In mid-summer there were hot days and smoky skies, but I paddled on Jacko Lake and made some stops along the rough road. Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) was in bloom and ants were busy cultivating aphids. On the lake were … Continue reading →
The pussytoes (Antennaria sp.) group are perennials that have clusters of flowering heads on unbranched stems. The flowers are often hard to distinguish, except for rosy pussytoes. Most have basal leaves and many species are mat-forming. Rosy Pussytoes (Antennaria rosa): … Continue reading →
We hiked across former trails on the Bonaparte Plateau, now burned by the Sparks Lake Fire of 2021. Some areas were barren, some have healthy succession growth, and some were untouched by the fire, but the effects of a long, … Continue reading →
A hot and dry summer moved most wildflowers and flowering shrubs into seed production earlier than expected. Berries and capsules were more common than flowers on the Stake Lake Trails. Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) is a low-growing perennial which produces white … Continue reading →
As summer winds down, some of the stars of the perennial bed and the rockeries are still “showing off.” In a south facing rockery Okanogan fameflower (Talinum sedforme) produced small white flowers for a month, only opening on sunny … Continue reading →
Glimpse Lake is located in the forest just above the grasslands on the Douglas Plateau. There are large areas of shallow water in the lake and aquatic plants grow and then flower in summer. Bladderwort (Utricularia macrorhiza) is a floating … Continue reading →
During the hot days of August, the perennial beds are at their height. Some of the perennials that are featured here include Cupid’s-dart (Catananche caerulea), daylilies, perennial phlox, balloonflower, Gaillardia (blanketflower), Heliopsis (false sunflower), Crocosmia, tall hollyhocks, and Clematis. Click … Continue reading →
In July the weather gets hot and the perennial garden is at its peak. We try to keep up with the weeding and deadheading, but we also stop to enjoy the flowers in bloom. All shots taken by the author. … Continue reading →
On a warm summer day I traveled out to Scuitto Lake for a paddle around the lake and an exploration of the lakeshore. On the lake a number of aquatic plants were in bloom. Arumleaf Arrowhead (Sagittaria cuneata) stems were … Continue reading →
Sussex Lake is a backcountry lake near the Surrey Lake Summit at 1385 m (4543 ft). I paddled two of the lakes in the area and explore the lakeshore and access roads while out for a half day outing. In … Continue reading →
It is a long drive on backroads out to Ross Moore Lake, but if the conditions are right, it is worth a half day out and back to paddle the lake and explore the area. I paddled around the lake, … Continue reading →
We hiked from Sun Peaks mid-station through Crystal Bowl and then into West Bowl with the grandchildren, admiring the south-facing slopes wildflowers along the way. Found in abundance were Valerian (Valeriana sitchensis), Groundsel (Senecio integerrimus), Mountain Forget-me-nots (Myosotis alpestris sp.), … Continue reading →