[Wildflower Bloom in the Cascade Mountains of Washington: 2006]

Wildflower Bloom in the Cascade Mts. of Washington

Island Springs Trail #66

Mt. Adams: Yakama Nation lands

July 17, 2006

The east face of Mt. Adams with the Mazama Glacier visible on the horizon at left, several lobes of the Klickitat Glacier visible at center, and grayish Rusk Glacier at right. The white cap of the Lyman Glacier descends from the peak on the horizon at right.........July 19, 2006.

The east face of Mt. Adams with the Mazama Glacier visible on the horizon at left, several lobes of the Klickitat Glacier visible at center, and grayish Rusk Glacier at right. The white cap of the Lyman Glacier descends from the peak on the horizon at right.........July 19, 2006.

The road down to Bench Lake and the trailhead for this trail just opened this weekend, on July 16, 2006. The road through the reservation to this point is still very rough. Beware of loose, large rocks in the road as well as numerous sharp pointed rocks buried in the road and often hidden by the thick layer of dust. Island Springs Trail #66 is open its entire length, although is often hidden by large amounts of brush (I'm probably the first to travel it this summer.). In addition, the trail is still very wet as it crosses the meadows to the north of Hellroaring Creek. As always, be aware that the trail disappears atop the ridge (known as the Island) at a point where Island Springs Creek crosses it. Continuing up the ridgeline from that point is problematic as it is easy to get lost!

GPS coordinates for the Island Springs Trailhead are:

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

Coordinates for the crest of the Island Springs Trail are:

N46 10.123' --- W121 23.367' --- 5274' --- +/-34'

* indicates the wildflower is currently in bloom.

1. Western Lady Fern: Athyrium filix-femina ssp. cyclosorum

2. Northern Bracken Fern: Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens

3. Silver Fir: Abies amabilis

4. Subalpine Fir: Abies lasiocarpa var. lasiocarpa

5. Western Larch: Larix occidentalis

6. Engelmann Spruce: Picea engelmannii

7. Lodgepole Pine: Pinus contorta

8. Ponderosa Pine: Pinus ponderosa

9. Douglas Fir: Pseudotsuga menziesii

10. Mountain Hemlock: Tsuga mertensiana

11. Bottlebrush Squirreltail: Sitanion hystrix

* 12. Showy Sedge: Carex spectabilis -

* 13. Dagger-leaf Rush: Juncus xiphoides (formerly Juncus ensifolius var. montanus) - In bloom at small springs high on the trail.

* 14. Cat's Ear Mariposa Lily: Calochortus subalpinus

* 15. Queen's Cup, Bead Lily: Clintonia uniflora - Good bloom along the trail at Island Springs Creek.

16. Glacier Lily: Erythronium grandiflorum - Going to seed.

17. Tiger Lily: Lilium columbianum - In bud.

* 18. Star-flowered False Solomon Seal: Maianthemum stellatum (Smilacina stellata) -

* 20. Rosy Twisted Stalk: Streptopus lanceolatus (formerly S. roseus) -

21. White Trillium: Trillium ovatum -

* 22. Spotted Coralroot Orchid: Corallorhiza maculata -

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

24. Quaking Aspen: Populus tremuloides

25. Red Alder: Alnus rubra

26. Sitka Alder: Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata

27. Douglas Maple: Acer glabrum var. douglasii -

* 28. Heart-leaved Buckwheat: Eriogonum compositum var. compositum - Just beginning to bloom high on the trail.

* 29. Sulfur-flowered Buckwheat: Eriogonum umbellatum var. subalpinum - Just beginning to bloom high on the trail.

* 30. Douglas' Knotweed: Polygonum douglasii -

* 31. Poke Knotweed: Polygonum phytolaccifolium -

* 32. Sheep Sorrel: Rumex acetosella

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

* 34. Large-leaf Sandwort: Moehringia macrophylla -

35. Catchfly, Campion: Silene (oregana or parryi ?) - In bud.

* 37. Monkshood: Aconitum columbianum - A few blooms in view in the meadows at Hellroaring Creek.

