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

Wildflower Bloom in the Cascade Mts. of Washington

Mt. Adams: Island Cabin Campground & Windholes Trail

May 19, 2006

Western Wood Lily: Trillium ovatum

Western Wood Lily: Trillium ovatum

Island Cabin Campground is a Washington State Department of Natural Resources campground located near 3400' along Bird Creek between Roads K3000 and K4000. A narrow bridge crosses Bird Creek, but it is not suitable for autos. Campsites are located on the south side of Bird Cr while a large public cabin is located on the north side. Water from the creek should be filtered or treated, or brought in. The Windholes Trail leaves from the west part of the campground on the south side of the creek. It ascends into the forest and passes several small lava tubes. The tread eventually follows several small roads and crosses Rd K3000, and then proceeds southwest climbing slightly and passing through a number of clearcuts as well as forest and natural clearings. I have currently not hiked the entire path.

Campground GPS - N46 04.304' --- W121 22.751' --- Elevation: 3420--- +/- 25'

Furthest GPS reading from campground on the Windholes Trail - N46 04.967' --- W121 23.064' --- Elevation: 3578'--- +/- 28'

* indicates the wildflower is currently in bloom.

1. Bracken Fern: Pteridium aquilinum -

2. Grand Fir: Abies grandis -

3. Ponderosa Pine: Pinus ponderosa -

4. Douglas Fir: Pseudotsuga menziesii -

5. Sitka Alder: Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata -

6. California Hazelnut: Corylus cornuta var. californica -

* 7. Douglas' Maple: Acer glabrum var. douglasii -

* 8. Sedge: Carex sp. -

9. Cat's Ear: Calochortus subalpinus ? - Leaves only. Several other species could be found at this elevation.

10. Queen's Cup / Bead Lily: Clintonia uniflora -

* 11. Glacier Lily: Erythronium grandiflorum -

* 12. False Solomon Seal: Maianthemum racemosum ssp. amplexicaule (formerly Smilacina racemosa) -

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

* 14. Hooker's Fairy Bell: Prosartes hookeri (formerly Disporum hookeri) -

* 15. Wood Lily, Trillium: Trillium ovatum -

* 16. Calypso / Fairy Slipper Orchid: Calypso bulbosa -

17. Rattlesnake Plantain: Goodyera oblongiffolia -

18. Sheep Sorrel: Rumex acetosella -

* 19. Western Springbeauty: Claytonia lanceolata var. lanceolata -

* 20. Largeleaf Sandwort: Moehringia macrophylla -

* 21. Blue Windflower: Anemone oregana var. oregana -

22. Red Columbine: Aquilegia formosa var. formosa -

23. Western Bugbane, Tasselrue: Trautvettaria caroliniensis var. occidentalis -

* 24. Oak Toothwort: Cardamine nuttallii var. nuttallii -

25. Vanilla Leaf: Achlys triphylla -

26. Bunchberry: Cornus unalaschensis (formerly Cornus canadensis) -

27. Prickly Currant: Ribes lacustre -

* 28. Broadpetal Strawberry: Fragaria virginiana var. platypetala -

29. Sticky Cinquefoil: Potentilla glandulosa var. -

30. Rose: Rosa sp. -

31. Thimbleberry: Rubus parviforus var. parviflorus -

32. Cascade Mountain Ash: Sorbus scopulina var. cascadensis -

* 33. Nevada Pea: Lathyrus lanszwertii var. aridus -

* 34. Baker's Violet: Viola bakeri (formerly Viola nuttallii var. bakeri) -

* 35. Stream Violet: Viola glabella -

* 36. Marsh Violet: Viola palustris -

* 37. Oregon Boxwood: Pachistima myrsinites -

38. Fireweed: Chamerion angustifolium -

39. Willow-herb: Epilobium sp. -

40. Sharp-tooth Angelica: Angelica arguta -

41. Sweet Cicely: Osmorhiza sp. -

42. Pinemat Manzanita: Arctostaphylos nevadensis -

43. Prince's Pine: Chimaphila umbellata ssp. occidentalis -

44. Sidebells Wintergreen: Orthilia secunda -

45. White-veined Pyrola: Pyrola picta -

* 46. Thinleaf Huckleberry: Vaccinium membranaceum ? -

47. Star Flower: Trientalis borealis ssp. latifolia -

48. Showy Jacob's Ladder: Polemonium californicum -

49. Phacelia: Phacelia sp. -

50. Penstemon: Penstemon sp. - Too early to identify.

51. Lanceolate Figwort: Scrophularia lanceolata -

52. Common Mullein: Verbascum thapsus -

53. Fragrant Bedstraw: Galium triflorum -

54. Twinflower: Linnaea borealis -

55. Orange Honeysuckle: Lonicera ciliosa -

56. Black Elderberry ?: Sambucus racemosa var. melanocarpa - In bud. ID made from previous experience with this variety on the east side of the Cascades. At this point, I'm not absolutely sure whether var. racemosa doesn't come this far east or not.

57. Snowberry: Symphoricarpos sp. -

58. Pearly Everlastings: Anaphalis margaritacea -

59. Hawkweed: Hieracium sp. -

60. Oxeye Daisy: Leucanthemum vulgare -

Animals seen at and around this site:

American Robins

Western Tanagers

Dark-eyed Juncos

Stellers Jays

Ruffed Grouse

Pair of Coopers Hawks

Mourning Cloak

Large Bumblebees

Mason Bees or small non-stinging bees

Paul Slichter E-mail