Natural History Wanderings

Oregon Wildflowers has two new updates

Silver Falls State Park 3/26/15 early spring wildflowers are in full bloom, including Oaks toothwort (Cardamine nuttallii), snow queen (Synthyris reniformis), and roundleaf violet (Viola orbiculata). Some flowers are blooming very early, such as red-flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum), calypso orchid (Calypso bulbosa), salmonberry (Rubus spactabilis) and western trillium (Trillium ovatum). The wildflowers in the canyon are not yet as far along as those outside the canyon. The Rim trail would be one of the best trails to hike right now… lots of violets, snow queen, and trillium. There are even a few calypso orchids near the South Falls Lodge.

Shellburg Falls, Lyons, OR 3/25/15 We spotted blooming salmonberry, wild strawberry, wild cherry and apple trees, red-flowering currant, pacific bleeding hearts, yellow wood violets, white wood sorrel, trillium, and lots of unidentified little purple flowers, including some kind of purple, bell-shaped lily.