Deception Pass State Park on the Coast Salish Sea (Skagit)

For some 13,000 years, Whidbey and Camano Islands have been inhabited by the Indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest – the Coast Salish Peoples including Snohomish, Lower Skagit, and Kikiallus tribes.

Included on Whidbey Island is Deception Pass State Park, where we went camping. We started by looking for some place that we could camp because it is increasingly challenging to find campsites close to home. S remembered Deception Pass as a campground he went to many times as a kid and thought “hey, let’s see if we can still camp there.”

I looked it up and found the reservation system and 6 months later we put some stuff in the back of the car and then drove to the US border. We sat at the US border while for 40 minutes while S needed to pee. A very very very thorough border guard cleared us in 10 seconds, which made us question what the heck was happening with all the cars in front of us. We drove and we shopped for firewood and we drove some more and we shopped. We ate some Mexican food. And finally we checked in and set up camp. 

Journey

Maps

Campsite

Beautiful campsite with lots of shade from the western red cedars and grand firs around us. Lots of gorgeous greenery from the various plants and shrubs.

Beach

Deception Pass Bridge

Cranberry Lake

Oh, hi, it’s me.

Sunsets

S, while recalling sunsets.

“We’d walk down to the beach to watch the sunset. I always found that so boring. As a kid going to watch the sunset it’s so boring to a child.”

Now as adults, both of us bask in the ephemeral beauty of sunsets…

Campfire

S: “In the evenings, Dad would sit out by the campfire. Campfire bonding moments between father and son telling stories about the olden days.” 

He paused looking at the fire in front of us that he was stoking.

“It gives a better appreciation of human’s relationship with nature and how simply we can live on basic survival equipment and live a simpler, more detached existence. Of course, we’re still dependent on fuel for our stove or potable water from the taps, but it still is a shift from our daily life. Camping connects me to nature. We’re cosplaying the post apocalypse.”

Journey Home

BUT WAIT…. THERE’S MORE!

Notes from all of the plant IDs are from the app PictureThis – Plant Identifier 

ARBUTUS

Pacific madrone Arbutus menziesii

Pacific madrone is an evergreen tree whose distinguishing feature is its copper-colored bark that when mature naturally peels away from the trunk of the tree. After the mature bark peels off in sheets, it leaves a smooth, satiny surface that is silver-green colored. The pacific madrone produces flowers in spring, followed by berries in autumn.

DAISY

Common daisy Bellis perennis

The common daisy produces iconic flowers that are seen in European and American folklore dating back centuries. It is often a representation of childlike innocence. The plant is edible and can be used in small quantities in salads, sandwiches, soups, or tea. However, it can also become toxic and cause digestive problems if eaten in quantity.

SALAL

Salal Gaultheria shallon

Salal (Gaultheria shallon) is a plant species native to western North America. Salal is commonly associated with the Western poison oak. This plant’s leaves and berries are edible. The leaves and berries can function as an appetite suppressant and are often included in jams and pies.

FERN

Western swordfern Polystichum munitum

The Polystichum munitum, western swordfern, or Pineland Swordfern grows in large clumps resembling the top of a palm tree. Dark green fronds grow three to six feet tall. This North America native prefers part to full shade and moist soil.

WESTERN RED CEDAR

Western red cedar Thuja plicata

Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) is a cedar tree species native to the western United States. Despite its name, the western red cedar is not considered a true cedar. Instead, it belongs to the Cypress family. This species is commercially used to make decks, siding, and the soundboards of guitars.

SALMONBERRY

Salmonberry Rubus spectabilis

Salmonberryis a shrub growing to 1.02 to 4 m tall. It is known for its fruit, which bears resemblance to a raspberry. This plant earned its common name due to the fact that these berries were traditionally eaten by Native Americans with salmon or salmon roe. The taste of the berries themselves is somewhat bland but depends on the climate and site of growth.

THIMBLEBERRY

Thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus

Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus) is a dense shrub that grows to 2.5 m tall. Clusters of showy, white flowers blossom from May to July, attracting bees for pollination. Berries form on thorn-less stems and turn from pink to deep red when fully ripe. The edible berries are rich in vitamins A and C.

GRAND FIR

Grand Fir Abies grandis

Grand Fir (Abies grandis) is a towering evergreen tree native to the American Pacific Northwest. The softwood lumber is useful for papermaking and the citrusy foliage scent makes Abies grandis a popular choice as a Christmas tree. The tallest recorded specimen in the wild is 81 m tall!

INDIAN PLUM / OSOBERRY

Indian plum Oemleria cerasiformis

Indian plum (Oemleria cerasiformis) is a small shrub with purple bark. This species grows in sunny locations and sparsely in shady areas. In the springtime, clumps of white flowers appear on the indian plum. Following the flowers, this plant produces a peach-colored fruit.

NOOTKA ROSE

Nootka rose Rosa nutkana

Nootka rose (Rosa nutkana) is a plant species with the Latin name “Nutkana” which refers to Nootka Sound, a west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. This waterway got its name from a tribe that once inhabited the area. This species is also called “Bristly Rose.”

HERB ROBERT

Herb Robert Geranium robertianum

Herb robert (Geranium robertianum) is a plant species that can be found growing naturally worldwide, including in Europe, Asia, North America, and North Africa. The common name references Robert of Molesme, a Christian saint and herbalist from the 11th century. The herb robert gets one of its nicknames, “Stinking Bob,” from the scent that the leaves emit when crushed; it’s said to be similar to the smell of burning rubber!

TWINBERRY HONEYSUCKLE

Twinberry honeysuckle Lonicera involucrata

Twinberry honeysuckle (Lonicera involucrata) is a flowering plant native to North America. It is commonly planted as an ornamental plant in large gardens. Its berries are historically used to make ink and some bears are known to eat them. According to different publications, its berries are described as edible, unpalatable, or even poisonous. So for safety, don’t eat its berries.

SILVER LUPINE

Silver lupine Lupinus albifrons

Silver lupine (Lupinus albifrons) is a perennial shrub lupine species native to the western coast of the United States. The silver lupine grows along the coastline, in forests, meadows, and prairies. This plant grows best in well-drained soil when it has an established root system. It is cultivated as a wildflower.

RIBWORT PLANTAIN

Ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata

Ribwort plantain grows in a number of different habitats as long as it has enough sunlight. Its leaves have characteristic parallel veins that make it easy to identify. The heads of ribwort plantains get popped off in some common British children’s games. Its seeds are critical food sources for songbirds, and its leaves are eaten by rabbits and deer.

SCOTCH BROOM

Scotch broom Cytisus scoparius

Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) is a perennial shrub that commonly grows in Europe. Scotch broom is also referred to as the “common broom.” The plants grow in sunny areas in dry soil and can withstand acidic soil conditions.