* 38. Crimson Columbine: Aquilegia formosa -

* 39. Little Buttercup: Ranunculus uncinatus var. parviflorus - In bloom in moist meadows along Hellroaring Creek.

* 40. Western Meadowrue: Thalictrum occidentale -

* 41. Cascade Rockcress: Arabis furcata var. furcata - Numerous along much of the trail.

* 42. Rough Wallflower: Erysimum capitatum (formerly E. asperum) -

* 43. Five-stamen Mitrewort: Mitella pentandra -

* 44. Brook Saxifrage: Saxifraga odontoloma (formerly S. arguta) - In bloom at any moist area along the trail.

* 45. Sticky Currant: Ribes viscosissimum - Found above Island Springs Creek...........A few fading from bloom.

46. Serviceberry: Amelanchier alnifolia - Past bloom.

* 47. Broad-petal Strawberry: Fragaria virginiana var. platypetalla -

* 48. Large-leaved Avens: Geum macrophyllum -

* 49. Sticky Cinquefoil: Potentilla glandulosa var. nevadensis -

* 50. Sticky Cinquefoil: Potentilla glandulosa var. glandulosa -

51. Bittercherry: Prunus emarginata (var. emarginata ?) -

* 52. Little Wild Rose: Rosa gymnocarpa -

* 53. Nootka Rose: Rosa nutkana - In bloom above Island Springs Creek

* 54. Dwarf Bramble: Rubus lasiococcus -

* 55. Thimbleberry: Rubus parviflorus

* 56. Douglas' Spiraea (Hardhack): Spiraea douglasii -

* 57. Thick-leaved Pea: Lathyrus lanszwertii var. aridus -

* 58. Nevada Pea: Lathyrus nevadensis var. nevadensis -

* 59. Burke's Lupine: Lupinus burkei ssp. burkei - In bud.

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

* 61. Baker's Violet: Viola bakeri -

* 62. Stream Violet: Viola glabella

63. Round-leaved Violet: Viola orbiculata -

64. Norton's St. Johnswort?: Hypericum scouleri ssp. nortoniae - In bud in moist areas higher on the trail.

* 65. Snowbrush: Ceanothus velutinus - In bloom only high on the trail.

66. Fireweed: Chamerion (Epilobium) angustifolium

* 67. Common Willowherb: Epilobium ciliatum ssp. ciliatum ? - Pink flowers.

* 68. White Willow-herb: Epilobium lactiflorum

* 69. Spreading Groundsmoke: Gayophytum diffusum - Numerous small plants in bloom high on the trail.

* 70. Cow Parsnip: Heracleum lanatum -

* 71. Gray's Lovage: Ligusticum grayii -

72. Fern-leaved Desert Parsley: Lomatium multifidum - Mostly leaves with one plant past bloom.

* 73. Western Sweet-cicely: Osmorhiza occidentalis -

74. Sierra Snakeroot: Sanicula graveolens -

75. Kinnikinnick / Pinemat Manzanita: Arctostaphylos nevadensis

76. Side-bells Wintergreen: Orthilia (Pyrola) secunda - In bud.

* 77. Night-blooming Morning-glory: Convolvulus nyctagineus - Some nice bloom on the upper end of the trail.

78. Large-flowered Collomia: Collomia grandiflora - In bud.

* 79. Sky Rocket: Ipomopsis (Gilia) aggregata

* 80. Midget Phlox: Phlox gracilis

* 81. California Jacob's Ladder: Polemonium californicum

82. Ball-head Waterleaf: Hydrophyllum capitatum var. capitatum - Past bloom by several weeks?

* 83. Fendler's Waterleaf: Hydrophyllum fendleri - In bloom under trees along Hellroaring Creek

* 84. Woodland Phacelia: Phacelia nemoralis (or Phacelia leptosepala ???)-

85. Tall Phacelia: Phacelia procera -

86. Western Horsemint: Agastache occidentalis

* 87. Tall Bluebells: Mertensia paniculata var. borealis - Just beginning to bloom.

