[Wildflower Bloom in the Columbia River Gorge: 2006]

Wildflower Bloom in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington

Horsethief Butte

Columbia Hills Historical State Park

March 11, 2006

Desert Shooting Star: Dodecatheon conjugens

Desert Shooting Star: Dodecatheon conjugens

* Indicates the wildflower is currently in bloom!

* Grass Widow: Olsynium douglasii var. douglasii - Fading bloom, perhaps not a good year for the bloom of this species through much of the gorge.

* Spring Whitlow-grass: Draba verna - Numerous bloom.

* Brittle-leaved Saxifrage: Micranthes fragosa - Several in bloom.

* Gorman's Salt and Pepper: Lomatium gormanii

* Klickitat Desert Parsley: Lomatium klickitatense

* Butterfly-loving (Pungent) Desert Parsley: Lomatium papilioniferum - A few plants in bloom with pungent leaves just peeking out of the ground.

* Salt & Pepper: Lomatium piperi - A few still in bloom.

* Desert Shooting Star: Dodecatheon conjugens - A few beginning to bloom.

Balsamroot: Balsamorhiza careyana x deltoidea -

* Gold Stars: Crocidium multicaule - Moderate bloom on the higher slopes.

Thread-leaf Fleabane: Erigeron filifolius -

Cushion Fleabane: Erigeron poliospermus var. poliospermus ? -

Animals Seen: Ravens, Golden Eagle


Railroad Grade and Upper Loop Trail Along the East Bank of the Deschutes River

Deschutes River State Recreation Area

Fern-leaf Desert Parsley: Lomatium dissectum

Fern-leaf Desert Parsley: Lomatium dissectum

* Yellow Bells: Fritillaria pudica

* Miner's Lettuce: Claytonia perfoliata - A few in bud higher on the canyon walls.

* Spring Whitlow Grass: Draba verna - numerous

* Smooth Prairie Stars: Lithophragma glabrum - Fairly numerous although small.

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

Sweet Almond: Prunus dulcis

Spurred Lupine: Lupinus arbustus - Some plants about 8-10 inches high, but not sign yet of any racemes.

* Filaree: Erodium cicutarium - Moderate bloom.

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.

* Butterfly-loving (Pungent) Desert Parsley: Lomatium papilioniferum - Beginning bloom on rock outcrops.

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

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

Long-leaf Phlox: Phlox longifolia - Many plants seen but not in bloom yet.

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

Carey's Balsamroot: Balsamorhiza careyana ? - Numerous plants, but mostly with a few leaves emerging from the ground and a few flower heads beginning to form.

* Gold Stars: Crocidium multicaule - Moderate bloom on the higher slopes.

Animals Seen: Bushtits, Dark-eyed Juncos, Rock Wren, American Robins, Red-winged Blackbirds, English Starlings, Ravens, Great-blue Heron, Common Merganser


Paul Slichter E-mail