Y ~ Yew , Taxus brevifolia

The Western Yew, Taxus brevifolia, is a scarce tree in our local ecology.  When timber harvesting was widespread, the yew was seen as a junk shrub/ tree and simply of little value and in the way.  The Yew were pulled down to allow easier access to the preferred timber trees.

Native peoples made very wide use of the shrubs.  The wood was very hard and durable and was perfect for carving.  It would smooth and polish up well and could be made into any useful item imagined, even fire tongs.  The berries were eaten in small quantity and the needles were used for smoking.

In recent years the investigation of the alkaloids in Taxus species led to the discovery of the anti-cancer drug Taxol.  The Taxus species of Europe contain higher concentrations of the alkaloid taxine.  There was a bit of excitement during the time after discovery and before large scale chemical ( artificial) synthesis. Some people planted Pacific Yew as a potential crop for the pharmaceutical industry.  Pacific Yew contains low levels of taxine, so I am not sure there would have been much of a return for investment.  It is still possible to find web pages encouraging the plantation of Yew and the potential for good income.

F ~ Fern

Fern


Ferns are a very large and ancient family of vascular plants, well represented in the environments around the state.

One of my favorite ferns is the Licorice fern, Polypodium glycyrrhiza. Licorice fern will grow on rocks and in the trunks and limbs of trees, usually Big-leaf Maple. Mosses usually share the surface and become the soils for the fern. The under-surface rhizome, from which the fruiting fronds arise do taste like licorice. They were used and chewed for their flavor and can be steamed, scorched or taken raw. Occasionally I will grab on and give it a chaw. It always produces a slight cough and tingle. The effect is heightened by our cold damp air. When my throat gets raw and irritated from being in the elements, Licorice Fern rhizome does the trick.

Ferns were widely used by native people for

Fern served as a multipurpose household item.  Wrapping and covering food for storage and preparation, wiping fish and stuffing mats were just a few of the useful ways this bountiful plant was used.  Children of the Makah played an endurance game with Sword Fern fronds.  They would pluck a leaf and say the word "pila".  The one who could pluck the most leaves on one breath was the winner.

?u'lal

Saturday, I attended an interesting presentation on Cattail reeds at the Mercer Slough Nature Center. This facility is shared between the Bellevue Parks and the Pacific Science Center. Located just south of the downtown core, along the freeway it exists as a preserved area of rare environment.







The facility is beautiful and blends into the environment. The original education center was a house moved to the property years ago. The new buildings hang on the hill and there are walkways and viewing towers.

Filed with light and wood, the floor was stunning.

When Lake Washington was lowered as a result of digging the Ship canal, several native habitats were lost. Sloughs and marshes were waters from the creeks and streams ran into the river were lost and diverted. The whole Black River, which connected the Cedar to the Duwamish disappeared. The Cedar was channeled through a canal to the lake. The Mercer Slough is being protected as an important habitat for plants fish and wildlife. It is also the location of the settlement Sah tsu khal.

There has been historic settlements on these waterways for thousands of years. The Duwamish people inhabited settlements at the slough all along Lake Washington, Lake Union and the Black River and the Duwamish rivers. The clan was powerful, controlling commerce and transport of goods coming in from over the mountain. Chief Seattle was a member then leader of this tribe. Duwamish means "People of the Inside"

Much of the culture was centered on the use of both fresh water and salt water resources. The Lake People used the resources of Lake Washington , Lake Sammamish and the large rivers. Canoes of different types were made. Small canoes were used to maneuver in the calm waters and rivers, handy for getting into low water marshes. Larger salt water craft were for rougher waters and the long distance travel across and north and south along Puget Sound.

Tom Speer began the presentation with a welcome dance and song from the youth group and many member adults joined in. He then told the story of Little Silver Salmon.

Now is the time for this story since Silver Salmon go upstream when the Big-leaf Maple leaves fall. Here is an image of part of the story in Lushootseed and English. Tom told the story in both languages.

There was discussion of the use of cattail reeds for weaving. These mats formed the walls within the longhouses which were homes for extended multi-family groups. During the summer the population would become more mobile. They moved throughout the region working the land for harvesting and trade. Their houses were portable pole structures with the reed mats serving as walls and ceiling.

