Devil’s Rest Trail, Columbia River Gorge, OR, 7/2020.
We often encounter the tiny four-petaled blue flowers of the Veronica genus on our hikes in a variety of settings. (more…)
August 4, 2020 | Categories: All Northwest, alpine/subalpine meadow, August, Cascades, Coastal, Columbia Gorge East, Columbia Gorge West, East of Cascades, edible, figwort / lousewort, July, June, Low Elevation, marsh wetland/water's edge, Mid Elevation, Olympics, Oregon, purple/blue, SE Alaska, Southern Oregon / Northern California, Washington, Willamette Valley | Tags: Columbia Gorge, flower, hiking, pacific northwest, wildflower | 1 Comment
Willow Creek Natural Area, Eugene, OR, 5/2016.
For Valentine’s Day, we’re posting our first of several native roses from our region, (more…)
February 14, 2019 | Categories: Coastal, Columbia Gorge East, Columbia Gorge West, dry open woods, edible, fragrant, June, Low Elevation, medicinal, Olympics, Oregon, pink, rose, Southern Oregon / Northern California, Washington, Willamette Valley | Tags: flower, Wildflowers | 1 Comment
Boundary Trail, Horseshoe Basin, Pasayten Wilderness, WA, 7/2016.
Grizzly food! Good thing we didn’t know this fact (more…)
September 10, 2018 | Categories: East of Cascades, edible, fragrant, July, Mid Elevation, pea, shaded forests, Washington, white | Tags: arctic tundra, flower, grizzly bear, horseshoe basin, Okanogan, pasayten wilderness, Wildflowers | Leave a comment
Hardy Ridge Trail, Columbia Gorge, WA, 6/2015.
We see three species of wild allium with some regularity on hikes in the Columbia Gorge and Cascades (more…)
January 28, 2018 | Categories: Alpine, alpine/subalpine meadow, August, Cascades, Columbia Gorge West, edible, July, lily, Olympics, rocky slopes, umbel, Washington, white | Tags: Flowers, Hamilton Mountain, wildflower | Leave a comment
Cone Peak Trail, Willamette National Forest, OR, 6/2017.
Spring Beauties are part of a group of plants sometimes called “spring ephemerals”, also including Blue-Eyed Grass, that harness the insulating properties of winter snowfall to send a shoot up from their underground bulb through the cold wet soil, during winter (more…)
July 21, 2017 | Categories: All Northwest, Alpine, alpine/subalpine meadow, edible, June, Mid Elevation, Oregon, pink, purslane, shaded forests | Tags: Flowers, Iron Mountain, pacific northwest, Wildflowers | 2 Comments
Tubal Cain Trail, Buckhorn Wilderness, WA, 7/2017
We’ve only recently become aware of these attractive plants. (more…)
July 30, 2016 | Categories: alpine/subalpine meadow, Columbia Gorge East, East of Cascades, edible, grasslands/prarie, June, Mid Elevation, Olympics, Oregon, pink, rose, Washington | Tags: badger pass, flower, horseshoe basin, school canyon trail, wildflower | 1 Comment
Lyle Cherry Orchard Trail, WA, 4/2016.
Early spring Columbia Gorge hikers are treated to several varieties of lomatium, commonly known as desert parsley (more…)
April 5, 2016 | Categories: April, Columbia Gorge East, East of Cascades, edible, grasslands/prarie, Low Elevation, parsley, pink, rocky slopes, Unique to Northwest, Washington | 2 Comments
Labyrinth Trail, Columbia Gorge, WA, 6/2013.
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October 10, 2014 | Categories: dry open woods, edible, Non-native, pink, rose, Washington | Tags: Columbia Gorge, flower, Wildflowers | Leave a comment
Near Memaloose Viewpoint, Columbia Gorge, OR, 5/2014.
The edible berries of this shrub vary in taste. (more…)
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July 19, 2014 | Categories: All Northwest, Coastal, dry open woods, edible, Low Elevation, May, Mid Elevation, Oregon, rose, white | Tags: Columbia Gorge, flower, Wildflowers | Leave a comment
Near Catherine Creek, Columbia Gorge, OR, 6/2014.
Like Bitterroot, by the time this plant blooms, the leaves are gone. (more…)
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June 30, 2014 | Categories: edible, grasslands/prarie, June, lily, Low Elevation, purple/blue, rocky slopes | Tags: Columbia Gorge, flower, Wildflowers | Leave a comment
McCord Creek Falls Trail, Columbia Gorge, OR 6/2013.
Common in the dry, western, low-elevation Cascades, this shrub is said to have been a favorite of famed botanist David Douglas. (more…)
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-121.953677
March 20, 2014 | Categories: Cascades, Coastal, Columbia Gorge West, edible, heath, June, Low Elevation, Oregon, pink, rocky slopes, shaded forests, Southern Oregon / Northern California | Tags: Columbia Gorge, flower, McCord Creek Falls, Wildflowers | 1 Comment
Tom McCall Preserve, Columbia Gorge, OR 4/2013.
Also known as “Saskatoon berry”, “juneberry”, and “shadberry.” (more…)
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-121.268406
February 28, 2014 | Categories: All Northwest, Alpine, dry open woods, edible, June, Low Elevation, Mid Elevation, Oregon, rose, white | Tags: Columbia Gorge, flower, Saskatoon berry, Wildflowers | Leave a comment
Silver Star Mountain, Columbia Gorge, WA, 6/2013.
