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 →
We were hiking on remote ridges in the desert hills of Central Washington and decided to try the Swakane Canyon Trail. We climbed out of the canyon onto a high open ridge and came across numerous showy flowers. We didn’t … Continue reading →
When we are out walking and hiking in the hills around the Thomspon River Valleys, we frequently spot Thompson’s paintbrush on open hillsides, grassland slopes, among the sagebrush, and extending up to mid-elevations. The pale yellow-green leaves and bracts blend … Continue reading →
We spent some time doing a number of hikes of the Central Washington Desert Lands. One of these hikes was Umatilla Rock at Dry Falls in the chanelled scablands. Although the area was a rocky, dry area, grasses and sagebrush … Continue reading →
Introd Mentzelia laevicaulis is a taprooted biennail or short-lived perennial.All photos taken by the author in Painted Bluffs Provincial Park over a number of years. Click an image for a caption and larger image. Painted Bluffs in Septemberblazing starPainted Bluffs … Continue reading →
Continue reading →In late spring there is a surge of new growth in open areas. There are many wildflowers that attract our attention at this time and the emergence of lemonweed may go unnoticed. It is weedy in early stages and after … Continue reading →
