[Wildflower Bloom in Central and Eastern Oregon: 2014]

Walton Lake Trail

Ochoco National Forest

August 8, 2014

A view approximately southest across the southern half of Walton Lake, Ochoco National Forest.........August 8, 2014.

A view approximately southest across the southern half of Walton Lake, Ochoco National Forest.........August 8, 2014.


This trail circumnavigates Walton Lake, which is a dammed basin with campground surrounding most sides. Much of the vegetation around the lake itself is native, although summer blooming non-natives were evident. Several sections of the shoreline are devoid of vegetation due to fisherman access. Parking is at the day use area, unless one camps there. Parking at the day use area is not free to those with senior passes or Northwest Forest passes. Pay the day use fee and display on your windshield as the private campground operating staff check windshields regularly for those not in compliance. The day use area evidently is a big money making spot for them!

Weather: Temperatures in the mid to upper 70s in the afternoon with light winds and clear skies.


* indicates the wildflower is currently in bloom.

Brown-eyed Wolf Lichen: Letharia columbiana

Common Liverwort: Marchantia polymorpha

California White Fir: Abies concolor x Abies grandis

Western Juniper: Juniperus occidentalis

Western Larch: Larix occidentalis

Ponderosa Pine: Pinus ponderosa var. ponderosa

Douglas Fir: Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii

Red Alder: Alnus rubra

Quaking Aspen: Populus tremuloides

Toad Rush: Juncus bufonius

* Daggerleaf Rush: Juncus ensifolius

Liddon's Sedge: Carex petasata ?

* Small-fruited Bulrush: Scirpus microcarpus

Meadow Foxtail: Alopecurus pratensis

Orchard Grass: Dactylis glomerata

Candian Waterweed: Elodea (canadensis ?)

* Broadleaf Cattail: Typha latifolia

False Solomon Seal: Maianthemum racemosum ssp. amplexicaule

Star-flowered False Solomon Seal: Maianthemum stellatum

California False Hellebore: Veratrum (californicum var. californicum ?) - Fruits maturing.

White Bog Orchid: Platanthera dilatata (var. leucostachys ?) - Past bloom.

* Water Smartweed: Persicaria amphibia

* Common Knotweed: Polygonum aviculare (ssp. depressum ?)

* Douglas' Knotweed: Polygonum douglasii

Western Dock: Rumex occidentalis ?

* Mexican Dock: Rumex salicifolius (var. mexicanus ?)

* Pearlwort: Sagina sp.

Baneberry: Actaea rubra

Tower Rockcress: Arabis glabra

Bog Saxifrage: Micranthes oregana

Prickly Currant: Ribes lacustre

Sticky Currant: Ribes viscosissimum

Broadpetal Strawberry: Fragaria virginiana var. platypetala

Largeleaf Avens: Geum macrophyllum var. perincisum

Prairie Smoke: Geum triflorum var. ciliatum

Sticky Cinquefoil: Potentilla glandulosa (var. ?)

Graceful Cinquefoil: Potentilla gracilis var. fastigiata

Sierra Peavine: Lathyrus nevadensis (var. nevadensis ?)

Velvet Lupine: Lupinus leucophyllus

* Yellow Sweetclover: Meliolotus officinalis

* Least Hop Clover: Trifolium dubium

* Oregon Checkermallow: Sidalcea oregana (ssp. oregana ?)

* Tinker's Penny: Hypericum anagalloides - Fading out of bloom.

Sticky Geranium: Geranium viscosissimum

* Fireweed: Chamerion angustifolium

* Tall Annual Willowherb: Epilobium brachycarpum

* Purple-leaved Willowherb: Epilobium ciliatum ssp. ciliatum

Cow Parsnip: Heracleum lanatum

Common Sweet Cicely: Osmorhiza berteroi

* Gairdner's Yampah: Perideridia montana ?

Grouseberry: Vaccinium scoparium ?

Pleated Gentian: Gentiana (affinis ?) - Not in bud yet.

* Harkness' Linanthus: Leptosiphon harknessii

Midget Phlox: Microsteris gracilis

* Western Polemonium: Polemonium occidentale - Fading out of bloom.

Purple Phacelia: Phacelia hastata var. alpina

* Field Mint: Mentha canadensis

* Common Monkeyflower: Mimulus guttatus

Common Mullein: Verbascum thapsus

* English Plantain: Plantago lanceolata

Fragrant Bedstraw: Galium triflorum

Black Elderberry: Sambucus racemosa var. melanocarpa - Berries ripening.

Common Snowberry: Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus

* Yarrow: Achillea millefolium

Pussytoes: Antennaria sp.

* Leafy Arnica: Arnica chamissonis ssp. foliosa

* Great Northern Aster: Canadanthus modestus

Canada Thistle: Cirsium arvense

Elk Thistle: Cirsium scariosum

Bull Thistle: Cirsium vulgare

* Showy Fleabane: Erigeron speciosus

* Rough-leaved Aster: Eurybia radulina

* Marsh Cudweed: Gnaphalium palustre

Rocky Mountain Sunflower: Helianthella uniflora - Past bloom.

* Mountain Tarweed: Madia glomerata

* Common Tarweed: Madia gracilis

* Oxeye Daisy: Leucanthemum vulgare

* Mountain Tarweed: Madia glomerata

Falsegold Groudnsel: Packera pseudaurea

Western Groundsel: Senecio integerrimus var. exaltatus

* Tansy Ragwort: Senecio jacobaea

* Giant Goldenrod: Solidago gigantea ?

* Western Canada Goldenrod: Solidago salebrosa (var. lepida ?)

* Eaton's Aster: Symphyotrichum eatonii

* Leafybract Aster: Symphyotrichum foliaceum (var. parryi ?)

* Common Dandelion: Taraxacum officinale

Oyster Plant: Tragopogon dubius


Animals Observed During This Hike:

Bald Eagle

Ospreys

Red-tailed Hawks

Turkey Vultures

Coots - with babies

Mallards - immature

Western Wood Peewees

Fritillarys

Wood Nymphs


Paul Slichter