[Wildflower Bloom in the Cascade Mountains of Washington: 2005] [Wildflower Bloom in the Cascade Mts. Prior to 2005]

Wildflower Bloom in the Cascade Mts. of Washington

Mt. Adams: Yakama Reservation: Island Springs Trail #66: Meadows along Hellroaring Creek

July 17, 2005

The photo above shows the southeastern side of Mt. Adams as seen from the trailhead into upper Hellroaring Meadows..........midday of July 17, 2005. Little Mt. Adams is at right with the upper portion of the Ridge of Wonders in the middle background, and Mt.Adams looming in the distance at center. The flowers are largely glaucous penstemon with some yarrow.

The photo above shows the southeastern side of Mt. Adams as seen from the trailhead into upper Hellroaring Meadows..........midday of July 17, 2005. Little Mt. Adams is at right with the upper portion of the Ridge of Wonders in the middle background, and Mt.Adams looming in the distance at center. The flowers are largely glaucous penstemon with some yarrow.

The Island Springs Trail begins at the north side of Bench Lake in the Tract D portion of the Yakama Nation. The trail quickly descends to Hellroaring Creek with a wood foot bridge across the creek. A fairly large wet meadow may be found on the northern side of the the creek, through which the trail winds. Search the interface between the trees along the creek and meadows for interesting plants, then meander the meadows for a different selection of plants. The upland parts of the meadow where the conifer slopes meet the meadow offer a third habitat. Some of the creeks meandering through the meadow are lined with Lewis' monkeyflower and monkshood.

The trail soon ascends the ridge just east of Little Mt. Adams, climbing through dry meadows with numerous quaking aspen, some of large aspen. About 100 meters past Hellroaring Creek, the intersection with the Hellroaring Creek Trail #10 is reached. Trail #10 veers to the right (east) and follows the north bank of Hellroaring Creek before crossing it and returning to the outlet of Bench Lake on its northeastern shore.

GPS coordinates for the Island Springs Trailhead are:

N46 09.077' --- W121 24.052' --- 4910' --- +/-30'

* indicates the wildflower is currently in bloom.

 

1. Bog Willow: Salix pedicellaris -

2. Unidentified Willow: Salix (possibly S. geyeriana, S. sitchensis or S. planifolia) -

3. Unidentified Sege: Carex sp. -

* 4. Slender Cotton-grass: Eriophorum gracile var. gracile - ????

5. Bottlebrush Squirreltail: Sitanion hystrix -

* 6. Queen's Cup, Bead Lily: Clintonia uniflora -

7. Cat's Ear Mariposa Lily: Calochortus subalpinus -

* 8. Tiger Lily: Lilium columbianum -

9. Green False Hellebore: Veratrum viride - In bud.

* 10. White Bog Candle: Platanthera dilatata -

* 11. Slender Bog Orchid: Platanthera stricta (Habenaria saccata) -

* 12. Broad-leaved Spring Beauty: Claytonia cordifolia -

* 13. Little Buttercup: Ranunculus uncinatus var. parviflorus -

* 14. Western Meadowrue: Thalictrum occidentale -

* 15. False Bugbane: Trautvettaria caroliniensis -

* 16. Bog Saxifrage: Saxifraga oregana -

* 17. Large-leaved Avens: Geum macrophyllum

* 18. Sticky Cinquefoil: Potentilla glandulosa ssp. glabrata -

* 19. Drummond's Cinquefoil: Potentilla drummondii ssp. drummondii -

* 20. Fan-leaf Cinquefoil: Potentilla flabellifolia -

* 21. Dwarf Bramble: Rubus lasiococcus

* 22. Burke's Lupine: Lupinus burkei ssp. burkei -

* 23. American Vetch: Vicia americana var. americana -

* 24. Marsh Violet: Viola palustris -

25. Fireweed: Chamerion (Epilobium) angustifolium - In bud.

* 26. Willowherb: Epilobium sp. (either E. ciliatum ssp. ciliatum? or E. watsonii ?) -

* 27. Cow Parsnip: Heracleum maximum (formerly Heracleum lanatum) -

* 28. Gray's Lovage: Ligusticum grayii -

* 29. Mountain Sweet-cicely: Osmorhiza berteroi - No fruits were seen, so there is a possibility this could be O. purpurea.

