[Wildflower Bloom in the Columbia River Gorge: 2006]

Wildflower Bloom in the Columbia River Gorge

March 5, 2006

Columbia Kittentails: Synthyris missurica ssp. stellata

* Indicates the wildflower is currently in bloom!

Skunk Cabbage can occasionally be seen in bloom in the western Gorge, while trilliums are beginning to bloom fairly commonly on slopes beneath the still leafless trees.


Old Columbia Gorge Highway (MP 31.1)

* Columbia Kittentails, Mountain Kittentails: Synthyris missurica ssp. stellata (formerly Synthyris stellata) - A few have bloomed at this spot for the past few weeks, with the leaves now starting to appear.


Mouth of Oneonta Gorge

* 1. Common Chickweed: Stellaria media -

* 2. Western Saxifrage: Saxifraga occidentalis (variety dentata?) -

3. numerous basal leaves of larkspur: Delphinium species -


Wachlella Falls Trail

* 1. Red Alder: Alnus rubra - Catkins dangling from the ends of the branches.

2. Maidenhair Spleenwort: Asplenium trichomanes -

3. False Solomon Seal, False Solomon Plume - Maianthemum racemosum (formerly Smilacina racemosa) - Scapes emerging from soil, to 14 cm high.

* 4. Western Wake-robin, Trillium, Wood Lily: Trillium ovatum - A few beginning to bloom on northern exposures.

5. Miners Lettuce: Claytonia perfoliata - A number of plants with flower buds forming.

6. Field Chickweed: Cerastium arvense - Basal leaves only on exposed gravelly soils with southern or western exposure.

* 7. Slender Toothwort: Cardamine pulcherrima var. tenella - Now beginning to bloom. The plants here often have deeply lobed basal leaves, reminiscent of those of var. pulcherrima.

8. Northwestern Saxifrage, Peak Saxifrage: Saxifraga nidifica var. claytoniifolia (formerly S. integrifolia var. claytoniaefolia) - Basal leaves only.

* 9. Western Saxifrage: Saxifraga occidentalis (variety dentata ?) - Hairs of inflorescence tipped with minute, reddish glands. Inflorescence at first, very tight and ball-like, later with several fairly open, spreading branches.

* 10. Osoberry: Oemlaria cerasiformis - A few beginning to bloom near the trailhead.

* 11. Salmonberry: Rubus spectabilis - Several beginning to bloom along the trail within 100 meters of the trailhead.

12. English Ivy: Hedera helix - Many vines have been pulled off the trees and slopes here, but a few remained entwined around their host trees.

* 13. Columbia Kittentails, Mountain Kittentails: Synthyris missurica ssp. stellata (formerly Synthyris stellata) - Blooming on large boulders that regularly get spray from Wachlella Falls (around the foot bridge just below the falls).

* 14. Gold Stars: Crocidium multicaule -

* 15. Sweet Colt's Foot: Petasites frigidus - Numerous plants in bloom in cool, moist ditches and cliffside seeps.


Animals Seen:

1. Winter Wren

2. Dark-eyed Juncos

3. Pair of Dippers, displaying and mating.

Paul Slichter E-mail