Saltwater State Park (May 11)

Date and Time: May 11th, 10:00am
Location: Saltwater State Park, Des Moines, WA
Weather: Partly cloudy, air is moist
Soil Conditions: Very moist and damp

Saltwater State Park is about 87.4 acres of land on the Puget Sound, covered in luscious timber and plants. Saltwater State Park is also a campground with fifty two campsites along side the McSorley Creek. This place is very unique as it is by the water and it also has hiking trails through jungles of stinging nettles. And what's great about it is that it is so close to home, basically in your back yard, yet, when you hike these trails you feel as if you are out in a remote area, untouched, and 'wild' as ever.

Today, I decided to walk a small trail in Saltwater State Park and when I was doing this, I noticed the plants around me were very green, untouched, and plentiful. Although, the trail was very muddy and I nearly fell on my bottom a couple of times, I loved this trail. As you walk this trail you can't help but notice the smell of saltwater lingering in the air. I like the smell of fresh air and air by the water. Anyway, back to the trail, the understory of this park was rich, there was an abundance in sword ferns and lady ferns. I know that these were sword ferns and lady ferns because sword ferns are the most abundant ferns in the Pacific Northwest. Sword ferns are single-pinnate, with the pinnate alternating on the stalk, with bundles of ferns sticking straight up from the base like a sword. The tips are slightly bristled and serrated and under each pinnate, the sword ferns produce light yellow spores. As for the Lady fern, they are very broad in width with short rhizomes. The spore clusters are curved and long and the leaflet pairs alternate. Saltwater State Park is a great place for ferns to thrive because sword ferns love the understory of moist coniferous forests at low elevations. Sword ferns are very tough plants as they can withstand occasional dry periods. But their optimum growing conditions are consistent moisture, light sunlight, and cool weather, however not overly hot weather conditions. As for the Lady fern, they favor moist to wet forests, swamps, streambanks, and wet meadows and because Washington State fits this description of the perfect habitat for ferns, they thrive in locations across the Pacific Northwest. If you are hiking around the Pacific Northwest, chances are you will see an abundance of these prehistoric looking plants.

Posted on 04 June, 2012 20:55 by ballev