Natural History Wanderings

Oregon Wildflowers report for Horse Rock Ridge

Blooming in the forest: Fairyslipper (Calypso bulbosa) which begins immediately after the fence – slightly past peak but there are plenty which still look good, Oregon Wood Sorrel (Oxalis oregana), Woods Strawberry (Fragaria vesca), Western Starflower (Trientalis latifolia), many more Yellowleaf Iris (Iris chrysophylla) than two weeks ago, Long-Tailed Ginger (Asarum caudatum), and Salal (Gaultheria shallon) just starting.

The meadows and hillsides are still covered with profuse amounts of Western Buttercup (Ranunculus occidentalis) and Yellow Monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus), as well as many others including: Rosy Plectritis (Plectritis congesta), Menzies’ Larkspur (Delphinium menziesii), White-Top Clover (Trifolium variegatum), Olympic Onion (Allium crenulatum), Meadow Death Camas (Zigadenus venenosus), Spring Gold (Lomatium utriculatum), Harsh Paintbrush (Castilleja hispida), Annual Agoseris (Agoseris heterophylla), Blue Flax (Linum lewisii), Slender Sandwort (Minuartia tenella), Narrowleaf Paintbrush (Castilleja attenuata), Cut-leaf Daisy (Erigeron compositus), Oregon Sunshine (Eriophyllum lanatum), Nuttall’s Saxifrage (Saxifraga nuttallii), and Manzanita (Arctostaphylos columbiana).

There are a number of Yellowleaf Iris (Iris chrysophylla) to your left as you enter the meadow.

Tolmie’s Cat’s Ears (Calochortus tolmiei), and Slender Clarkia (Clarkia gracilis) are just starting.

Both Oregon Fawn Lily (Erythronium oregonum) and Henderson’s Shooting Star (Dodecatheon hendersonii) are well past peak, though there are a few still hanging on.