Wildflower Update

The Eastern Gorge has had really nice weather on the last two Fridays. We visited there to see what new Spring flowers have emerged since the month began. We started at Catherine Creek, WA and then went across the river to the Rowena Crest area in OR.

Catherine Creek

This view of the Columbia River, Memaloose Island and Rowena Gap shows the profusion of Grass Widows in the foreground. They are at their peak now.

Grass Widows are appearing in bouquets!

Yellow Bells (above) are starting to bloom.  And hidden in damp rock crevices are these cute little yellow monkey flowers.

I think they are Chickweed Monkey Flower (Mimulus alsinoides), 539 in Jolley’s book. Here is a closeup. 

The flowers are about 1 centimeter across. It is always a pleasure to see the tiny red mark on their petals. And then the test is to get a decent picture.The name 'monkey-flower' comes from the grinning, ape-like faces of the flowers.  The Latin mimulus means 'little actor'; it is the diminutive of mimus, meaning a buffoon or actor in a farce or mime.

A new flower blooming is the Naked Broomrape (Orabanche uniflora) J-578.  This plant has no leaves or chlorophyll, and lives as a parasite, attaching to the roots of Saxifrage to obtain its nutrients. 

It almost looks artificial.  The common name comes from the fact that it does not have any leaves, and a British species is parasitic on Scotch Broom.  Perhaps we should introduce it to our region!

And finally at Catherine Creek we spotted these little Filaree (Erodium cicutarium) J-325. They are non-native, in the Geranium family, but not as intrusive as "Stinky Bob" (Geranium robertianum), which is on the Oregon noxious weed list. This is just the beginning of the season at Catherine Creek and things are moving quickly for mid-March.

As we drove east from the preserve, we passed the rock outcropping at Major Creek Road. The dark rock faces south and absorbs the sun. Each year there is a profusion of Gold Stars, Yellow Bells, Lomatium, and Prairie Stars . This year is no exception. 

Rowena Crest and Mayer State Park

Then we headed across the river at The Dalles and down to the Mayer State Park (Exit 76 on I-84) then west on the Old Columbia Highway.

Map courtesy of Google Maps

This is the beginning of the twisting stretch of road with a series of horseshoe curves, heading up to Rowena Crest Viewpoint. The hills have patches of Garry Oak. And underneath the oaks grow Glacier Lilies, Yellow Bells, Chocolate Lilies and Toothwort. (Ticks are also fond of this environment too, so cover-up.)

Today we were in luck. We spotted Oaks Toothwort immediately (Cardamine pulcherrima) J-176. 

Then the yellow Glacier Lilies (Erythronium grandiflorum), J - 24.

Yellow Bells were already maturing and turning orange. 

 Miner's Lettuce (Montia perfoliata) J-104 was just starting to bloom.

Notice that the flower stem appears to be piercing the leaf--hence the scientific name perfoliata.  It is called miner's-lettuce because early miners and settler used it as a salad vegetable.

A beautiful day with signs of Spring's arrival and a promise of things to come. 

Copyright 2013 Tom Nelson

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