Wildflowers in the Columbia Gorge

Wildflowers in the Columbia Gorge

Catherine Creek, east of Bingen Washington, is one of the first places that wildflowers start blooming in spring. We saw our first crocus-like Grass Widow blooming there on January 16th this year. But on February 15th we returned to the area on a sunny day, and what a difference a month made! We got photos of 11 different wildflowers in bloom either at Catherine Creek, or at a basaltic rock outcrop to the east of Major Creek Road.

Grass Widow
Sysyrinchum douglasii (RJ 47)*
Lewis & Clark called them "Satin Flowers"

Narrow-Leaved Montia
Montia linearis (RJ 102)
These are tiny: the plant is only about 2 inches tall.

Spring Whitlow-grass

Drabna verna (RJ 180)

Another tiny plant, in the Mustard Family.

 Northwestern Saxifrage

Saxifraga integrifolia (RJ 219)

Leaves are eggshaped and mostly smooth.

                              Salt & Pepper                                

 Lomatium piperi (RJ 397)

    Very tiny--white and dark purple.

Western Buttercup

Ranunculus occidentalis (RJ 145)

Shiny yellow, growing under oaks in a moist area near a frog pond

where the bullfrogs were loudly singing their courtship songs.         

 Smooth Desert Parsley

Lomatium laevigatum (RJ 391)

Looks kind of like a yellow Queen Ann's Lace--in the same family. 

It sprouts out of the basalt rocks.

Columbia Gorge Desert Parsley

Lomatium columbianum (RJ 388)

These pink flowers come up even beore their leaves.

This plant is found only in the Columbia Gorge.

 Smooth Prairie Star

Lithophragma glabra (RJ 207)

Pink fringed petals emerge from little red bulblets.

Western Saxifrage

Saxifraga occidentalis (RJ 221)

This saxifrage has toothed leaves and was growing in the basalt rock.

Gold Star

Crocidium multicaule (RJ 696)

As bright as sunshine, soon this little flower will cover large areas.

*  References in parenthesis are to the plant number in Russ Jolley's classic Wildflowers of the Columbia Gorge.

Copyright 2013 Tom Nelson

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