[2005 Wildflower Bloom Reports for the Columbia River Gorge]
Columbia River Gorge

Wildflower bloom along the lower Deschutes River

March 6 , 2005

Long-leaf Phlox: Phlox longifolia as photographed along the abandoned railroad bed along the east bank of the Deschutes River, about 1.5 mile from its mouth.....................March 6, 2005.
* indicates the wildflower is blooming.
East Bank of the Deschutes River at its Mouth

1. Willow: Salix sp.- See photo at right. (covered by honeybees!)

2. Miner's Lettuce: Claytonia (Montia) perfoliata - A few in bud higher on the canyon walls.

*3. Spring Whitlow Grass: Draba verna var. boerhavii - numerous

4. Smooth Prairie Stars: Lithophragma glabra - Fairly numerous although small.

5. Northwest Saxifrage: Saxifraga integrifolia - A few beginning to bloom in moist grasslands in shaded areas high on the canyon walls.

6. Almond: Prunus sp.

*7. Filaree: Erodium cicutarium - Moderate bloom.

8. Fern leaf Desert Parsley: Lomatium dissectum var. multifidum ? - Colorful leaves emerging. Sorry, I still need to look at the key to confirm which variety it is.

9. Pungent Desert Parsley: Lomatium grayii - Beginning bloom on rock outcrops.

10. Bare-stem Desert Parsley: Lomatium nudicaule - Numerous seedlings emerging.

11. Salt and Pepper: Lomatium piperi - Going to seed below, still in bloom but fading high on the canyon walls.

12. Cusick's Shooting Star: Dodecatheon cusickii - A few with flower buds a few days from opening.

13. Midget Phlox: Phlox (Microsteris) gracilis - A few in bloom.

14. Long-leaf Phlox: Phlox longifolia - Beginning bloom but fairly numerous.

15. Low Pussytoes: Antennaria dimorpha - Some with flower buds beginning to form.

16. Arrowleaf Balsamroot: Balsamorhiza sagittata - A few in bloom at the base of the rocky bluff at the first major left curve of the river (just above river level). Those that are higher are still only with emerging leaves.This is probably what they are although I didn't climb down to take a closer look.

*17. Gold Stars: Crocidium multicaule - Moderate bloom on the rocky outcrops.

 

Fern-leaf Desert Parsley: Lomatium dissectum

Animals Seen: Small burnt orange colored butterflies, water boatmen in puddles, many spiders travelling with egg sacs under their abdomens, honey bees, western fence lizards displaying for territory, double crested cormorants, Canada geese, great blue heron, house finch, dark-eyed juncos, American robins, western meadowlarks, Bewick's wren, canyoun wrens singing, raven, ret-tailed hawk pair.

Paul Slichter