Wildflower bloom at Catherine Creek currently seems to be about a week behind last season.
* indicates the wildflower is currently blooming.
* Grass Widow: Olsynium douglasii var. douglasii -Moderate bloom, probably peeking in 7-10 days at the lower elevations.
* Linear-leaf Montia: Montia linearis - Many in bloom.
* Western Buttercup: Ranunculus occidentalis var. occidentalis -One or two in bloom........numerous leaves.
* Spring Whitlow-grass: Draba verna -Numerous.
* Smooth Prairie Star: Lithophragma glabrum - Numerous 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.
Small-flowered Blue-eyed Mary: Collinsia parvifora - A few in bloom.
* Gold Stars: Crocidium multicaule -Sparse bloom.
The leaves of the following plants are well developed. No flowers have appeared yet:
Meadow Death-camas: Toxicoscordion venonosum var. venonosum - 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.
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