronaldhanko-orchidhunter.blogspot.com/2012/09/clayton-bea...

This was photographed at Goose Rock on Whidbey Island, but I have not been able to identify it. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks to Antonio Terra for identifying it as Dyer's Polypore, Phaeolus schweinitzii. ronaldhanko-orchidhunter.blogspot.com/2012/09/clayton-bea...

Piperia elongata, the Long-spurred Piperia, is another of our native orchids, this example photographed at Goose Rock, near Deception Pass. The plant can be and in this case was around two feet tall and flowers around an inch in size. The nectar can be seen in the long, semi-transparent spur, that is the distinguishing feature of the flowers. By the time the plant flowers, the leaves, which lie close to the ground, have withered away. This species is often mistaken for Pipera transversa, which it does resemble in color and flower shape, but that species has a spur that sticks out horizontally and is usually a smaller plant than this species. Both bloom, though, at the same time of the year and often in the same area, so it is not surprising that they are confused. They were both blooming at Goose Rock when this photo was taken last summer. nativeorchidsofthepacificnorthwest.blogspot.com/2012/09/g...

Photographed at Goose Rock last summer, this is the very common Giant Rattlesnake Orchis, but the reticulated-leaved form. The species is so common that we rarely even stop to look or take pictures, but do stop when we see this beautiful form, which is much more uncommon. There are photos of the plain-leaved form at the link below, and the second photo here shows the flowers of this species. nativeorchidsofthepacificnorthwest.blogspot.com/2012/10/t...

Another of the native orchids that grows at Goose Rock, this one photographed along the trail to the top. There were a lot of these, but most of them just a stem or two. This large clump was one of the best examples we've seen. ronaldhanko-orchidhunter.blogspot.com/2012/06/whidbey-isl...

This is the view looking to the southwest from the top of Goose Rock. This is just under 500 feet above sea level and the land stretching away into the distance is Whidbey Island with the Straits of San Juan de Fuca shown also. The lake in the foreground is Cranberry Lake (also shown below) and in the distance where the coast curves in is the Whidbey Isalnd Naval Air Station. The granite balds, a feature of Goose Rock are clearly seen in the foreground, though there were not a lot of wildflowers blooming on the balds this late in the year. As I write this, I have my coat on, ready to leave to do some exploring around Deception Pass and Goose Rock. ronaldhanko-orchidhunter.blogspot.com/2012/09/clayton-bea...

One more close-up picture of the Long-spurred Piperia, photographed last summer at Goose Rock. There were only a few of these, while Piperia transversa, the Flat-spurred Piperia, was everywhere, but that is what we have experienced elsewhere. This species is far more uncommon than the other similar species. ronaldhanko-orchidhunter.blogspot.com/2012/09/clayton-bea...

Not the greatest shot. It was taken later in the day when the light was not very good, but I wanted to post it for two reasons. It shows the Olympic Mountains half-hidden in the clouds, and it shows a jet fighter coming in to the Naval Air Station just above the water. The view is of the west coast of Whidbey Island stretching away to the south with the Naval Air Station in the open area in the curve of the coastline. ronaldhanko-orchidhunter.blogspot.com/2013/02/pass-island...