* 88. Harsh Paintbrush: Castilleja hispida

* 89. Common Paintbrush: Castilleja miniata

* 90. Suksdorf's Paintbrush: Castilleja suksdorfii - In bloom at the meadows along Hellroaring Creek.

* 91. Common Monkey Flower: Mimulus guttatus -

* 92. Lewis' Monkey Flower: Mimulus lewisii -

93. Turtle Heads: Nothochelone nemorosa - In bud.

* 94. Taper-leaved Penstemon: Penstemon attenuatus var. attenuatus - Found above Island Springs Creek

* 95. Glaucous Penstemon: Penstemon euglaucous - In bloom high on the trail.

* 96. Shrubby Penstemon: Penstemon fruticosus var. fruticosus -

* 97. American Alpine Speedwell: Veronica wormskjoldii -

* 98. Fragrant Bedstraw: Galium triflorum -

* 99. Milk Kelloggia: Kelloggia galioidies - In bloom on dry, open slopes high on the trail.

* 100. Sitka Valerian: Valeriana sitchensis -

* 101. Mountain Snowberry: Symphoricarpos oreophilus var. utahensis - A few still in bloom at upper elevations.

* 102. Yarrow: Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis - A few plants beginning to bloom.

103. Pathfinder: Adenocaulon bicolor

* 104. Orange Agoseris: Agoseris aurantiaca -

* 105. Broad-leaf Arnica: Arnica latifolia -

* 106. Rabbitbrush Goldenweed: Ericameria bloomeri

* 107. Subalpine Daisy: Erigeron peregrinus ssp. callianthemus var. callianthemus -

108. Cascade Aster: Eucephalus ledophyllus (formerly Aster ledophyllus) - A few plants seen in bud.

109. Rough-leaved Aster: Eurybia radulinus (formerly Aster radulinus) - Young plants seen high on the trail.

110. Klickitat Aster: Eucephalus glaucesens (formerly Aster glaucescens) - In bud.

111. Rocky Mountain Sunflower: Helianthella uniflorus - In bud high on the trail.

112. White-flowered Hawkweed: Hieracium albiflorum - In bud.

113. Scouler's Hawkweed: Hieracium scouleri -

* 114. Nodding Microseris: Microseris nutans - Abundant in dry meadows.

115. American Sawwort: Saussurea americana - In bud in the meadows to the north of Hellroaring Creek.

116. Western Groundsel: Senecio integerrimus var. exaltatus - Long past bloom.

* 117. Streambank Butterweed: Senecio pseudaureus - Just beginning to bloom in the meadows to the north of Hellroaring Creek and in moist areas higher along the trail.

* 118. Arrowleaf Groundsel: Senecio triangularis - Just beginning to bloom in the meadows to the north of Hellroaring Creek.

119. Common Dandylion: Taraxacum officinale - In bloom in meadows along Hellroaring Creek.

Species of Plants Found Along the Island Springs Trail #66 Atop the Ridge (the Island):

1. Whitebark Pine: Pinus albicaulis - The majority of the older, larger plants have succumbed to disease, but a number of young plants seems to be surviving.

2. Green False Hellebore: Veratrum viride -

* 3. Bear Grass: Xerophyllum tenax -

* 4. Spotted Coralroot Orchid: Corallorhiza maculata - Fairly numerous in dry woods at this upper elevation.

5. Ovalleaf Buckwheat: Eriogonum ovalifolium var. nivale -

6. Alpine Buckwheat: Eriogonum pyrolifolium var. coryphaeum -

7. Sulphur Buckwheat: Eriogonum umbellatum var. (hausknechtii ?) -

* 8. Newberry's Knotweed: Polygonum newberryi - Beginning to bloom.

