Natural History Wanderings

Two New Wildflower Reports from Oregon Wildflowers

Crescent Mountain – Western Cascades 7/21/12

It’s a good time to visit Crescent Mountain! Based upon what I saw today, I think that the meadows should look good for another several weeks. There were still many flowers on the way. However, this will not a be a stellar year for bear grass (Xerophyllum tenax)… I only saw two specimens blooming.

Blooming in the forest: LOTS of bunchberry (Cornus pumila), thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus), western white anemone (Anemone deltoidea), candyflower (Claytonia sibirica), vanilla leaf (Achlys triphylla), Pacific bleeding heart (Dicentra formosa), valerian (Valeriana sp.), queen’s cup (Clintonia uniflora), foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia), woods strawberry(Fragaria vesca), western columbine (Aquilegia formosa), spotted coralroot (Corallorhiza maculata), western coralroot (Corallorhiza mertensiana), western starflower (Trientalis latifolia), and some arrow-leaf groundsel (Senecio triangularis). Prince’s pine (Chimaphila umbellata) starting.

Blooming in the meadows: LOTS of bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum), lupine (Lupinus sp.), arrow-leaf groundsel (Senecio triangularis), tall bluebells (Mertensia paniculata), western columbine (Aquilegia formosa), Menzies’ larkspur (Delphinium menziesii), harsh paintbrush (Castilleja hispida), Oregon sunshine (Eriophyllum lanatum), Subalpine mariposa lily (Calochortus subalpinus), yarrow (Achillea millefolium), pink owl-clover (Orthocarpus imbricatus), Cardwell’s penstemon (Penstemon cardwellii), Cascade aster (Aster ledophyllus), and cliff penstemon (Penstemon rupicola) near the summit.

Horsepasture Mountain –  Western Cascades 7/21/12

 Road 1993 is blocked by a land slide 5 miles from horse creek Rd. You will need to come from the Cougar Res. Side. Penston, Columbia lily, Western Wall Flower, Tiger lily goats beard and columbine.

See all the reports from Oregon Wildflowers at: http://oregonwildflowers.org/findreport.php