[Wildflower Bloom Reports for Washington & Oregon] [Columbia River Gorge Wildflower Bloom Reports Prior to 2002]

[Wildflower Destinations in the Columbia River Gorge]
Wildflower Bloom in the Columbia River Gorge

February 18, 2002

Yellow Bells: Fritillaria pudica
Tom McCall Nature Preserve

Grass Widows: Sisyrinchium douglasii

Columbia Desert Parsley: Lomatium columbianum

Biscuitroot: Lomatium macrocarpum (yellow form)

Salt and Pepper: Lomatium piperi

Gold Stars: Crocidium multicaule

Animals Seen at the Tom McCall Nature Preserve

1. Kestrel

2. Harrier

3. Scrub jay (three)

4. Raven

5. Horned larks (many)

The Dalles Dam - (Along the Columbia River just downstream from the dam.)

Pungent Desert Parsely: Lomatium grayii - One in bloom.

Smooth Desert Parsley: Lomatium laevigatum- One in bloom.

The Dalles Mt. Road (near its summit)

Dalles Mt. Buttercup: Ranunculus reconditus- A few begining to bloom.

Canby's Desert Parsley: Lomatium canbyi- Numerous

Biscuitroot: Lomatium macrocarpum (white-flowered form)- Blooming several miles downhill from the summit area.

Salt and Pepper: Lomatium gormani / piperi -Numerous

Three Bench Loop (park at Doug's Beach about 2 miles east of Lyle, WA)

Yellow Bells: Fritillaria pudica- Many in bloom.

Grass Widows: Sisyrinchium douglasii -Fairly common, but at least several weeks from peaking.

Chickweed: Stellaria media- A few in bloom.

Little Western Bitter Cress: Cardamine oligosperma- A few in bloom.

Spring Whitlow-grass: Draba verna- Many in bloom.

Smooth Prairie Star: Lithophragma glabra -Fairly common, especially on steep slopes or along the upper edges of cliffs.

Northwestern Saxifrage: Saxifraga integrifolia- Fairly common at the east end of the trail.

Columbia Desert Parsley: Lomatium columbianum -Numerous plants in bloom (Few with leaves visible yet.).

Pungent Desert Parsely: Lomatium grayii - Several in bloom.

Salt and Pepper: Lomatium piperi -Numerous

Meadow Nemophila: Nemophila pedunculata- A few in bloom.

Balsamroot: Balsamorhiza deltoidea?- One plant up with just a few baby ray flowers emerging.

Gold Stars: Crocidium multicaule -Many in bloom at the west end.

Animals Seen along the Three Bench Loop:

1. Golden Eagle (2 soaring over the area, catching a thermal).

2. Northern Flicker (One)

3. Ravens (a pair)

4. Scrub Jays (one)

5. Tiny butterfly (rusty with dark markings)

Catherine Creek

Grass Widows: Sisyrinchium douglasii -Fairly common, but at least several weeks from peaking.

Line-leaf Montia: Montia linearis- A few in bloom.

Spring Whitlow-grass: Draba verna- Many in bloom.

Smooth Prairie Star: Lithophragma glabra - A few in bloom.

Northwestern Saxifrage: Saxifraga integrifolia -A few in bloom.

Western Saxifrage: Saxifraga occidentalis -Fairly common.

Columbia Desert Parsley: Lomatium columbianum -A few plants in bloom (Few with leaves visible yet.).

Pungent Desert Parsely: Lomatium grayii - A few in bloom.

Salt and Pepper: Lomatium piperi -Numerous

Gold Stars: Crocidium multicaule -Many in bloom on the west facing bank.

Animals Seen at Catherine Creek:

1. Says Phoebe- (1)

2. Kestrel- (1)

3. Common Crow- (many)

4. Pacific Tree Frogs- (many singing!)

5. Dark-eyed Junco- (3)

6. Northern Flicker- (1)

Paul Slichter