Catherine Creek April 5, 2007

Lyle, Klickitat County, WA: We returned to Catherine Creek. A strong breeze was blowing, enough to discourage photography. To our surprise the flower bloom has greatly diminished. One could find only an occasional grass widow and Dodecatheon survives only in sheltered patches. Death Camas is the prevalent species on display this week.

A question comes to mind though. We saw several invasive species such as Himalaya blackberry (Rubus procerus). Is it appropriate to remove these plants? We also found henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) in bloom. It is very small but attractive, yet, it is also a non-native.

Henbit
Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) Catherine Creek 4/5/2007

We ended the day by returning to the Oregon side of the river on the free bridge at The Dalles. We took the Rowena exit west bound on I-84 to looked for Glacier Lily (Erythronium grandiflorum). We discovered that the bloom cycle is waning for that species as well. Light was poor for photography so we will make another trip under better conditions.

byLarry

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Finding the Sagebrush Violet April 3, 2007

Maupin, Wasco County, OR: My son, Chris, and I decided to give finding the Sagebrush Violet another attempt. As we left Gresham on US 26 we could see Mount Hood glistening white with a fresh coat of snow. Road signs warned travelers to carry chains or traction devices but the season for studded tires has past. Undeterred we forged ahead. We planned to turn onto highway 35 (Mt Hood Loop Highway) near Government Camp then turn east on highway 48 toward Wamic but we found the road blocked with snow. Evidently the road department doesn’t plow this road in winter, letting the snow melt slowly.

After backtracking to US 26 we continued east toward Maupin and then continued south on highway 197 toward Madras. Chris was pointing out flowers roadside but I wasn’t seeing them. We pulled over at a turnout to take a look. What he was seeing was a common species of phlox but what gave me a start was the very flower we were looking for… the Sagebrush Violet (Viola trinervata)!!! We called Marvin on the cell phone to gloat. We made many more stops but didn’t find any more of the violets. I’d rather be lucky than skillful any day.

Sagebrush Violet
Sagebrush violet (Viola trinervata) Maupin 4/3/2007

byLarry

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Maupin, OR March 30, 2007

Maupin, Wasco County, OR: Marvin and I drove to Maupin in central Oregon, then followed the Deschutes river downstream to Sherar’s Bridge. We stopped at pullouts, looking for Viola trinervata. We didn’t find any but enjoyed the scenic gorge with its multiple layers of lava that form cliffs along the drainage.

We also took time to drive a short distance west on highway 216 to see the White River Falls, a spectacular cataract that plummets 90 feet.

We continued down the Deschutes as far as Macks Canyon where the gravel road ends at a campground much used by fishermen who drift the lower Deschutes.

We continued our trip by heading north on US 97, crossed the Columbia on the Biggs Rapids Bridge and then turned west on highway 14 in Washington. We turned north again on the Dalles Mountain road intending to look for wildflowers in that vicinity. It was very windy and a little early for the bloom so we continued downriver to Catherine Creek near Lyle. It was late in the afternoon with rain threatening and the wind blowing a gale but we took the loop trail below the highway. The Grass Widows were gone but many other flower species are in bloom now.

Dodecatheon poetica
Dodecatheon poetica Catherine Creek 3/30/2007

Dodecatheon poeticum at Catherine Creek

We’ll be back soon.

byLarry

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Culver, OR March 26, 2007

Culver, Jefferson County, OR: Haystack Grange… Traveling with Marvin… We drove highway 26 across the Mount Hood corridor toward Madras. There were plenty of signs warning travelers to carry chains or traction tires because of snow conditions. We found the road totally clear, no snow clinging to the trees but with some traces of snow on the ground.

We found a few wildflowers in bloom after leaving the timber on the desert side… Oregon Sunshine, Whitlow Grass, and a very little blue flower which I have not yet identified.

We had some time on our hands at Culver so took a short tour of Lake Billy Chinook formed by Round Butte Dam. We toured the Cove Palisades State Park, driving across the bridge over the Crooked River and continuing on past “The Island”… technically not an island but an interesting rock formation that isolates about 200 acres from casual observers and livestock. The Island is now a Research Natural Area (RNA) and is closed except to permit holders conducting research.

The Island
The Island, Metolius

Other than spectacular rock formations we found little of interest… spring has not arrived in this portion of Oregon.

We also made a loop around Haystack Reservoir, again not finding anything turning green. There were a few RV’s, probably fishermen, at the campground.

Crossing back through the Mount Hood Corridor we found it had snowed several inches… the trees were covered with snow… but the road was clear allowing for regular highway speeds for traffic.

byLarry

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Finding the Fetid Adder’s Tongue March 17, 2007

Saddle Mountain, Clatsop County, OR: The weather forecaster promised a sunny day so Marvin and I headed for Saddle Mountain in search of the Oregon Fetid Adder’s Tongue (aka Slink Lily). It turned out to be cool and overcast… perfect for photography… and we weren’t disappointed.

Closeup of the Slink Lily flower.

Oregon Fetid Adder's Tongue
Oregon Fetid Adder’s Tongue (Scoliopus hallii) uncommon

 

Liverwort
Liverwort (Conocephalum conicum) Saddle Mountain

Toward the end of our field trip a light drizzle materialized but it didn’t dampen our enthusiasm for spending the day in the outdoors.

byLarry

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