It’s About Time – February 2020

February is a month that leads us into a new season. My mood gets increasingly positive when daylight creeps into the window earlier and earlier. The increasing day length affects when flowers begin blooming. In the past, mid February marked the time when the first flowers appeared in Willamette Valley woodlands. We have traditionally expected osoberry and spring beauty flower buds to open at this time. The bloom time seems to be changing. The past two years first flowers of osoberry opened on Feb. 6 and 7. This year osoberry was in full bloom by Jan. 25. The abundant rainfall this past winter coupled with very little freezing weather is an obvious reason. However, it is difficult to ignore that the trend is a symptom of global warming.

How this affects the animals at the Delta Ponds is also evident. Chorus frogs are getting ready to start their breeding concerts. The initial, weak croaks will soon burst forth into their full-throated choir. Waterfowl are establishing — or re-establishing — their pair bonds. Mating dances are taking place in ponds and waterways.

The leaf out and blooming of the understory flora is dramatic. Almost as prominent is the flush of growth of all plants that grow mostly in the rainy season. Mosses will threaten to overtake grass in your lawn unless the lawn is given a fertilizer boost. Mosses and lichens are growing very fast on tree branches. Moss capsules are emerging. Tree ruffle liverworts are spreading their mats of braided strands.

David Wagner is a botanist who has worked in Eugene for 40 years. He teaches moss classes, leads nature walks and has published his 2020 Oregon Nature Calendar. It is available at Down to Earth in Eugene or by contacting him directly at fernzenmosses@me.com.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!