Natural History Wanderings

Oregon Wildflowers has five new wildflower reports

John B. Yeon State Park he Gorge Trail between Elowah and Wahclella Falls. Trillium and Red Flowering Currant were in bloom. Bleeding Heart and fringecup was also starting to show.

Memaloose Hills 3/21/15As with other locations in the eastern Gorge, the Northwestern Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza deltoidea) has started blooming, well ahead of schedule. I estimate that it will be at peak in 2-3 weeks. Also blooming are: profuse amounts of Large-flowered Blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia grandiflora), Gold Star Crocidium multicaule, Small-flowered Blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia parviflora), Upland Larkspur (Delphinium nuttallianum), Western Buttercup (Ranunculus occidentalis var. occidentalis), Smooth Prairie Star(Lithophragma glabra), Northwestern Saxifrage (Saxifraga integrifolia), Miners Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata), Manroot (Marah oreganus), Ball-Head Waterleaf(Hydrophyllum capitatum var. thompsonii), Oaks Toothwort (Cardamine nuttallii var. nuttallii), Glacier Lily (Erythronium grandiflorum), and a few remaining Grass Widows(Olsynium douglasii).

Mosier Plateau The most prevalent wildflower now blooming is Northwestern Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza deltoidea), which is well ahead of schedule. Of all the locations along Highway 30 between Mosier and Rowena, the balsamroot was the most impressive here.

Also blooming are: Small-flowered Blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia parviflora), Western Buttercup (Ranunculus occidentalis var. occidentalis), Smooth Prairie Star (Lithophragma glabra), Northwestern Saxifrage (Saxifraga integrifolia), Miners Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata), Manroot (Marah oreganus), Slender Popcorn Flower (Plagiobothrys tenellus), Manroot (Marah oreganus), and Columbia Desert Parsley (Lomatium columbianum). Columbia Gorge Lupine (Lupinus latifolius var. thompsonianus) is just starting to bloom (ahead of schedule).

Rowena Plateau  The Northwestern Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza deltoidea) has started blooming, well ahead of schedule. I estimate that it will be at peak in app. 3-4 weeks. Also blooming are: Gold Star Crocidium multicaule, Small-flowered Blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia parviflora), Upland Larkspur (Delphinium nuttallianum), Western Buttercup (Ranunculus occidentalis var. occidentalis), Smooth Prairie Star (Lithophragma glabra), Northwestern Saxifrage (Saxifraga integrifolia), Manroot (Marah oreganus), Gray’s Desert Parsley(Lomatium grayi), and Yellow Bells (Fritillaria pudica) which are mostly past peak.

Tom McCall Nature Preserve As with nearby Rowena Plateau, the Northwestern Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza deltoidea) is well ahead of schedule! Also blooming are: Gold Star Crocidium multicaule, Small-flowered Blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia parviflora), Upland Larkspur (Delphinium nuttallianum), Western Buttercup (Ranunculus occidentalis var. occidentalis), Smooth Prairie Star (Lithophragma glabra), Northwestern Saxifrage (Saxifraga integrifolia), Manroot (Marah oreganus), Gray’s Desert Parsley (Lomatium grayi), Columbia Desert Parsley (Lomatium columbianum), Ball-Head Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum capitatum var. thompsonii), Oaks Toothwort (Cardamine nuttallii var. nuttallii), Glacier Lily(Erythronium grandiflorum), some remaining Grass Widows (Olsynium douglasii), and Yellow Bells (Fritillaria pudica) which are mostly past peak.