Olympic National Forest, WA 8/2020. Aster is Greek for “star”. Fields of these mixed with purple Thistles (Cirsium edule
(more…)
August 24, 2020 | Categories: Alpine , alpine/subalpine meadow , aster/composite , August , July , Olympics , rocky slopes , Unique to Northwest , Washington , white , yellow | Tags: endemic , flower , hiking , mt. ellinor , Olympic National Park , pacific northwest , wildflower | 1 Comment
Olympic National Forest, WA, 8/2020.
A long car ride followed by a steep and crowded trail were suddenly made worthwhile when we spotted these endemic bellflowers growing in-between the rocks (more…)
August 18, 2020 | Categories: Alpine , August , bellflower , July , Olympics , purple/blue , rocky slopes , Unique to Northwest , Washington | Tags: botanizing , endemic , flower , hiking , Olympic National Park , olympic range , pacific northwest , wildflower | 4 Comments
Mt. Ellinor trail, Olympic National Forest, WA, 8/2020.
We often see these spikes of cream-colored bells on rocky peaks and ridges. (more…)
August 11, 2020 | Categories: Alpine , August , Cascades , Olympics , raceme , rocky slopes , saxifrage , Unique to Northwest , Washington , white , yellow | Tags: botanizing , flower , hiking , Olympic National Park , Olympic Peninsula , pacific northwest , wildflower | Leave a comment
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
Tatoosh Ridge Trail, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA, 7/2020.
These Mountain Sageworts were mixed into the incredible flower fields we found on Tatoosh Ridge south of Mt. Rainier. (more…)
July 28, 2020 | Categories: Alpine , alpine/subalpine meadow , aster/composite , August , Cascades , dry open woods , Olympics , raceme , rocky slopes , Southern Oregon / Northern California , Washington , yellow | Tags: absinthe , Alaska , flower , gifford pinchot , hiking , Mt. Rainier , pacific northwest , ridge trail , tatoosh , wildflower , wormwood | 2 Comments
We found this guy holding on amidst alpine scree and snow near the crest of central Oregon’s Three Fingered Jack this summer. (more…)
November 5, 2019 | Categories: Alpine , alpine/subalpine meadow , August , borage , Cascades , Columbia Gorge East , dry open woods , East of Cascades , grasslands/prarie , July , June , Mid Elevation , Olympics , Oregon , pink , rocky slopes , SE Alaska , Southern Oregon / Northern California , white | Tags: flower , Mt. Jefferson Wilderness , Mt. Rainier , three fingered jack , Wildflowers | Leave a comment
Pacific Crest Trail, Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, OR, 7/2019.
At one point in the spectacular Hobart Bluff-Soda Mountain section of the Pacific Crest Trail in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, we found the trailside covered in these pretty Owl’s clovers we had never seen before. (more…)
August 20, 2019 | Categories: Alpine , alpine/subalpine meadow , August , broomrape , July , Mid Elevation , Oregon , pink , purple/blue , Southern Oregon / Northern California , Unique to Northwest | Tags: flower , hiking , pacific crest trail , pacific northwest , wildflower | Leave a comment
Bagley Creek, Mount Baker National Forest, WA, 7/2016.
We didn’t initial think this plant was a saxifrage because we mostly saw the red seed heads and stems, (more…)
April 11, 2019 | Categories: alpine/subalpine meadow , August , Cascades , July , marsh wetland/water's edge , medicinal , Mid Elevation , Olympics , saxifrage , SE Alaska , Unique to Northwest , Washington , white | Tags: bagley creek , flower , mt baker , wildflower | 1 Comment
Mt. Hood, Vista Ridge Trail, OR, 8/2016.
One of the more common and easy to identify of the dizzying array of yellow composite flowers; we were surprised to find we hadn’t yet posted it. (more…)
January 11, 2019 | Categories: Alpine , alpine/subalpine meadow , aster/composite , August , Cascades , Coastal , East of Cascades , July , marsh wetland/water's edge , Mid Elevation , Olympics , Oregon , SE Alaska , Southern Oregon / Northern California , Washington , yellow | Tags: cairn basin , flower , Mt. Hood , Mt. Rainier , Vista ridge , wildflower | Leave a comment
Horseshoe Basin, Pasayten Wilderness, WA, 7/2016.
In Washington’s Mt. Baker area, we stumbled upon this gentian, a less common variety within the pacific northwest (more…)
January 6, 2019 | Categories: Alpine , alpine/subalpine meadow , August , Cascades , East of Cascades , gentian , marsh wetland/water's edge , medicinal , Olympics , pink , SE Alaska , Washington | Tags: bitters , flower , moxie , mt baker | 1 Comment
Vista Ridge Trail, Mt. Hood Wilderness, OR, 8/2016.
Yet another of the many northwest saxifrage species; (more…)
November 25, 2018 | Categories: Alpine , alpine/subalpine meadow , August , Cascades , Mid Elevation , Oregon , rocky slopes , saxifrage , Unique to Northwest , white | Tags: flower , hudson bay company , mount rainier , tolmie , Vista ridge , wildflower | Leave a comment
Home Sweet Home, Olympic National Park, WA, 8/2018.
If ever one needs a reminder that flowers exist to attract pollinators rather than for human enjoyment, look no further than the homely sawwort. (more…)
August 20, 2018 | Categories: alpine/subalpine meadow , aster/composite , August , Cascades , July , Mid Elevation , Olympics , purple/blue , Southern Oregon / Northern California , Unique to Northwest , Washington | Tags: flower , home sweet home , north fork skokomish trail , Olympic National Park , skokomish river , wildflower | Leave a comment
South Puyallup Trail, Mt Rainier National Park, WA, 7/2015.
