Rd K6000 runs west and sharply uphill from the Mt. Adams Highway through Washington State DNR and private lands to the Hellroaring Ditch and then further upwards to above 4000' in elevation near the boundaries of both the Gifford Pinchot NF and Yakama Nation.
The site visited for this page's study is at an approximate elevation of 4000' and is evidently a Washington State DNR rock quarry that is atop the ridge separating Dairy Creek and Cougar Creek. The south-facing slopes are open forest of Ponderosa pine as well as some Oregon white oak with abundant grasses and colorful wildflowers. Uphill, the habitat changes quickly to a dense, dark coniferous forest. On the east side of the rockpit, rocky or gravelly slopes are vernally moist and provide a habitat for small plants normally found at lower elevations and farther to the east. Be aware that the surface of the acess road has recently had large diameter gravel (up to 2-4 inches in diameter) laid on its surface, giving quite a rough ride and endagering tires, at least for low slung passenger vehicles!
The
photo at right shows a single albino plant of upland larkspur, Delphinium nuttallianum
on slopes directly below the rock quarry mentioned on this page.........May
22, 2005.
* indicates the wildflower is currently in bloom.
1. Oregon White Oak: Quercus garryana - Plants haven't leafed out yet.
2. Tapertip Onion: Allium accuminatum - In bud.
*3. Western Wake Robin, Wood Lily, Trillium: Trillium ovatum -
4. Striped Coral Root ?: Corallorhiza striata - Not quite in bloom.
*5. Three-leaf Lewisia: Lewisia triphylla -
*6. Upland Larkspur: Delphinium nuttallianum - Includes one albino!
*7. RoughWallflower: Erysimum capitatum - Along the access road to the rock quarry.
*8. Pacific Dogwood: Cornus nuttallii - Along the access road to the rock quarry up to about 3600'.
*9. Small-flowered Prairie Star: Lithophragma parviflora -
*10. Antelope Bitterbrush: Purshia tridentata - Plants cover up to a six foot square area but are at most only a few inches high!
*11. Spurred Lupine: Lupinus arbustus (upper wing tips glabrous) - Beginning to bloom.
*12. Desert Parsley: Lomatium species (L. leptocarpum ?) -
*13. Bare-stem Desert Parsley: Lomatium nudicaule - Numerous.
*14. Nine-leaf Desert Parsley: Lomatium triternatum - A few.
*15. Sierra Snakeroot: Sanicula graveolens -
*16. Pinemat Manzanita: Arctostaphylos nevadensis - See photo below.
*17. Midget Phlox: Phlox (Microsteris) gracilis -
*18. Harsh Paintbrush: Castilleja hispida -
*19. Small-flowered Blue-eyed Mary: Collinsia parviflora -
*20. Naked Broomrape: Orobanche uniflora var. purpurea - Flowers are very dark blue-purple.
*21. Annual Agoseris: Agoseris heterophylla -
*22. Heart-leaf Arnica: Arnica cordifolia - Beginning to bloom.
23. Carey's Balsamroot : Balsamorhiza careyana - Leaves only. Not common at this height, on this site.
24. Silver Crown Luina: Cacaliopsis nardosmia (Luina nardosmia) - In bud, some will begin bloom this week.
*25. Small Tarweed: Madia minima
*26. Western Groundsel: Senecio integerrimus var. exaltatus -