* 9. Pussypaws: Cistanthe umbellata var. caudicifera (formerly Spraguea umbellata) -

10. Slender Mt. Sandwort: Arenaria capillaris ssp. americana -

11. Nuttall's Sandwort: Minuartia nuttallii -

* 12. Cascade Rockcress: Arabis furcata var. furcata -

* 13. Rough Wallflower: Erysimum capitatum (formerly E. asperum) -

14. Alpine Smelowskia: Smelowskia carlycina var. americana -

15. Alpine Alumroot: Heuchera cylindrica var. alpina -

16. Yellow-dot Saxifrage: Saxifraga bronchialis var. austromontana -

17. Shrubby Cinquefoil: Dasiphora floribunda (formerly Potentilla fruticosa) -

18. Brewer's Cinquefoil: Potentilla drummondii ssp. breweri (formerly P. breweri) -

19. Sticky Cinquefoil: Potentilla glandulosa ssp. pseudorupestris -

* 20. Subalpine Spiraea: Spiraea splendens var. splendens (S. densiflora) -

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

22. Dwarf Lupine: Lupinus sellulus ssp. sellulus var. lobbii -

23. Silky Lupine: Lupinus sericeus ssp. sericeus var. flexuosus - Very common.

* 24. Martindale's Desert Parsley: Lomatium martindalei -

25. Alpine Collomia: Collomia larsenii (formerly C. debilis var. larsenii) -

26. Spreading Phlox: Phlox diffusa var. longistylis -

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

28. Davidson's Penstemon: Penstemon davidsonii var. davidsonii -

* 29. Shrubby Penstemon: Penstemon fruticosus var. fruticosus -

30. Tolmie's Penstemon: Penstemon procerus var. tolmiei -

31. Small-flowered Penstemon: Penstemon procerus var. procerus ? - In bud. Plants with green leaves, not glaucous. No glands on developing calyces and corollas. Possibly Penstemon rydbergii too.

32. Rough Harebell: Campanula scabrella -

33. Pale Agoseris: Agoseris glauca var. monticola - Some plants with flower buds.

34. Woolly Pussytoes: Antennaria lanata -

35. Rosy Pussytoes: Antennaria rosea (formerly A. microphylla) -

36. Dark Pussytoes: Antennaria umbrinella -

37. Smallhead Arnica: Arnica gracilis (formerly A. latifolius var. gracilis) -

* 38. Broad-leaf Arnica: Arnica latifolia -

39. Big Sagebrush: Artemisia tridenta var. vaseyana - This species does grow on south-facing slopes of the Ridge of Wonders (easily seen from the Hellroaring Overlook at Bird Creek Meadows), however I noted that it is fairly numerous on south-facing slopes above Big Muddy River and Rusk Creek up to about 6900-7000' on Goat Butte.

40. Cutleaf Daisy: Erigeron compositus -

41. Common Woolly Sunflower: Eriophyllum lanatum var. integrifolium -

* 42. White-flowered Hawkweed: Hieracium albiflorum -

43. Alpine Hulsea: Hulsea nana -

* 44. Smooth Mountain Dandelion: Nothocalais alpestris -

Animals Seen Along This Route:

Douglas' Squirrel

Red-tailed Hawk

Clark's Nutcracker

American Robins

Swainson's Thrushes

Cassin's Finch

Dark-eyed Junco

Song Sparrow

Steller's Jays

Warbling Vireo hazing Steller's Jays

Yellow Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Elegant Day Moth

Anise Swallowtail

Pale Tiger Swallowtail

Great Arctic

Chalcedon (Snowberry) Checkerspot (current photo included of this species included with photos of the field crescent below)

Field Crescent

Ochre Ringlet

Sulphur

White

(Woodland?) Skipper

Paul Slichter