[Wildflower Bloom in Central and Eastern Washington: 2007]
Wildflower Bloom in Central and Eastern Washington

March 28, 2007

Upper and Lower Cowiche Canyon

The photo above shows a view northeast down into Cowiche Canyon from the trail originating in the lower canyon (west end)....................March 28, 2007.

Cowiche Canyon may be found at the northwestern edge of Yakima, WA. The site that was visited is under BLM jurisdiction.

* Indicates the plant is currently in bloom.

 

* 1. Yellow Bells: Fritillaria pudica - Beginning to fade out of bloom except in shady areas.

2. Cluster-lily: Triteleia grandiflora (ssp. douglasii or ssp. howellii) - In bud.

* 3. Grass Widow: Olsynium inflatum (formerly Sisyrinchium douglasii var. inflatum) -

4. Douglas Buckwheat: Eriogonum douglasii (var. ?) -

5. Thyme-leaf Buckwheat: Eriogonum thymoides -

* 6. Jagged Chickweed: Holosteum umbellatum - ?

* 7. Sagebrush Buttercup: Ranunculus glaberrimus - Especially abundant in the lower canyon.

* 8. Hornseed Buttercup: Ranunculus testiculatus - Very numerous.

* 9. Pale Alyssum: Alyssum alyssoides - Numerous at the Upper Canyon trailhead.

10. Sicklepod Rockcress: Arabis sparsiflora - Leafy scapes forming.

* 11. Spring Whitlow-grass: Draba verna var. boehaveri - Numerous.

12. Scalepod: Idahoa scapigera - In fruit.

13. Thick-leaved Thelepody: Thelypodium laciniatum (var. laciniatum ?) -

14. Fringepod: Thysanocarpus curvipes - Attractive fruits forming.

* 15. Bulblet Prairie-star: Lithophragma glabrum (formerly Lithophragma bulbifera) - Occasional.

16. Grassland Saxifrage: Saxifraga integrifolia - Only seen at a seep near the Lower Canyon trailhead.

17. Golden Currant: Ribes aureum -

* 18. Wax Currant: Ribes cereum -

* 19. Sagebrush Violet: Viola trinervata - Numerous.

* 20. Canby's Desert Parsley: Lomatium canbyi -

* 21. Fern-leaf Desert Parsley: Lomatium dissectum var. eatonii - In bloom along the old railroad bed in the Lower Canyon.

* 22. Geyer's Desert Parsley: Lomatium geyeri -

* 23. Gorman's Desert Parsley: Lomatium gormanii -

* 24. Hoover's Taushchia: Tauschia hooveri - Most plants of this species are going to fruit.

* 25. Midget Phlox: Phlox gracilis (formerly Microsteris gracilis) - Fairly numerous.

* 26. Littlebells Polemonium: Polemonium micranthum - Fairly numerous near the Upper Canyon trailhead.

* 27. Low Pussytoes: Antennaria dimorpha - Beginning to bloom.

28. Big Sagebrush: Artemisia tridentata -

29. Three-tip Sagebrush: Artemisia tripartitia -

* 30. Hooker's Balsamroot: Balsamhoriza hookeri - A few plants beginning to bloom.

* 31. Gold Stars: Crocidium multicaule - Very numerous.

32. Thread-leaf Fleabane: Erigeron filifolius - In bud.

33. False Agoseris: Nothocalais troximoides (formerly Microseris troximoides) - Basal leaves seen.

Animals Seen at this Site:

Tortoiseshell

White (a Marble?)

Green Hairstreak

Dark-eyed Junco

Harrier

Raven

Additional Species Seen in Bloom Further to the West in Cowiche Canyon (along Cowiche Mill Road):

* 1. Stony Ground Lupine: Lupinus saxosus - A few plants beginning to bloom.

* 2. Bighead Clover: Trifolium macrocephalum -

* 3. Columbia Desert Parsley: Lomatium columbianum -

* 4. Barestem Desert Parsley: Lomatium nudicaule -

Paul Slichter