Natural History Wanderings

Oregon Wildflowers has a wildflower report for the Tom McCall Nature Preserve in the Columbia River Gorge:

This is a great time to visit Tom McCall Nature Preserve! The Columbia Gorge Lupine (Lupinus latifolius var. thompsonianii) is in bloom, and although the Northwest Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza deltoidea) is slightly past peak at lower elevations, it still looks good (and is quite profuse). Also blooming profusely are: Bicolored Cluster Lily (Brodiaea howellii), Fiddleneck (Amsinckia sp.), and Barestem Desert Parsley (Lomatium nudicaule).

As you climb the trail, you will see the following flowers in bloom: Upland Larkspur (Delphinium nuttallianum), Gray’s Desert Parsley (Lomatium grayi), Harsh Paintbrush (Castilleja hispida), Naked Broomrape (Orobanche uniflora), Rough Wallflower (Erysimum asperum), Miner’s Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata) and Chocolate Lily (Fritillaria lanceolata) under the trees, Popcorn-Flower (Plagiobothrys sp.), Western Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia), Heartleaf Buckwheat (Eriogonum compositum), Western Buttercup (Ranunculus occidentalis), Small-flowered prairie-star (Lithophragma parviflorum), American Vetch (Vicia americana), Common Vetch (Vicia sativa), Slender-fruited Desert Parsley (Lomatium leptocarpum), Bigroot (Marah oreganus), Ballhead Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum capitatum var. capitatum), Small-flowered blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia parviflora), Sticky blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia rattanii), Western Groundsel (Senecio integerrimus). I also saw a single occurrence of Striped Coralroot (Corallorrhiza striata).

See older reports at: Oregon Wildflowers