Mary Lou Slaughter was present and she demonstrated her craft of weaving and clothing production. Cattails are harvested in the late Summer and early Fall. Fine reed ends were stripped and formed into twine. The reeds are woven in a familiar fashion to make baskets.

The mats are made with a technique that is more like sewing. The reeds are laid long ways and a long wood needle was used to pierce through the reeds. D"Ann , an apprentice weaver demonstrated.

A cord was drawn though to bind the reeds together. A grooved mat presser, which matches the dowel, presses the reeds to prevent ripping.

Mary Lou is holding a bundle of reed twine she had worked on. Notice her shirt and the caption. Lushootseed for cattail, it is today's title.

Bark and abalone hat

Mary Lou was working on this Reed Vest

This shows you the needle part way along, the traditional double headed reed presser and the previous row and cording.

There were other items presented. I loved the cod fish lure. It is about eight inches long.

The little graphic shows how it works. Pushed down into the depths and let go, the whirling lure catches the fishes attention and draws it upward.

You can learn more here http://www.duwamishtribe.org/ about the tribes history and their current struggle to gain recognition.

Here you will find information on the Lushootseed language. Not having the proper program to type the font used in this language , our title today is the best I can do to write "cattail" in Lushootseed language.

www.native-languages.org/lushootseed.htm

Nice Weather for Ducks

When presented with the options of where to wander this weekend, I have to look to Professor Mass and his wonderful weather blog. It shows that one has the option of rain, or rain and wind. I have a desire to explore Washington Park, up in Anacortes, but the thought of dealing with both wind and rain kept me close to home. Here there is only rain and it is a bit easier to be in it for over an hour.

Jay is doing well in his first week of work. I knew it was too good to be true that all would continue fine. Yesterday I found he had lost a shoe and of course it would be from the front hoof. He let me know that precious, delicate ponies should not have to work in soft footing with one shoe missing. It causes "Oh So Horrible Pain" in tender toes. Personally I think he knew I did not write a check this week to pay someone who sees to his every needs and I was getting off easy. Poor rusty put upon steed. No matter, it is tempting to rush a rehab when it is going well. A day off will not make a great impact and might just benefit.

I chose to stick close to home and visit Juanita Bay Park. This little park , just north of downtown Kirkland, can yield some pretty good bird sightings. I figured on a day like this there would be fewer folks out. This allows sneaking up on those good birds that are hard to find most days.

Thing is, those birds figured no one is dumb enough to be out in the rain. They might as well stay in bed.

It is a pretty little lake edge wetlands. Forbes Creek, which drains much of North Kirkland has overspilled its banks and the marsh was nicely full of water. Even though there were plenty of cars driving up Juanita Drive, the rush of the creek almost drown out the car sounds.

There is a very nice set of signs telling of the local native peoples and their community names. I learned that I was born and raised in the community of Skahtelbshab(u)sh near the place called Suhteecheeb. Now I live in the community of the s'Tsahpahbsh , meandering river = Sammamish River.

Here at Juanita Bay there were varied resources. Fishing and duck hunting plus edible plants and roots to harvest. Cattails were not only used for their rushes to make fiber objects but the roots were eaten. The information kiosk said women dug up the cattail reeds by working their feet down into the roots and pulling them up. I suspect those women did not have big brothers who filled them with stories of fish that would eat their toes off or dragonflies who suck blood.

This Kingfisher didn't trust me to come close and only returned to her perch when I was far away.

A good sized flock of Wood Ducks were on the beach at the north end of the park. The males are about the most beautiful of our native birds. During nesting season you will find them in trees in marsh complexes. Wood Duck nest in woodpecker holes and when the ducklings hatch, that first step is a doozy. At the urging of their parents they launch from the hole and fall to earth, bouncing off their still chubby breast. They have quite a bounce when they land and seem no worse for wear.

I only lasted about 2 hours in the rain. Scotchguard goes on my shopping list as my favorite coat seems to have lost its protective ability.

Atkowchug (Lake Washington) showing why we drink so much coffee and read so many books.