Growing along the railroad tracks near the train station on Yacolt Creek in SW Washington, this member of the Pea family has very small flowers that are easy to miss.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Monday, July 9, 2012
Saddle Mushroom, Helvella elastica
I found this odd looking mushroom near Moulton Falls on the East Fork of the Lewis River in SW Washington. Many thanks to lycopus on gardenweb.com, name-that-plant forum for the ID.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Stinging nettle, Urtica dioica
This is one annoying plant! No friend to hikers, stinging hairs contain formic acid that irritate the skin when touched even lightly.
Flower closeup:
Stinging hairs:
Flower closeup:
Stinging hairs:
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Monday, May 28, 2012
Korean Fir, Abies koreana
After planting seeds over 10 years ago, this small tree is finally producing purple cones. I will post another picture when the cones are larger and hopefully more colorful. The Korean Fir, although not a NorthWest native, has soft needles that are white on the underside, attractive cones, pleasing aroma, and symmetric shape.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Rattlesnake Plantain, Goodyera oblongifolia
I have been keeping an eye on this particular orchid plant for quite some time and it is finally sending up a flower stalk. In a few weeks I hope to add a picture of the flowers.
6-10-2012 update: The flower stock is now about 5" tall
6-29-2012 update: about 12" now
7-22-2012 update:
6-10-2012 update: The flower stock is now about 5" tall
6-29-2012 update: about 12" now
7-22-2012 update:
Columbia Windflower, Anemone deltoidea
What a difference a week makes. Last Saturday, none of the Windflowers were in bloom; this weekend there were a lot!
6-10-2012, Here is what it looks like after the petals are gone:
Yellow Glacier Lily, Erythronium grandiflorum
On a recent hike in the Columbia River Gorge, this is the only specimen I could find of this pretty flower.
Nodding Onion, Allium cernuum
Found these native perennials growing out of rock crevices near Lucia Falls on the East Fork of the Lewis River in SW Washington
Saturday, May 19, 2012
American Dipper, Cinclus mexicanus
Also known as Water Ouzel, these chicks were waiting for Mom to feed them from their well camouflaged nest which was perched on a rocky ledge above the East Fork of the Lewis River in SW Washington.
Here is a closeup:
Food delivery:
Here is a closeup:
Food delivery:
Common Camas, Camassia quamash
In the midst of hundreds of blue-petaled Common Camas, upstream of Lucia Falls on the East Fork of the Lewis River in SW Washington, there are a couple of plants with white flowers.
Wood Saxifrage, Saxifraga mertensiana
Found this flower growing on a wet, rock ledge in the Moulton Falls area on the East Fork of the Lewis River in SW Washington.
Sticky Cinquefoil, Potentilla glandulosa
Growing in a moist rocky area upstream of Moulton Falls on the East Fork of the Lewis River in SW Washington, this native perennial is commonly found from California to British Columbia.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Great Hound's Tongue, Cynoglossum grande
It was very windy along Catherine Creek, but this native member of the Borage family held still long enough for me to take this picture.
Pungent Desert Parsley, Lomatium grayi
Other than accidentally bring a Tick home with us, it was a very enjoyable time looking at the flowers, such as this native member of the Carrot family along Catherine Creek in the Columbia River Gorge.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Small-Flowered Trillium, Trillium parviflorum
This species of Trillium, growing near Lucia Falls on the East Fork of the Lewis River in SW Washington, is not nearly as common as Trillium ovatum (see April 8, 2012 blog entry)
Sunday, April 8, 2012
WesternTrillium, Trillium ovatum
This clump of Trilliums is annoyingly right in the pathway next to the creek on our property but the flowers make it worthwhile.
4-11-15 update:
Several years ago, this plant had just a single stock, but this year it really expanded-
4-11-15 update:
Several years ago, this plant had just a single stock, but this year it really expanded-
Beaver 1, Alder 0
White Fawn Lily, Erythronium oregonum
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Indian Pipe, Monotropa uniflora
While walking through one of my favorite places, Moulton Falls Park in SW Washington, I went past the spot where I had previously photographed Indian Pipe (6-29-2010 blog post) while it was growing in Summer. Now is too early in the year for new growth, but these seed heads are an interesting remnant of last years plants.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Streambank Arnica, Arnica amplexicaulis
Upstream of Moulton Falls on the East Fork of the Lewis River in SW Washington is an interesting area. Year-round springs run through a rocky area which support a water loving plant community that thrives with virtually no soil. Streambank Arnica is one of those plants.