The Natives are Restless

One of the enjoyable aspects of my "amateur botanist" hobby is learning about our native plants. When so many of the summer blooms seem to be what we usually call "weeds," it's refreshing to find the true natives. Oregon has over 4000 native species of wildflowers and plants, so I have a ways to go. Or I could view it as a never ending hobby!

And of course some of our native plants and animals are threatened or endangered. In the blog, I will try to note this whenever possible.

A few days ago (6/20/2013), while on a short trip to Southern Oregon, I had the opportunity to search for a rare threatened one, the Dwarf Wooly Meadowfoam (Limnanthes floccosa ssp. pumila). It's a small plant with a cream-colored flower seen below. It apparently grows only on the Upper and Lower Table Rocks, near Medford. I did not really expect to find one this time, as they bloom in March and April but had fun looking around anyway.

For more information about this threatened plant, visit: http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/PLANT/CONSERVATION/pages/profile_liflpu.aspx

Photo by Stephen Meyers

The Upper and Lower Table Rocks are wonderful places to hike and enjoy a unique natural environment. They are owned/managed by the BLM and The Nature Conservancy. For more information, visit: http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/tablerock/index.php  and  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_and_Lower_Table_Rock

Here are a few selected photos from my day on Lower Table Rock:

Start of 1.75 mile hike to top.

The trail winds through a memorable Madrone and White Pine forest.

The andecite rocks on the table top. The area on top is huge. I put in another couple of miles walking around on top and did not even get to one side!

Dried grass and blooming Clarkia everywhere!

View of Upper Table Rock from east side of Lower. Rogue River is nearby, hence the irrigated land.