The name is a Native American word meaning “something to smoke,” referring to their use of the dried leaves of this plant, sometimes mixed with tobacco. (more…)
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-122.238980
December 20, 2013 | Categories: All Northwest, Alpine, edible, heath, July, June, Low Elevation, Mid Elevation, pink, rocky slopes, shaded forests, Washington | Tags: Columbia Gorge, flower, Silver Star Mountain, Wildflowers | Leave a comment
Burnt Lake, Mount Hood N.F., OR, 7/2013.
Like some other water plants (including rice) the water lily gives off alcohol instead of carbon dioxide.
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-121.802829
August 5, 2013 | Categories: Alpine, Cascades, Coastal, East of Cascades, edible, July, Low Elevation, marsh wetland/water's edge, Mid Elevation, Oregon, Southern Oregon / Northern California, water-lily, yellow | Tags: flower, Mt. Hood, Wildflowers | Leave a comment
Lookout Mountain, OR, 7/2013.
We’ve also seen this called American Bistort, Mountain Meadow Knotweed, and (no kidding) Smokeweed.
(more…)
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-121.522295
August 2, 2013 | Categories: All Northwest, Alpine, alpine/subalpine meadow, buckwheat, edible, July, Mid Elevation, Oregon, Washington, white | Tags: Columbia Gorge, flower, Wildflowers | Leave a comment
Cone Peak Trail, near Iron Mountain, OR, 7/2014.
This strange dark flower grows close to the forest floor, requiring one to hunt under the tell-tale heart-shaped leaves to find it. Its discovery can make your day! (more…)
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-122.133681
July 29, 2013 | Categories: birthwort, Cascades, Coastal, Columbia Gorge East, Columbia Gorge West, edible, June, Low Elevation, May, Mid Elevation, purple/blue, shaded forests, Unique to Northwest, Washington | Tags: flower, Mt. Hood, Wildflowers | 2 Comments
Labyrinth Trail, Columbia Gorge, WA, 6/2013.
All species of wild onion, including this one, are edible. (more…)
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-121.395906
July 13, 2013 | Categories: Cascades, Columbia Gorge East, East of Cascades, edible, grasslands/prarie, June, lily, Low Elevation, Mid Elevation, purple/blue, Southern Oregon / Northern California, Washington | Tags: Columbia Gorge, flower, wild onion, Wildflowers | Leave a comment
Rowena Plateau, Tom McCall Preserve, Columbia Gorge, OR 4/2013.
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June 21, 2013 | Categories: Cascades, Coastal, Columbia Gorge East, Columbia Gorge West, cucumber, edible, grasslands/prarie, Low Elevation, May, Oregon, rocky slopes, Southern Oregon / Northern California, Unique to Northwest, white | Tags: Columbia Gorge, cucumber, flower, hebrew, marah, rowena, Wildflowers | 2 Comments
Beacon Rock, Columbia Gorge, WA 4/2012.
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-122.020984
May 21, 2013 | Categories: April, Cascades, Coastal, Columbia Gorge West, currant, edible, Low Elevation, March, pink, Washington | Tags: Columbia Gorge, flower, Wildflowers | 1 Comment
Catherine Creek Trail, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA. 4/2013.
Easy to miss, the early spring Bitter root appears to survive with little support. (more…)
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May 10, 2013 | Categories: Columbia Gorge East, East of Cascades, edible, June, Low Elevation, Mid Elevation, purslane, rocky slopes, rosette leaf, Washington, white | Tags: Catherine Creek, Columbia Gorge, flower, Wildflowers | Leave a comment
Lacamas County Park, Columbia Gorge, WA, 4/2015.
The edible root of this spring flowering plant has a rich history. Easily confused with the poisonous Death Camas once the flowers are gone, as the rest of the plants are nearly identical and the two often grow in the same areas. Native Americans are thought to have weeded the Death Camas from large fields during flowering so that they could later harvest the edible camas without worry. (more…)
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-121.376871
April 30, 2013 | Categories: All Northwest, edible, grasslands/prarie, lily, Low Elevation, May, Mid Elevation, purple/blue, raceme, Unique to Northwest, Washington | Tags: Columbia Gorge, flower, Wildflowers | 1 Comment
Five Mile Camp, North Cascades N.P., 8/2012.
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-120.939397
September 21, 2012 | Categories: All Northwest, Alpine, alpine/subalpine meadow, August, dry open woods, edible, evening primrose/willowherb, July, Low Elevation, Mid Elevation, pink, raceme, Washington | Tags: flower, North Cascades National Park, Wildflowers | Leave a comment
Park Creek Pass, North Cascades N.P., WA, 8/2012.
“Like the Common Dandelion, this plant can be used for salads, potherbs, tea, and wine.” -G. Scotter & H. Flygare: Wildflowers of the Canadian Rockies.
August 26, 2012 | Categories: Alpine, alpine/subalpine meadow, aster/composite, August, Cascades, edible, July, marsh wetland/water's edge, Mid Elevation, orange/red, rocky slopes, Southern Oregon / Northern California, Washington | Tags: flower, North Cascades National Park, Orange Dandelion, Wildflowers | Leave a comment
Mt. Hood W.A., OR, 7/2012.
Elizabeth Horn, in Wildflowers 1 The Cascades, writes of the many ways Native Americans ate and used this member of the parsley family:
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August 15, 2012 | Categories: All Northwest, Alpine, dry open woods, edible, July, June, Low Elevation, marsh wetland/water's edge, Mid Elevation, Oregon, parsley, shaded forests, umbel, white | Tags: flower, Mt. Hood, Wildflowers | Leave a comment
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