[2004 Wildflower Bloom Reports for the Columbia River Gorge]
Columbia River Gorge

Wildflower bloom at several sites to the east of Hood River & White Salmon.

February 22, 2004

* indicates the wildflower is blooming.
Memaloose Overlook (On the Old Highway East of Mosier, OR)

*1. Grass Widow: Sisyrinchium douglasii var. douglasii -Moderate bloom, probably peeking in 7-10 days at the lower elevations.

*2. Salt & Pepper or Piper's Desert Parsley: Lomatium piperi -Numerous bloom.

Governor Tom McCall Nature Preserve (Nature Conservancy)

*1. Grass Widow: Sisyrinchium douglasii var. douglasii -Moderate bloom, probably peeking in 7-10 days at the lower elevations.

*2. Salt & Pepper or Piper's Desert Parsley: Lomatium piperi -Numerous bloom.

*3. Columbia Desert Parsley: Lomatium columbianum -Numerous plants, mostly flowers with leaves just beginning to poke out.

Old Highway About 1 Mile South of Entrance to Discovery Center (& about 0.1 mile north of rock pit/gunnery range)

*1. Spring Whitlow-grass: Draba verna var. boerhaavii -Numerous.

*2. Columbia Desert Parsley: Lomatium columbianum -Numerous plants, mostly flowers with leaves just beginning to poke out.

*3. Pungent Desert Parsley: Lomatium grayi -Only in bloom at the base of the cliffs at the western edge of Catherine Creek.

Columbia River Shores Near The Dalles Dam

*1. Pungent Desert Parsley: Lomatium grayi - Several barely in bloom.

*2. Smooth Desert Parsley: Lomatium laevigatum- Several in bloom.

Summit of The Dalles Mt. Road

1. Grass Widow: Sisyrinchium douglasii var. inflatum - Leaves only, but bloom could begin within 7-10 days.

*2. Canby's Desert Parsley: Lomatium canbyi - Beginning bloom.

Three Bench Loop (Access to Lower Bench at East End of Doug's Beach)

*1. Yellow Bells: Fritillaria pudica - Fairly numerous bloom at lower elevations.

*2. Grass Widow: Sisyrinchium douglasii var. douglasii -Sparse bloom, probably peeking in 7-10 days at the lower elevations.

*3. Smooth Prairie Star: Lithophragma glabra -Beginning to bloom.

*4. Northwestern Saxifrage: Saxifraga integrifolia var. integrifolia -Not in bloom but flower heads extending & noticeable.

*5. Columbia Desert Parsley: Lomatium columbianum -Beginning to bloom, mostly flowers with leaves just beginning to poke out.

*6. Pungent Desert Parsley: Lomatium grayi -Only in bloom at the base of the cliffs.

*7. Salt & Pepper or Piper's Desert Parsley: Lomatium piperi -Numerous bloom.

Catherine Creek

*1. Grass Widow: Sisyrinchium douglasii var. douglasii -Sparse bloom, probably peeking in 7-10 days at the lower elevations.

*2. Western Saxifrage: Saxifraga occidentalis - A few in bloom.

*3. Salt & Pepper or Piper's Desert Parsley: Lomatium piperi -Numerous bloom.

Animals Seen:

1. Several red-tailed hawks

2. Numerous horned larks

3. American robins

4. Scrub jays

5. Ravens

6. Small, light-creamy brown butterfly

7. Numerous tree frogs singing

Paul Slichter