[Columbia River Gorge Wildflower Reports: 2006]
Currently Blooming Wildflowers in the Columbia River Gorge

Monday October 30, 2006

Washington State Highway #14 from the junction with US 97 east to US 395

 

The wildflower bloom season is winding down but a number of plants can still be viewed along this drive. Other areas to look for wildflowers in bloom in the Gorge would include at the mouth of the Deschutes River and at Dalton Point about one mile west of Multnomah Falls.

The following are wildflowers still in bloom along US #14:

1. Strict Buckwheat: Eriogonum strictum var. proliferum - A few plants occasionally seen in full bloom east of US 97.

2. Velvet Lupine: Lupinus leucophyllus - Still blooming between Avery and Maryhill in the Gorge.

3. Big Sagebrush: Artemisia tridentata (var. vaseyana?) - Fairly common east of US 97 and still in bloom into central Washington.

4. Gray Rabbitbrush: Ericameria nauseosum (formerly Chrysothamnus nauseosus var. albicaulis) - Quite common east of The Dalles, OR, but many are going to seed. Also found in bloom northeastward towards Spokane, WA.

5. Common Sunflower: Helianthus annuus - A few in bloom, mostly going to seed now.

6. Hoary Aster: Macaranthera canescens - Occasionally seen in sandy soils east of US 97. Common in central Washington. A good place to see it is at the Hatton Coulee Rest Area on US 395.

Animals Seen Along this Route:

1. White butterflies - fairly numerous, and probably pollinating the last of the gray rabbitbrush.

2. Sulfur butterflies - farily numerous, and probably pollinating the last of the gray rabbitbrush.

3. Kestral

4. Magpie

5. Ravens

6. Canadian Geese

7. Brewer's Blackbirds

Paul Slichter