This member of the orchid family is common in conifer woodlands across the west and northwest. (more…)
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August 2, 2018 | Categories: Alpine , August , Cascades , Coastal , Columbia Gorge West , dry open woods , Low Elevation , Mid Elevation , Olympics , orchid , Oregon , raceme , SE Alaska , shaded forests , Southern Oregon / Northern California , white , Willamette Valley | Tags: flower , north beach penninsula , Puyallup , Wildflowers | Leave a comment
Along the banks of Royal Lake, Olympic N.P., WA, 7/2016.
We’ve probably mistaken these for Death Camas , Bistort , or Valerian on many occasions. (more…)
July 11, 2018 | Categories: August , Cascades , Coastal , Columbia Gorge West , July , lily , marsh wetland/water's edge , Mid Elevation , Olympics , Oregon , SE Alaska , Southern Oregon / Northern California , Washington , white | Tags: bog , flower , Mt. Hood , Olympic National Park , royal basin , royal lake , wildflower | Leave a comment
Upper Royal Basin, Olympic National Park, 7/2016.
This less-common saxifrage variety can be identified by its matted, basal, rosette-shaped leaves (shared with the Tolmiei species) and its upright, red stems, but mainly by the yellow, orange and red spots on its petals. (more…)
June 4, 2018 | Categories: Alpine , August , Cascades , Coastal , July , Olympics , Oregon , rocky slopes , saxifrage , SE Alaska , Unique to Northwest , Washington , white | 1 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
Lower Dewey Lake, Skagway, AK, 7/2017.
We’re posting this Northern Monkshood, found on the westside flower garden bordering Lower Dewey lake above Skagway, Alaska this summer, even though we’ve not yet posted the more common western columbianum Monkshood. (more…)
September 18, 2017 | Categories: Alaska , alpine/subalpine meadow , August , buttercup , July , poisonous , purple/blue , SE Alaska , Unique to Northwest | Tags: Alaska , flower , Lower Dewey Lake , skagway , wildflower | Leave a comment
Union Creek Trail, William O. Douglas Wilderness, WA, 7/2014.
Although perhaps the least showy of the pyrolas , the tell-tale curved stalk is endearing when repeated in a grouping, explaining it’s common name of sidebells or one-sided wintergreen. (more…)
August 13, 2017 | Categories: Alaska , All Northwest , Alpine , August , green , heath , July , Low Elevation , Mid Elevation , shaded forests , Washington | Tags: flower , skagway , Sturgil Landing Trail , Wildflowers , wintergreen | 1 Comment
Deer Mountain Trail, Ketchikan, AK, 7/2017.
Some books put this plant in the Pyrola (wintergreen) genus, while others give it it’s own: Moneses . (more…)
August 6, 2017 | Categories: Alaska , Alpine , August , Cascades , Coastal , heath , July , June , Low Elevation , Mid Elevation , Olympics , shaded forests , Southern Oregon / Northern California , white | Tags: Alaska , flower , Haida , ketchikan , Kwakwaka'wakw , Lower Dewey Lake , skagway , wildflower | 1 Comment
Eden Park Trail, Mt. Hood Wilderness, OR, 8/2016.
We stumbled across this fen of Ladies Tress orchids in the moist alpine meadows of Mt. Hood’s north side in late August. (more…)
August 31, 2016 | Categories: All Northwest , Alpine , alpine/subalpine meadow , August , Low Elevation , marsh wetland/water's edge , Mid Elevation , orchid , Oregon | Tags: Eden Park , flower , Mt. Hood , Wildflowers | 1 Comment
Hebo Lake State Park, OR, 6/2015.
There are two species of water lily commonly found in northwest lakes and ponds: the previously posted, and native yellow variety, Nuphar polysepalum ,(more…)
July 30, 2015 | Categories: aquatic , August , Cascades , Coastal , Columbia Gorge East , Columbia Gorge West , July , Low Elevation , Oregon , Southern Oregon / Northern California , water-lily , white | Tags: flower , wildflower | 1 Comment
McCord Creek Falls, Columbia Gorge, OR, 4/2014.
This is one of the easier paintbrush varieties to identify (more…)
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March 1, 2015 | Categories: Alpine , August , Cascades , Columbia Gorge West , figwort / lousewort , Mid Elevation , orange/red , Oregon , rocky slopes , Unique to Northwest | Tags: Columbia Gorge , flower , McCord Creek Falls , Wildflowers | 1 Comment
Iron Mountain, OR, 7/2014.
Also called “Western Cone Flower” and “Western Chocolate Cone”. (more…)
January 3, 2015 | Categories: alpine/subalpine meadow , aster/composite , August , Cascades , East of Cascades , green , July , marsh wetland/water's edge , Mid Elevation , Oregon , Southern Oregon / Northern California | Tags: flower , Iron Mountain , Wildflowers | Leave a comment
Iron Mountain, OR, 7/2014.
None of the three different groups of flowers called “owl’s clover” are actually clovers. (more…)
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November 22, 2014 | Categories: alpine/subalpine meadow , August , bract , broomrape , Cascades , July , Mid Elevation , Oregon , pink , Southern Oregon / Northern California , Unique to Northwest | Tags: flower , Iron Mountain , Wildflowers | Leave a comment
nwwildflowers 