[Wildflower Bloom Reports for the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington: 2001]

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

Catherine Creek

March 4, 2001

Oak forest along the eastern slopes above Catherine Creek......March 4, 2001.

Oak forest along the eastern slopes above Catherine Creek.....March 4, 2001.

Wildflower bloom at Catherine Creek currently seems to be about a week behind last season.

*indicates the wildflower is blooming.

* Grass Widow: Olsynium douglasii var. douglasii -Moderate bloom, probably peeking in 7-10 days at the lower elevations.

* Western Buttercup: Ranunculus occidentalis var. occidentalis -One or two in bloom........numerous leaves.

* Spring Whitlow-grass: Draba verna -Numerous.

* Smooth Prairie Star: Lithophragma glabrum -Beginning to bloom (showy bloom along old highway at Major Creek).

* Brittle-leaved Saxifrage: Micranthes fragosa - Not in bloom but flower heads extending upwards and noticeable

* Northwestern Saxifrage: Micranthes integrifolia - Not in bloom but flower heads extending upwards and noticeable

* Rusty-hair Saxifrage: Micranthes rufidula - Beginning to bloom.

* Columbia Desert Parsley: Lomatium columbianum -Numerous plants, mostly flowers with leaves just beginning to poke out.

* Klickitat Desert Parsley: Lomatium klickitatense - Only in bloom at the base of the cliffs at the western edge of Catherine Creek.

* Salt & Pepper or Piper's Desert Parsley: Lomatium piperi -Numerous bloom.

Poet's Shooting Star: Dodecatheon poeticum -Leaves developing with a few flowers in bud.

* Gold Stars: Crocidium multicaule -Sparse bloom.


The leaves of the following plants are well developed. No flowers have appeared yet:

Meadow Death-camas: Toxicoscordion venenosum var. venenosum -A few plants 3-4 inches high in the field above the parking lot.

Candy Flower: Claytonia sibirica -Many plants at the corral.

Bitter Root: Lewisia rediviva -Many plants, some nibbled by deer. Should be an excellent bloom in May.

Line-leaf Montia: Montia linearis -Numerous but flowers only in bud.

Upland Larkspur: Delphinium nuttallianum -A few well-developed plants seen near the creek.

Meadow Nemophila: Nemophila pedunculata -Many with well developed leaves near the power lines.

False Agoseris: Nothocalais troximoides -A few plants seen.


Animals Seen:

1. 2 western meadowlarks

2. 4 western bluebirds


Paul Slichter