Natural History Wanderings

Oregon Wildflowers has three reports this past week

Mary’s Peak 6/22/14

 No lupine or tiger lilies are blooming yet in the summit meadows, but there are plenty of wildflowers to see including the following: profuseamounts of Cardwell’s Penstemon (Penstemon cardwellii) and Catchfly (Silene douglasii), Harsh Paintbrush (Castilleja hispida), Smooth Yellow Violet (Viola glabella), Cliff Larkspur (Delphinium menziesii), Spring Gold (Lomatium utriculatum), Roundleaf violet (Viola orbiculata), Early Blue violet (Viola adunca), Spreading Phlox (Phlox diffusa), Bluefield gilia (Gilia capitata), Rough Wallflower (Erysimum asperum), and Scalloped Onion(Allium crenulatum). Arrow-Leaf Groundsel (Senecio triangularis) is still present in the summit meadows but well past peak.

Cone Peak 6/21/14

Although the big meadows/rock gardens are not yet at their peak, Cone Peak looks good and should be worth visiting for the next 2-4 weeks.

Blooming in the forest: Wood Strawberry (Fragaria vesca), Columbia Windflower (Anemone deltoidea), Bunchberry (Cornus unalaschkensis), Queen’s Cup (Clintonia uniflora), Candyflower (Claytonia sibirica), Spotted Coral Root (Corallorhiza maculata), Ocean Spray (Holodiscus discolor), Pacific Bleeding Heart (Dicentra formosa), Red Columbine (Aquilegia formosa), Tall Bluebell (Mertensia paniculata), Sitka Valerian (Valeriana sitchensis), Cardwell’s Penstemon (Penstemon cardwellii), and Cliff Larkspur (Delphinium menziesii). Lots of Great Polemonium (Polemonium carneum) are on the verge of opening. Although this location is not known for its Bear Grass (Xerophyllum tenax), there is a nice patch blooming near the second switchback. No Tiger Lily (Lilium columbianum) yet.

Blooming in the two small meadows: Bluefield Gilia (Gilia capitata), Cardwell’s Penstemon (Penstemon cardwellii), Cat’s Ear (Calochortus subalpinus), Cliff Larkspur (Delphinium menziesii), Harsh Paintbrush (Castilleja hispida), Monkey Flower (Mimulus guttatus), Small-Flowered Blue-Eyed Mary (Collinsia parviflora), Small-Flowered Penstemon (Penstemon procerus), Virgate Phacelia (Phacelia heterophylla), Spreading Phlox (Phlox diffusa), Spring Gold (Lomatium utriculatum), Western Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia), Pacific Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum tenuipes), and Western Wallflower (Erysimum capitatum).

Blooming in the big meadows: profuse amounts of Meadow Death Camas (Zigadenus venenosus), plenty of Cat’s Ear, Cliff Larkspur, and Harsh Paintbrush (with more on the way), Bluefield Gilia, Monkey Flower, along with Scalloped Onion (Allium crenulatum), Field Chickweed(Cerastium arvense), Blue Stickseed (Hackelia micrantha), Oregon Sunshine (Eriophyllum lanatum), Sulphur Flower Buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum var. umbellatum), and Yarrow (Achillea millefolium).

Echo Basin 6/21/14

As always, there are some muddy meadow spots in the areas without boardwalks, but it is worth the effort to see these flowers!

Blooming in the forest: Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus), Western White Anemone (Anemone deltoidea), Bunchberry (Cornus pumila), Candyflower (Claytonia sibirica), Goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus), Great Polenium (Polemonium carneum), Vanillaleaf (Achlys triphylla), Pacific Bleeding Heart (Dicentra formosa), Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis), Sitka Valerian (Valeriana Valeriana sitchensis), Starry Solomon’s Seal(Maianthemum stellatum), Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia), Woods Strawberry (Fragaria vesca), and Youth-On-Age (Tolmiea mensziesii).

Blooming in the meadows: hundreds (if not thousands) of Elephanthead Lousewort (Pedicularis groenlandica) and Few-flowered Shooting Star (Dodecatheon pulchellum), Western Bistort (Polygonum bistortoides), Western Columbine (Aquilegia formosa), Menzies’ Larkspur(Delphinium menziesii), Arrow-leaf Groundsel (Senecio triangularis), Tall Bluebells (Mertensia paniculata), and Yellow Monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus).