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

Wildflower bloom Along the Horsetail and Oneonta Trails

March 13, 2005

Inflorescence of Columbia Kittentails: Synthyris stellata as photographed about one mile west of Multnomah Falls, Columbia River Gorge.................March 13, 2005.
* indicates the wildflower is blooming.
Horsetail and Oneonta Trails

These are popular trails on weekends, with lots of hikers and some canine friends. One can also had an extra 2 miles to this trip by hiking to Triple Falls higher up Oneonta Gorge. At this time, the leaves of many plants may be seen, which is good ID practice and anticipation of what will come later! Much of the Oregon side of the Gorge is still in shade at midday at this time of year.

The photo at right shows sweet colt's foot Petasites frigidis as seen benearth upper Horsetail Falls in the Columbia River Gorge............March 13, 2005.

1. Black Cottonwood: Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa - Beginning to leaf out along I-84.

*2. Big-leaf Maple: Acer macrophyllum - Beginning bloom at lower elevations.

3. False Solomon Seal: Smilacina racemosa - (Several up to a foot tall and well formed, but no flower buds visible yet.)

*4. Chickweed: Stellaria media - Common, especially along the road.

5. Western Meadow-rue: Thalictrum occidentale - A few with inflorescences forming.

*6. Slender Toothwort: Cardamine pulcherrima var. tenella - Scattered, but in full bloom.

*7. Cascade Oregon Grape: Mahonia (Berberis) nervosa - Mostly in bud, but a few flowers opening.

*8. Western Saxifrage: Saxifraga occidentalis - In bloom primarily around Oneonta Gorge.

9. Fringe Cup: Tellima grandiflora - Mostly basal leaves, but some with leafy stems and flower buds visible.

*10. Red-flowering Currant: Ribes sanguineum - Scattered but in full bloom.

*11. Indian Plum: Oemleria cerasiformis - Common.

*12. Sour Cherry ? : Prunus cerasus ?

*13. Red-dead-nettle: Lamium amplexicaule - A few in bloom next to the road at the mouth of the Oneonta Gorge.

*14. Columbia Kittentails: Synthyris stellata - Common along the road and some higher on steep, rocky slopes of forest clearings.

*15. Red Elderberry: Sambucus racemosa var. arborescens - A few beginning to bloom.

*18. Scouler's Valerian: Valeriana scouleri - Mostly basal leaves, but a few with very short, white inflorescences poking out from the cluster of leaves.

*19. Sweet Colt's Foot: Petasites frigidus - A few in bloom along the road, and a few in bloom under the upper Horsetail Falls.

*20. Common Dandylion: Taraxacum officinale - A few in bloom, especially near impacted areas next to the road.

Animals Seen or Heard: Steller's Jays, Dark-eyed Junco, Winter Wren, Pika.

Paul Slichter