[Wildflower Bloom in the Columbia River Gorge: 2009]

Wildflowers Currently in Bloom in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington

Horsethief Butte

A North American Rock Garden Society Hike

March 16, 2009

View from the Columbia Hills Natural Area Preserve: February 4, 2009

Bulblet prairie star (Lithophragma glabrum, previously known as Lithophragma bulbifera)

This hike was part of the Western Study Weekend for the North American Rock Garden Society.

Today the weather was in the upper 30s to mid 40s in Gorge. There were intermittent sprinkles interspersed with sunshine. The wind was fairly gusty at this location during the late afternoon.

* indicates the plant is currently blooming.

* Yellow Bells: Fritillaria pudica

* Grass Widows: Olsynium douglasii var. douglasii - Not yet at its peak.

Heartleaf Buckwheat: Eriogonum compositum var. compositum

Scabland Wild Buckwheat: Eriogonum sphaerocephalum var. sublineare

Bitterroot: Lewisia rediviva

* Lineleaf Montia: Montia linearis

* Spring Whitlow-grass: Draba verna - Very numerous.

* Scalepod: Idahoa scapigera - Beginning to bloom with a few plants showing maturing fruits.

* Bulblet Prairie Stars: Lithophragma glabrum (Synonym: Lithophragma bulbifera) - Beginning to bloom.

* Brittle-leaved Saxifrage: Micranthes fragosa

Chokecherry: Prunus virginiana var. melanocarpa

Filaree: Erodium cicutarium

Poison Oak: Toxicodendron diversilobum

* Klickitat Desert Parsley: Lomatium klickitatense

* Smooth Desert Parsley: Lomatium laevigatum

* Butterfly-loving (Pungent) Desert Parsley: Lomatium papilioniferum

* Gorman's Salt and Pepper: Lomatium gormanii

* Salt and Pepper: Lomatium piperi - Numerous.

* Small-flowered Blue-eyed Mary: Collinsia parviflora

Common Monkey Flower: Erythranthe guttata

Annual Bedstraw: Galium aparine

* Gold Stars: Crocidium multicaule - Fairly numerous.

Columbia Goldenweed: Ericameria resinosa


Paul Slichter