[Wildflower Bloom in Central and Eastern Washington: 2008]
Wildflower Bloom in Central and Eastern Washington

March 24, 2008

Cowiche Mountain via the Snow Mountain Ranch

The photo above shows a view of Columbia desert parsley as seen along the South Fork Cowiche Creek at the Snow Mt. Ranch to the west of Yakima, WA....................March 23, 2008.

Cowiche Mountain can be found several miles to the west of Yakima, WA. The site that was visited is known as the Snow Mt. Ranch which is accessed via Cowiche Mill Road along the South Fork of Cowiche Creek.

* Indicates the plant is currently in bloom.

* 1. Scilla-like Onion: Allium scilloides - A few plants beginning to bloom at mid elevations.

2. Green-banded Mariposa Lily: Calochortus macrocarpus - Several large, well-developed basal leaves seen.

* 3. Yellow Bells: Fritillaria pudica - Numerous plants in bloom, especially at mid elevations.

4. Douglas' Brodiaea: Triteleia grandiflora (ssp. douglasii or ssp. howellii) - One plant seen in bud.

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

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

7. Meadow Larkspur: Delphinium burkei - A large cluster of basal leaves seen in a vernally moist area along a small creekalong the northwest flanks of the mountain.

8. Upland Larkspur: Delphinium nuttallianum - A number of fairly well developed clusters of basal leaves seen, especially under the trees and large bushes lining the small creek that runs up the northwestern flanks of Cowiche Mt.

* 9. Sagebrush Buttercup: Ranunculus glaberrimus - Especially abundant at mid elevations.

* 10. Hornseed Buttercup: Ranunculus testiculatus - Occasional along disturbed sections of the lower trail.

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

12. Daggerpod: Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides - A few plants with flower buds developing at mid to upper elevations.

* 13. Shining Oregon Grape: Berberis aquifolium - A few plants seen in bloom.

* 14. Bulblet Prairie-star: Lithophragma glabrum (formerly Lithophragma bulbifera) - Beginning to bloom.

15. Grassland Saxifrage: Saxifraga integrifolia - Seen in moist places. Several plants (in bud) are so large as to be reminiscent of bog saxifrage (Saxifraga oregana).

16. Golden Currant: Ribes aureum -

17. Wax Currant: Ribes cereum - Flower buds developing.

18. Stony Ground Lupine: Lupinus saxosus - One plant seen with developing flower buds.

* 19. Sagebrush Violet: Viola trinervata - Numerous although far from their peak bloom.

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

* 21. Columbia Desert Parsley: Lomatium columbianum -

* 22. Fern-leaf Desert Parsley: Lomatium dissectum - Beginning to bloom at lower elevations.

* 23. Geyer's Desert Parsley: Lomatium geyeri - Blooming in areas of mixed sagebrush and grasslands.

* 24. Pungent Desert Parsley: Lomatium grayi - Fairly numerous, although plants are small at lower elevations.

* 25. Biscuitroot: Lomatium macrocarpum - A few plants seen in bloom.

* 26. Barestem Desert Parsley: Lomatium nudicaule - Fairly numerous.

* 27. Salt and Pepper: Lomatium piperi -

* 28. Hoover's Taushchia: Tauschia hooveri -

* 29. Midget Phlox: Phlox gracilis (formerly Microsteris gracilis) - A few plants beginning to bloom.

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

31. Big Sagebrush: Artemisia tridentata var. wyomingensis -

30. Hooker's Balsamroot: Balsamhoriza hookeri - A few plants with flower buds forming.

* 31. Gold Stars: Crocidium multicaule - Fairly common.

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

34. Western Groundsel: Senecio integerrimus (var. ?) - Numerous basal leaves seen at upper elevations.

The upper photo shows a view uphill towards Cowiche Mt. while the lover photo shows a view southwest towards the ridgeline to the west of Cowiche Mt. Both photos were taken along the trail to Cowiche Mt. on the Snow Mt. Ranch......................March 23, 2008. Click each photo to see an enlarged version.
Animals Seen at this Site:

3 mallards

Dark-eyed Juncos - Very numerous

Black-capped Chickadee

American Robins - Very numerous

Western Meadowlark

Magpies

Starlings

Stellers Jays

Ravens

Shrike

Kestrel

Red-tailed Hawk

Turkey Vulture

Elk - Hundreds lounging at high elevations to the northwest of Cowiche Mt. (In the state preserve.).

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

* 1. Yellow Bells: Fritillaria pudica -

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

* 3. Sagebrush Buttercup: Ranunculus glaberrimus - Fairly abundant.

4. Shining Oregon Grape: Berberis aquifolium - A number of plants within days of blooming.

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

* 6. Bulblet Prairie-star: Lithophragma glabrum (formerly Lithophragma bulbifera) - Beginning to bloom.

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

* 8. Bighead Clover: Trifolium macrocephalum - One plant blooming, a number of others with well-formed flower buds.

* 9. Sagebrush Violet: Viola trinervata - Fairly numerous.

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

* 11. Columbia Desert Parsley: Lomatium columbianum -

* 12. Fern-leaf Desert Parsley: Lomatium dissectum - A few plants beginning to bloom.

* 13. Barestem Desert Parsley: Lomatium nudicaule -

* 14. Carey's Balsamroot: Balsamorhiza careyana - A few plants beginning to bloom.

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

* 16. Gold Stars: Crocidium multicaule - Fairly common.

Paul Slichter