The Coquille Valley in Southern Oregon is an extremely interesting area. Located right off the Pacific Ocean, the winters are mild, summers are mild even compared to the rest of Oregon. It does get a lot of rain which makes it perfect for two things, logging and farming. While I can not find any real proof, it seems to me that loggers in this area was one of the very first to practice sustainable logging.
This clear cutted area has been logged at least three times, and very possibly four times since the first Pioneers showed up. It’s still possible to see buckboard (where boards were inserted so that loggers could cut the tree further up the trunk to get the more useable parts) marks on old tree stumps right on the side of the road.
As the valley was clear cut and settlers moved in farms sprang up all over the place. Along with the farms came the barns to house animals and their food. Many of these barns still exist. Some are well taken care of, others not so well.
The best part is that even I can still get surprised by the diversity in Oregon.
This was found by digging up under the fallen leaves. Worse, it doesn’t show up in my mushroom field guide. Yet the color is astounding and I’ve never seen anything like it.
