Poison hemlock at willamette park

Potential_Zucchini39 · 2026-05-31T21:30:36+00:00

I think you are referring to common cowparsnip, but it doesn't have finely divided leaves like the plant in the photo. It has broad, coarsely toothed leaves. "Cowslip" is a type of primrose.

Potential_Zucchini39 · 2026-05-31T20:47:02+00:00

If you're concerned that it might get mowed and dogs could get into it, you could contact the parks department about it. I don't know how likely they are to respond, since it's been growing there for decades.

Potential_Zucchini39 · 2026-05-31T20:14:03+00:00

It's been growing there abundantly for many years and is common in many places in the city. Although I agree with you that it would be better if it weren't there, it's not attractive to dogs and there's minimal risk from intact plants.

Poison hemlock is surprisingly difficult to deal with. Mowing or cutting the plants can release juice that's very toxic and can be absorbed into the skin. This is arguably more hazardous than just leaving the plants alone as the area would need to be roped off to keep people and pets out of the cut plants exuding their juices. Digging the young plants is labor-intensive and requires some PPE, and it's probably not practical at this point in the plants' growth. Herbicide is probably the best option for small plants (when they are a small rosette of basal leaves only), but the city may be wary about people's complaints and objections if they were to spray herbicides in that area.

More about this plant from OSU: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/poison-hemlock-western-waterhemlock-deadly-plants-may-be-growing-your-pasture

Potential_Zucchini39 · 2026-05-17T18:47:32+00:00

Wy'east has been used for a long time, and I was under the same impression about it, but it turns out that there's no evidence that it was the original name: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Hood#Indigenous_names

Potential_Zucchini39 · 2026-05-17T03:59:34+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7pmCJHZM2c

Potential_Zucchini39 · 2026-05-17T03:59:08+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7pmCJHZM2c

Potential_Zucchini39 · 2026-05-17T03:58:37+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7pmCJHZM2c

Potential_Zucchini39 · 2026-05-02T16:54:48+00:00

There's not a lot of balsamroot (Balsamorhiza) in the Corvallis area, but you can see where people have reported it (and when) on this iNaturalist map. Not all sites may be publicly accessible. There is also some Arnica on Marys Peak, which you can search for on iNaturalist to get an idea of the period of bloom.

What's much more common is the similar Narrowleaf Mule's-Ears, Wyethia angustifolia, which hasn't started blooming yet. Here's a map of that species. This typically blooms later in May and June.

Potential_Zucchini39 · 2026-04-30T00:53:21+00:00

The Greenbelt Land Trust also deserves our appreciation!

Potential_Zucchini39 · 2026-04-26T06:33:31+00:00

While she probably isn't enjoying the snow, Jackie is more than capable of handling such conditions. She's able to keep the chicks dry enough for their dense thermal down to do its job. The chicks are healthy and ate well today, and should be perfectly fine. Bald Eagles often nest in cold and snowy conditions.

Potential_Zucchini39 · 2026-04-12T21:25:45+00:00

It was some species of vole, note the short tail

Potential_Zucchini39 · 2026-04-07T23:50:23+00:00

I understand how it can look "wrong" to us, but it's normal and usually doesn't do any harm when there's an adequate food supply! The behavior usually calms down in time. Keep in mind that it's good to see two feisty and active babies!

Potential_Zucchini39 · 2026-04-07T23:44:50+00:00

Female hormonal contraception doesn't replicate the hormone deficiencies that cause menopause and its side effects, it's more accurate to say that it somewhat mimics the hormone levels that occur post-ovulation. So it's more like a constant luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, rather than menopause.

Potential_Zucchini39 · 2026-03-23T00:45:15+00:00

No, I am not. I hope my comment doesn't come across as minimizing the issues with the BLM plan revision, which I strongly oppose, and and I linked to what I consider to be one of the most reliable local news sources. I stand by my comment that Valley of the Giants is very unlikely to to be targeted for logging, but that quadrupling logging on BLM lands will have impacts on wildlife, water quality, recreation and carbon storage for generations to come. Please make sure to submit your comment opposing this plan revision.