* 30. Western Sweet-cicely: Osmorhiza occidentalis -

* 31. Pink Wintergreen: Pyrola asarifolia ssp. asarifolia -

* 32. Midget Phlox: Phlox gracilis

* 33. Western Polemonium: Polemonium occidentale -

* 34. Tall Bluebells: Mertensia paniculata var. borealis -

* 35. Harsh Paintbrush: Castilleja hispida -

* 36. Common Monkey Flower: Mimulus guttatus -

* 37. Primrose Monkey Flower: Mimulus primuloides -

* 38. Bracted Lousewort: Pedicularis bracteosa var. bracteosa -

* 39. Racemose Lousewort: Pedicularis racemosa var. racemosa -

* 40. Glaucous Penstemon: Penstemon euglaucous -

41. Black Twin-berry: Lonicera involucrata - Going to fruit.

* 42. Black Elderberry: Sambucus racemosa var. melanocarpa -

* 43. Sitka Valerian: Valeriana sitchensis -

* 44. Orange Agoseris: Agoseris aurantiaca - Both orange- and pink-flowered forms.

* 45. Rydberg's Arnica: Arnica rydbergii -

46. Leafy Aster: Aster foliaceus var. parryi - In bud.

* 47. Subalpine Daisy: Erigeron peregrinus ssp. callianthemus -

* 48. White-flowered Hawkweed: Hieracium albiflorum

* 49. Slender Hawkweed: Hieracium gracile var. gracile -

50. American Sawwort: Saussurea americana - In bud.

* 51. Streambank Butterweed: Senecio pseudaureus -

* 52. Arrowleaf Groundsel: Senecio triangularis -

53. Canada Goldenrod: Solidago canadensis var. salebrosa - In bud.

Plants Seen along one-half mile section of Hellroaring Trail #10 near its Junction with the Island Springs Trail #66:

1. Western Larch: Larix occidentalis - Several very large members of this species may be seen along this section of the trail!

2. Idaho Fescue: Festuca idahoensis -

3. Bottlebrush Squirreltail: Sitanion hystrix -

* 4. Cat's Ear Mariposa Lily: Calochortus subalpinus -

* 5. Bitter Dock: Rumex obtusifolius -

* 6. Broad-leaved Spring Beauty: Claytonia cordifolia -

* 7. Rough Wallflower: Erysimum asperum -

* 8. Brook Saxifrage: Saxifraga odontoloma (formerly S. arguta) -

* 9. Foamflower: Tiarella trifoliata var. unifoliata -

* 10. Nootka Rose: Rosa nutkana -

* 11. Dwarf Bramble: Rubus lasiococcus -

* 12. Broadleaf Lupine: Lupinus latifolius var. latifolius -

* 13. Sharp-tooth Angelica: Angelica arguta

14. Western Horsemint: Agastache occidentalis - In bud.

* 15. Lewis' Monkey Flower: Mimulus lewisii - In bud.

* 16. Glaucous Penstemon: Penstemon euglaucous -

* 17. Fragrant Bedstraw: Galium triflorum -

* 18. Broad-leaf Arnica: Arnica latifolia -

* 19. Cascade Aster: Aster ledophyllus - The first plants of this species to bloom.

20. Scouler's Hawkweed: Hieracium scouleri var. scouleri - In bud.

* 21. Arrowleaf Groundsel: Senecio triangularis -

Animals Seen at Bench Lake, and the Meadows Along Hellroaring Creek:

Golden Eagle - Above the south-facing slopes of the Ridge of Wonders to the east of Little Mt. Adams.

White-throated Swift skimming the surface of Bench Lake for insects.

Violet-green Swallows

Winter Wren

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Brown Creeper

Dark-eyed Juncos

Goldeneye Ducklings (no parents) in Bench Lake

Swallowtails

Fritillaries

Skipper

Paul Slichter