We hiked at an easy pace on a mild day for about an hour on the Peterson Creek Trails. We were surprised by a few wildflowers emerging along the trails. We spotted arrow-leaved balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata), small-flowered woodland star (Lithophragma parviflorum), dame’s-rocket (Hesperis sp.) – a species of mustard, lemonweed/stoneseed (Lithospermum ruderale), and one of the rockcresses (Boechera sp.). … Continue reading →
Field chickweed (Cerastium arvense) is a mat-forming perennial in the pinks (Caryophyllaceae) family found in many areas of our region. Slender stems grow from rhizomes. Narrow hairy leaves and slender hairy stems may rise to 40 cm. Chickweed is quite variable, but we usually see a single white flower or a cluster of several flowers, with 5 white notched … Continue reading →
Yellow bells (Fritillaria pudica) are low-growing perennials found in the grasslands in early spring. They are part of the lily family. They grow from scaly bulbs and many have several small corms. The stems rise to about 15-25 cm. Lanceolate-linear leaves are usually in opposite pairs. A yellow bell-shaped drooping flower sometimes has a faint purple ring near … Continue reading →
Cutleaf anemone (Anemone multifida) is a perennial herb in the buttercup family (along with pasqueflowers at higher elevations). They tend to clump with a thick woody base and they usually have multiple stems. The lower leaves are hairy, segmented and have incised leaflets. Long, soft, hairy stems are topped with white, yellowish, or pinkish sepals, often tinged with purple, red, … Continue reading →
In the Interior area of B.C. at lower and middle elevations we can spot round-leaved alumroot (Heuchera cylindrica) in the grasslands, on dry plateaus, on rocky slopes, and in open forests, mostly in spring, but extending into early summer at higher elevations. It is a flowering perennial in the Saxifrage family. In gardening, cultivars are often called Coral Bells. … Continue reading →
We hiked a number of trails in the dry Central area of Washington State in April, camping at State Parks, and going out each day to hike new-to-us trails. One of the trails we enjoyed started in Swakane Canyon in the Swakane State Wildlife Area north of Wenatchee. We wound up onto open ridges above the Columbia River. We … Continue reading →
In May I drove through Chase, then up the Bear – Loakin Road get to the Neskonlith Lake Provincial Park Road. I continued on to the boat launch. I kayaked the lake for an hour and a half. Each time I paddle the lake I choose a different loop, but I also respond to the conditions. On … Continue reading →
