We usually encounter pink monkeyflower in seep zones, seasonal stream channels, and wet meadows in subalpine areas in the mountains in summer. The first time I ran into mimulus lewisii in flower was in 1969 when I hiked around Helm … Continue reading →
We look forward to spotting paintbrush as we hike the trails in late spring and summer. The showy bright red bracts symbolize the arrival of warm weather and the beauty of summer flower meadows. Castilleja miniata or common paintbrush is … Continue reading →
Milkweed emerges in disturbed areas, on the rivershore above the high water mark, and along the sides of paths looking weedy and primitive. When the flowerheads start to emerge we are then reminded of the showy exotic-looking flowers and … Continue reading →
When chicory first emerges, it is not noticed, unobvious with the surge of spring growth, and unremarkable in early stages. It is only when the flowers appear that we stop to notice the weedy-looking plant. In tight clusters chicory can … Continue reading →
We hiked across the Tranquille Hills toward Battle Bluff to get to known fossil beds on shale slopes. It is about a 2 km hike to the best spots. Many shale fragments lie on downslopes, washed down by erosion, or … Continue reading →
Shrubby penstemon is one of the finest flowering shrubs of our area, a welcome sight in late spring and summer. Penstemon fruticosas is a low-growing evergreen shrub (or subshrub) that grows on open, rocky hillsides in our area. Many branches … Continue reading →
We hiked from Lac du Bois to the top of Wheeler Mountain passing from the upper grasslands in to the Douglas fir forests. Witch’s hair lichens hung from branches on the way up. The sun shone through the lichens and … Continue reading →
The Napier Lake Ranch Conservancy is located just off Highway 5A near Napier Lake. A short dirt side road climbs the hill to a parking area. Visitors on foot can explore the grassland bench by going through a person gate … Continue reading →
Moneses uniflora or one flowered wintergreen is a perennial that grows from rhizomes to a woody base and a stalk of up to 10 cm. Evergreen oval thin veined basal leaves cover the base. Flowers form on leafless, nodding … Continue reading →
In late spring, larkspur grows rapidly on open slopes, providing blue and purple blossoms to complement the yellows and whites of spring. Delphinium nutallianum is a perennial that grows from a tuberous, branched fleshy root system. A single stalk grows … Continue reading →
We hiked across Red Plateau in the second half of October. There was a thin coat of ice on the ponds as we went through forest to the rim of the south-aspect Escarpment. A few plants were untouched by frost … Continue reading →
As the colder weather sets in, bunchgrass, thread-and-needle grass, and rough fescue have grown to their full height and the wildflowers of spring are long past. I hiked for 6.4 km through the middle grasslands enjoying this unique ecosystem. In … Continue reading →
