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 →
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 →
Marsh Skullcap (scutellaria galericulata) was spotted at two local lakes – Scuitto Lake then at Bleeker Lake, mostly growing on old logs and stumps submersed in the water. In mid-August they were in bloom and with some maneovering of my … Continue reading →
The blooming period for bitterroot (lewisia reviva) is late May in our area. I have encountered it near Ashcroft (Elephant Hill and Black Canyon) and it is known to be found between Ashcroft and Spences Bridge so I picked a … Continue reading →
When we were visiting the Columbia River Valley near Radium, we encountered many pasqueflowers in bloom in May. Anemone patens is frequently called prairie crocus. This perennial grows to about 30 cm from a long taproot and woody base. Several … Continue reading →
In early April I hiked through Neskonlith Meadows looking for the first wildflowers and found yellow avalanche lilies, bluebells, sagebrush buttercups, fern-leaved desert parsley, yellow bells, emerging balsamroot, and western spring beauties. When the bluebells emerge, they have pinkish hue, … Continue reading →
The first avalanche lilies are now blooming in Neskonlith Meadows, southwest of Chase. The meadows are on the Adams Lake Indian Band Reserve so a permit is required to walk/hike the meadows. There were a number of wildflowers blooming and … Continue reading →
In late spring we come across chocolate lilies in meadows, glades and on lightly shaded slopes in the hills of our area. A little later, we find them in subalpine locations. This is one of the highlights of the wildflower … Continue reading →
Every summer we hike into the alpine regions of Interior Mountains, often to the summits of peaks. We enjoy the sub-alpine meadows on the way up, then we pass the treeline to the alpine zone where we will encounter tarns … Continue reading →
We hiked the desert lands in central Washington State and camped at Potholes Lake. Trails to the south went through the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, featuring rocky buttes, grasslands, marshes, pothole lakes, and many riparian zones. We enjoyed the hikes … Continue reading →
As spring growth expands, woodland stars emerge with their delicate and distinctive flowers. Although they disappear quickly, we can see them emerge at higher locations at a later time. Lithophragma parviflorum is a perennial herb in the saxifrage family growing … Continue reading →
