Natural History Wanderings

Oregon Wildflowers has a new report for The Dalles Mountain Ranch

 The Northwest Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza deltoidea) is at its peak, not only at The Dalles Mountain Ranch but along the road and throughout Columbia Hills State Park. The hills are covered with swaths of yellow!

The Columbia Gorge Lupine (Lupinus latifolius var. thompsonianii) is blooming along the road, but has not really kicked in within the State Park boundaries.

Also blooming are: Yakima Milk-vetch (Astragalus reventiformis), Slender Popcorn Flower (Plagiobothrys tenellus), Pungent Desert Parsley (Lomatium grayi), Slender-Fruited Desert Parsley (Lomatium leptocarpum), Bare-stem Desert Parsley (Lomatium nudicaule), Prairie Star (Lithophragma sp.).

Blooming at higher elevatons toward Stacker Butte are: Harsh Paintbrush (Castilleja hispida), Hood’s Phlox (Phlox hoodii), Upland Larkspur (Delphinium nuttallianum), and Lance-leaf Spring Beauty (Claytonia lanceolata).

See older reports and photo links at:  Oregon Wildflowers