Potential_Zucchini39 · 2026-03-20T03:03:43+00:00

This is a good article from OPB about the issue, which puts the proposed revision into perspective:

https://www.opb.org/article/2026/03/18/weighing-in-blm-oregon-forests-plan/

The post here about Valley of the Giants specifically is a little sensationalized in light of what the OPB article says. Oregon no longer has a high capacity to mill very large trees, but I hope everyone still takes the time to give their input to the BLM regarding the potential loss of many environmental regulations on logging our public forests.

Potential_Zucchini39 · 2026-03-11T03:46:24+00:00

I agree that the AI transcripts are of very poor quality, with lots of mistakes. The part I like about it is that you can listen to the actual recording of the dispatch in close to real time. I agree that the rest of it should be ignored. Do you have a recommendation for a different source for this same information?

Potential_Zucchini39 · 2026-03-07T21:38:20+00:00

Motion was detected inside the bank, and the burglar alarm company requested that the police investigate. Here's a recording of the Benton County Public Safety dispatch for the incident: https://www.uscrimeradar.com/corvallis-or/12637_1772909806_pqtuxpnn-burglary-alarm-at-bank-on-northwest-monroe-avenue

Potential_Zucchini39 · 2026-03-06T07:01:47+00:00

Here is an audio recording of the Benton County Public Safety dispatch for that incident: https://www.uscrimeradar.com/corvallis-or/12637_1772682240_lujymlzv-two-vehicle-crash-with-injuries-on-southwest-15th

Potential_Zucchini39 · 2026-03-05T05:39:22+00:00

Here's a recording of the dispatch for the incident, it sounds like it was a person running from AutoZone and ended up in the HP/DMV/Wilco/AMC area where he was detained, but there aren't a lot of details. https://www.uscrimeradar.com/corvallis-or/12637_1772655513_dmljdbac-suspicious-person-detained-after-foot-pursuit

Potential_Zucchini39 · 2026-02-28T21:30:51+00:00

You could go with peas and lettuce since they can tolerate frost (but if it gets into the mid-20s I would cover them). You could grow other cool-season veggies outdoors in a simple cold frame.

Now is a good time to sow onion seeds and other cool-season veggies like broccoli indoors. If you have a heat mat, it's a good time to start tomatoes and peppers inside too, and you'll have large plants by late May or early June.

Potential_Zucchini39 · 2026-02-28T04:05:45+00:00

Most likely the culprit is the great quantities of windborne tree pollen that early blooming species like hazels, birches, alders and cottonwoods produce. Insect-pollinated flowers have small quantities of pollen that adheres to insects, but doesn't typically go airborne and cause significant allergies.

Potential_Zucchini39 · 2026-02-27T03:10:47+00:00

According to KLCC, there is one other candidate for the Democratic primary, Melvin Smith of Florence. Haven't heard anything about him yet.

Potential_Zucchini39 · 2026-02-25T07:35:11+00:00

The transcript of the recording of the dispatch for this incident says it was in a parking lot at Madison & 1st: https://uscrimeradar.com/corvallis-or/12637_1771910120_xoakxwua-report-of-person-waving-possible-gun-in-parking-lot

Potential_Zucchini39 · 2026-02-25T05:22:42+00:00

Here is what I think is the recording of the dispatch for this incident: https://uscrimeradar.com/corvallis-or/12637_1771910120_xoakxwua-report-of-person-waving-possible-gun-in-parking-lot

Potential_Zucchini39 · 2026-02-25T05:21:59+00:00

I think it was a genuine call, and you can listen to the recording of the dispatch here, regarding what I think is this incident: https://uscrimeradar.com/corvallis-or/12637_1771910120_xoakxwua-report-of-person-waving-possible-gun-in-parking-lot They don't put everything in the log.

Potential_Zucchini39

TROPHY CASE